Warmroof problem

Posted by: blackcatgirl on 02 November 2005

I think my 63 yr old mother has been "done" by this firm. She has paid them £8,500 for some roofing work and now she has been left with a leaking roof (it didnt do this before!). They seem to think that a "week or two" is adequate for getting someone out to rectify the problems and that its ok for her to have buckets and towels over her house to collect said water...

I believe she has had the spray on foam stuff lining the inside of her roof/loft as well.

Any pointers in the direction of who to check this firm out and also who to get advice from would be greatly appreciated.

The only info Ive found on the net is regarding problems getting deposit money back from said firm ... but she has already had the work done and its a bodge!!

Thanks

Posted on: 02 November 2005 by Fisbey

If it's any help, this company APPEARED to pay my deposit back only after I mentioned watchdog, despite denying having received one or two of my letters....

Hope this helps - best of luck.

Posted on: 02 November 2005 by blackcatgirl

Thanks Fisbey!
I never thought my mother would end up falling for these sort of highcost companies without investigating first ... ho hum!

Posted on: 02 November 2005 by MichaelC

Mention Watchdog - I like that.

A couple of other thoughts:

Speak to Trading Standards and perhaps write a letter to the company copying it to Trading Standards.

A letter from a solicitor.

Posted on: 02 November 2005 by NaimThatTune

Hi bcg,

I think you definitely need to take the fight to them, remain polite but very firm and perhaps a little cold if you have to - they don;t have to like you, just know that you're deadly serious.

I'd tell them that a week or two fix a roof (that was not leaking previously) is unacceptable and you want the leak fixed by the end of the week. That isn't an unreasonable request. If they decline/don't turn up, its another stick to hit them with should you need to take things further.

Get a view of any paperwork they may have left with your Mum and follow up on on any organisations that they are (or claim to be) members of. Find out if any of these organisations make statements regarding the reliability of their members. The Watchdog threat is a good one but following this angle too shows you've looked a little deeper, too. Go to www.roofinfo.co.uk
for a list of trade associations of the UK roofing industry and perhaps find if they are a member.

Get trading standards involved - these folk seem to genuinely enjoy making sure the customer gets the service that was paid for - I know it's advice already mentioned here but well worth it (just ask my mate who's got EasyCar taken to the European court over a stupid mix up between two airports in the same city).

Last, and perhaps most important, keep on keepin' on. Expect the roofers to be slow to respond to calls or letters (or not respond at all) - they want you to get bored and go away. Doggedly bother them until they finally figure that it's worth sorting out to avoid the grief.

Good luck!

Rich.

Posted on: 02 November 2005 by garyi

Spraying waterproof foam to the underside of a roof is going to lead to terrible problems in the future.