Roofer asking for 70-75% deposit dodgy?

[heartbroken22]

I wasn't expecting such a large amount upfront? They have no reviews online and their page on google says temporary closed. What would you do? Cancel and find someone else?

Dodgy!

In NO WAY give him any money! No reviews, website page is closed?? Fuck no! That's a scam waiting to happen, and certainly not worth the risk!

Find a new roofer.

You would have to be INSANE to do this.

I've never paid a roofer, but I've had plenty of work done on various houses over the years, and I have never paid this amount up front. I've paid in increments proportionate to how much work has been done.

I do remember when I was very young and naive, paying someone a deposit to pave my garden - the guy never came back!

The fact there are no reviews on-line, is also dodgy.

I would post on your local FB page for recommendations. I've done this before, and often you'll get lots pf people recommending the same person, which feels safer.

You really have to ask?

There is no way I would give someone like that a massive deposit, not unless they were an established business with a proper website, and I'd checked their finances out on Companies House.

Reputable contractors do not have to buy materials up front with your money, they have trade accounts with building supplies firms, skip hire companies etc, and pay them monthly (usually on 30 days or something like that) and after they have done the work. So they don't need you to pay in advance for anything, other than maybe a small deposit of maybe 5-10% to secure their services.

Don't touch this lot with a bargepole.

Lord avoid like the plague

They've put scaffolding down and are due tomorrow. But keep asking for deposit. What's a polite way to say F off. Scared they might damage elderly parents roof when removing scaffolding by doing whatever.

Good Lord.
Find someone else.
Tbh I now avoid paying as you go along unless I can hold back a sizable chunk.
You end up with 90% done, a job too small for anyone else and still don't have the skills to finish it off.

If you have any doubt don't send money. Is there someone who can be there to watch them remove the scaffolding? When you say it's down so you mean in the ground ready to be erected? If so should be easy to put back in the lorry without damage

Whilst in the face of it it would put me off
but from the roofers point of view
he with straight away have to pay for materials, scaffolding and skips before he even touches a roof tile

it’s the same for him

where you frighten of paying and not getting the work done

he’ll be frightened of laying out thousands and you not paying

could you compromise and offer to pay for scaffolding ,skips and materials

roofers are busy people you can see why they’d choose not to risk not being paid

@rwalker but you wouldn't ask for such a large amount. It's not even 50%

DAF.

negotiate with him ask for a breakdown offer to pay for upfront costs

i had some roofing works done, required 40% on instruction and another mid point of works and final 20% on completion.

most of companies I got quotes from wanted between 40% or 50% upfront.

totally normal here in London.

Can you ask about on fb if anyone has used him before?

Nope. Money up front (particularly that much) is an indication of cash flow issues in the business.
Staged payments more usual - though linked to actual progress. Basically, if they walked away from the job have they completed it to the value you’ve already paid?
What does the contract say?

Are they a registered company? Can you find them on companies house website?

sounds suspect especially as the scaffolding is up & now they want a deposit.

Sounds dodgy!

I only use companies that can absorb the initial costs, so I always pay for work upon completion. This means they're often slightly more expensive, but I'd rather that than a cheaper but potentially unfinished job.

Unless you were planning on parking your scaffolding at someone's house and doing a runner.

Why have you even engaged someone with no reviews, no website and no personal recommendation??

Cancel the job, pay for the scaffolding to be removed, find someone you can trust.

If scaffolding is already up you will have to pay for this even if you cancel. I would however be worried about the lack of reviews and demand for such a high deposit, would generally pay scaffolding and some materials upfront.

Definitely dodgy.

I had my entire roof done and was presented with the £20k bill when they had finished.

I have a very young electrician who sometimes asks me to pay for the materials up front, but he gets the quote prepared at the local builders merchants and then sends me the quote number. I never give him money directly.

What would that prove? There are plenty of reputable self employed tradesmen and equally lots of dodgy limited companies?

Absolutely not. No way

Apparently he's absolutely fuming after begging for money all day. Suggested he'd patch roof up bit by but if we paid less deposit. Then said he's angry but 'not surprised' 😂 and will charge for scaffolding and diesel.