To pay this angry man for work not done?

[sillywoman456]

Basically, I've been a complete and utter fool and yesterday was doorstepped by a man working at my neighbour's house. He said I needed some work doing to my gutters, said he'd do it there and then, didn't appreciate me saying that I'd call my DH and discuss with him, and insisted that I do it and pay him the amount by balance transfer (because I at first said no, using no physical cash as a reason). My neighbours (who I previously got on well with) were with him, vouching for him and insisting that I needed it doing because it was affecting both properties etc. It wasn't a huge amount of money (£70) so I agreed.

Believe it or not, I'm usually less ridiculous than this, but I let myself down by agreeing to this deeply unpleasant man who was patronising and offensive. I'm so embarrassed of myself.

Anyway, he spent five minutes on the roof, showed me a few bits of concrete he'd pulled out, said he couldn't do the rest because it was too rotten and gave me some bank details. Now I don't know who this bloke was, but my neighbours knows him by first name and these bank details are for someone completely different.

Today, we've been and taken pictures of the work not done and contacted him to say we'd pay half, but not the full amount because much of the work was left undone. He won't agree to this, swore and shouted down the phone and said he'll be coming round to discuss it "face to fucking face" and basically that he won't let it go.

I've contacted CAB and I believe the law is on our side, but I think I should just pay it for a quiet life and less threats of him returning, damaging our property etc. I don't want to be worried everytime the kids are in the garden for the sake of £70! My DH hates confrontation and would rather do this. But if I pay this random person named in the bank details, what proof will I have that I've paid at all? I don't want him to come round and demand more.

It's starting to feel a bit like an extortion racket! But then it's only £70! Please tell me what to do now, because I can't seem to trust myself lately!

get the registration number of his van. This may be helpful if you don't know his (real) name and address.

Call the police. You have been threatened and intimidated.

Fuck this! Do not give him any money. If he comes to your house again, tell him you will phone the police if he doesn't leave you alone.

It seems to me that he quoted you a price to do a job, but has not completed the job, but hopes that although he doesn't fulfill his part of the contract, he hopes you will fulfill yours.

i see no obligation on you to pay him for the job not done.

You could agree a reasonable price for "climbing up the ladder and having a look" which would usually be around zero. That's all he's done.

Don't pay him a penny op. Give the police a ring and ask for their advice.

So he told you it was £70 but you say he hasn't done the work ?
Then just tell him calmly that !
Don't be intimidated by him he hasn't done the work.
He hasn't provided a quote or invoice so tbh he hasn't got a leg to stand on .

Tell him to take you to small claims court if he wants.
He won't - lots of forms and an up front fee.

I wouldn't be very happy with my neighbours, if I were you, either. They and this man have tried to pressure you into allowing work to be done, which you have no real idea whether or not it needs doing. Your neighbours are taking his word for it. I've had people turn up on my door step who have been vouched for by neighbours (with no prior conversation or request on my part), telling me my X needs attention, or Y needs fixing otherwise a huge massive problem will arise. I had someone selling something months ago: not only were neighbours a regular customer, this guy used to have a cup of tea whilst -robbing- selling to them … a quick google of his name and where he told me his 'shop' was, and up came two separate news articles about him being imprisoned for selling fake goods. So a neighbour's recommendation isn't something to be taken as gospel! Don't pay, and I'd be having a word with the neighbours, who either know him, or are scared of him and being ripped off, too.

Definately call 101 for advice. And get your phone ready to video him and his threats. Sounds like a typical bully who uses his voice to get what he wants and has probably usually got away with it!!

Does your DH hate confrontation more than he hates his wife being intimidated and scammed? He needs to speak to this man when he comes back, he's likely a coward who only shouts at women.

Can you take a surreptitious photo of him from an upstairs window? Might prove useful insurance to have. Don't give him any money. How did you have concrete in your guttering? Do you have very muscly pigeons in your part of the world? I bet that concrete went up the ladder in his pocket.

Contact the Police
I am sick of these Men .
They pick out the woman of the house in particular as they think they can talk you into it . Little more than scumbags the lot of them.

Are you on the South Coast by any chance OP ?

As I mentioned above, when I phoned the police I specifically told them that they had threatened to enter my property without my permission, climb onto my roof and remove all their materials because I was refusing to pay. Since they had replaced a substantial section of my roof (very very badly) that would have left my house entirely open.

Even so the police said they would not intervene because “it was a civil matter”.

However, when I called Trading Standards they said if they came onto my property I should call 999 immediately. But Trading Standards phoned the contractor directly and scared the beejeezus out of him, apparently and I never had another demand for payment, and no further problem, except it cost me thousands to fix the mess they had made (wrong grade of lead, timbers too thin etc, broken and slipped tiles...)

Ever since I have been a great fan of Trading Standards. Call them. Harrassing you for £70 won’t be worth it to that guy if he thinks they are on to him.

If you did pay the £70 you have no guarantees he won't hassle you/ bully or come round/ think he can get more out of you/you have no proof you paid at all.
Please stand your ground and say, if he wants, he can send an invoice but the work agreed wasn't done.
I'm annoyed with your neighbours.

OP for future reference,use my standard reply to these people
"The house is rented, my landlord deals with stuff like that"
Works every time

Don't be daft, OP. You can't pay him £70. I wouldn't pay him anything, tbh. You were intimidated into it. I'd call the non-emergency police number while he's next door and ask them what you should do.

Trading Standards will put a stop to this. 100% illegal to door knock and do on the day work with no cooling off period (quite apart from the substandard work).

They will need van reg, company name if known but if you have bank details that will help.

Trading Standards stopped work being done on my neighbour's house that she'd been intimidated into.

Thank you so much for your advice everyone.

So firstly I took a photo of him, and of his car reg. Then I went out and spoke to him and his mate. I was very firm, said that I wasn't paying full price and would go through Trading Standards as I already discussed with them. I told him it was half now or a lengthy Trading Standards argument.

I offered half again which he accepted (he did do some of the work so I didn't mind paying some, but I know some of you will be disappointed with me. I'm a bit disappointed with myself). He sent me a message with the bank details so it can be traced (the Trading Standards lady said to do this) and we agreed never to darken each other's door again.

I still feel grubby and horrible, but hopefully it's over.

A PP said is my DH happy with my being threatened. No, he hates any threat to any of us which is why he'd rather pay. I know a lot of men would argue it, but my DH isn't really like that but he has lots of other lovely qualities.

I still feel grubby and horrible, but hopefully it's over.

I wouldn't pay him anything, he's a conman and if he threatened me I'd call the police.

Do not pay him!!! Call the police.

Sorry just read your update. Glad it’s over. Don’t give it anymore headspace.

I now have a policy of not engaging with online who comes to my door to sell anything, including charity fundraisers, as I have learned the hard way...

I see you have given him half for a quiet life which is fine. For the future though do not be intimidated by these con artists. We do not engage with anyone who comes to the door. I just say we do not have workers round we have not checked out beforehand. Anyone who swears would get short shrift from me.