AIBU - not paying the roofer?

[Adviceisneeded1]

I have a leak coming in through the roof. I called a roofer last Thursday to come and have a look. He said it could be some mortar that needs re-doing or it could be due to a small gap that he found.

He decided it was best to start with filling in the small gap to see if that was the issue (using no-nonsense roof silicone, so nothing expensive). We agreed on a price of £100 to be paid via Bank transfer. He sent me his bank details a few hours later, but that same evening, it started raining and the leak was still present.

I didn't pay him but messaged him the following morning to let him know that the leak is still present and if I could get a quote for having the mortar re-done in that area, as that was the other thing that the roofer thought might be causing the leak. He said he can re-do the mortar in March, but won't give me a quote for it (or a definite date) and keeps messaging me asking for the £100 for filling in a gap, which didn't even fix the leak!

AIBU to not pay him the £100?

Thank you!

Of course you need to pay him. He decided to try something cheap and simple at first which is entirely reasonable. Just because that hasn’t resolved it doesn’t mean you don’t pay. If my dog was sick and the vet did a bunch of tests which all came back negative and dog still sick it doesn’t mean I don’t pay for them as the vet wants to do more tests in March.

Not RTFT, but anyone else now got a Blue Öyster Cult earworm 😂

But if the original post still stated, he suggested "cheap option" first, you'd prob still get similar responses.

How many times do we hear of doctors misdiagnosing..... The amount of money spent thinking its xxx when it turns out to be yyy is expensive..... But a trader isn't allowed to suggest xxx when it's actually yyy?

Alot of jobs involve problem solving and the 1st answer is not always right.

Pay what you agreed. And if you're not happy with his service, find another roofer and hope he hasn't spread your name on the tradesman's "shit customer" grapevine

Roof leaks are notoriously difficult to fix. We had a leak for a about a year and had our roofer up there 3-4 times trying to sort it out. We ended up having to have scaffolding put up twice which cost ££££. He did find and fix it in the end and we’re very pleased with him. He started with the cheapest, most obvious potential points first and went from there. We did settle up with him each time and never have an issue getting him round to quote/work etc including the day after those storms we had a year or so ago. I think there is usually a bit of trial and error with water leaks.

Thankfully you did post here for advice as with all due respect, if you hadn't have received so many messages telling you to, the guy probably wouldn't have been paid.

As you can imagine, roofers in the UK can spend many days at home rained off (speaking from experience) so of course they should be paid for their time when they are out. There are plenty other professions where you pay for their tjme.

I have paid him now but I'm probs now on the 'shit customer' list amongst all roofers and probs won't ever get it fixed and I guess I deserve the death penalty as well 👍

How do you know he was qualified to do anything? Just based on some unverified google reviews? Take it as a lesson learned, pay him to go away (maybe negotiate a lower price) and find a proper roofing company to diagnose and fix the problem (which no doubt will cost more than £100). Clean out all your gutters in the mean time.

First day on the internet?

Talk about over dramatic!

YABU. Of course you pay him for the work he’s done. No wonder he isn’t giving you any further quotes.

Genuine question- how am I supposed to find a qualified roofer/ proper roofing company? I am based in Manchester.

Thank you

Dramatic, just like the people on this thread!

Bloody hell what a martyr you are.

Roof leaks are trial and error. Tracing tests are done once fixes like this are tried and don’t work. He’s tried to repair it in a way that costs you a minimal amount and sorts it out. No one makes up a hole and spends time and material fake fixing it for a hundred quid. Catch yourself on.

No one has been horrible to you OP, they’ve just bluntly told you to pay the man for the work he’s done with your agreement.

No body has been horrible to me?! Have you read some of the replies that I have had?

It's not hard to respond to a thread without name calling aswell!

I’m not sure AIBU is the place for you OP.

PMed you a Manchester roofer. He's really not the cheapest. He did a good job. I need to get him back to look at my house roof. He just did a small job for me before.

Glad you paid him but you posted in AIBU - the answer was YABU - You can't get ask then get all defensive at the answer...

I'll have a look - Thank you so much!

I'm not getting defensive re the answer, I'm getting defensive re the horrible names people have called me! People could have just responded stating I was being unreasonable to not pay the roofer, without calling me horrible names as well!

If anyone else knows of any other good roofers in Manchester, please let me know.

Thank you in advance

Sadly its the kind of forum this is.... Tough skin needed