I need a lawyer, a roofer, a people finder and some stress relief

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My contractor replaced my roof and two skylights in Jan 2009. He showed up with his employee and the employee's two 16 year old sons to do the work.
Shortly thereafter the roof started leaking and the skylights started leaking.
He canceled his insurance policy on January 1, 2009 and signed the contract with me on January 2, 2009, so from the start he was deceptive and fraudulent and the certificate of insurance he provided me with worthless.
I made a blog about the what he did and posted pictures.
You can read it here: Home | MyNewRoofLeaks.com
#off topic forum
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    • [1] reply
    • Small Claims court in Maine is $4,500 so I'd be losing money that way, but it may be my best option at this point. Snow will be flying soon so I need to get the roof redone.
  • Most states the limit is $1,500 for small claims - but being that his insurance had been canceled yet he was deceptive about that fact no money should be necessary for the case as it is no longer a civil case, it's a legal case because of fraud. Call your local DA's office and discuss the problem with them -- and make sure you let them know that he was claiming to have insurance that he didn't have. They will let you know the channels to pursue.
    • [1] reply
    • Thank you!! I never thought of the DA, I got the number and I will call after lunch. I talked to the Maine Attorney General and I filed a complaint with the BBB and with D & B where he is listed. I made a video for youtube, but my husband thinks we can get sued if I post it so I did not post it. yet.
      I do have lots of pics on my blog.
  • He had an "employee" with 16 year old sons do the work? That right THERE basically SCREAMS fraud! 16yo are MINORS! They can't work without work permits, and the insurance would likely be SKYHIGH, or state that they aren't covered and aren't to do the work.

    That he didn't have insurance is not the point. The insurance is to protect HIM, NOT YOU! He owes you any reasonable funds to fix the roof, and to repair damage created by the bad work. I would THINK that would be covered in ANY small claims court.(They don't generally cover things like distress, or punitive) Of course, they all DO have varying limits, and some of them are VERY low! It looks like Maines limit is $4,500.00! Bear in mind that is TOTAL! Here are the RULES for Maine:

    http://www.courts.state.me.us/rules_...Claims6-07.pdf

    Here is what I would do:

    1. STOP THE DAMAGE.
    2. TAKE PICTURES OF EVERYTHING, and have something to date it, and tie it to YOUR home, and that to HIM.
    3. RECORD ALL DAMAGE!
    4. Probably talk to a paralegal, or someone that has been through this in maine.
    5. Talk to the "contractor".
    6. If he won't settle, meet a mediator per Maine Judicial Branch: Small Claims Court
    7. If you STILL can't solve it, FILE!

    If you play your cards right, you can get all $4,500.00!

    BTW this case probably goes BEYOND fraud. He probably hasn't met his responsibilities to the employees, etc...

    Steve
    • [1] reply

    • Yes, the two 16 year old boys did the work with their father. I saw them on my deck when the work began and they looked about 14 so I just assumed they were the clean up crew. I could not believe it when a short time later one of them fell through my ceiling. I then went out to the contractor very angry and demanded to know why the young boy was doing the roof. He knows what he's doing I was told. I wanted to fire him then and there, but my roof had been stripped down to the bare wood, I had already paid him $3000 and it was lightly snowing out so I was in no position at that time to send them packing.

      I've been trying since April to reach the contractor by phone and by certified letter, he is ignoring me.

      I do have the pics on my blog. As to tying them into his work, how do I do that? I have his signed contract and I have proof I paid him in Jan 2009.
      • [1] reply
  • Sorry to hear that, I just checked out your blog, and yea, they did a crappy job... Shingles should NOT buckle like that if they are nailed properly... and well, then there's the leaking thing... lol

    I apologize in advance, but this had me laughing my arse off...

    I just finished a new roof job on my own house & garage, wish you were closer, I would come right over and fix you up... (Where exactly in Maine are you?) My roofing partner Corey & I do quality work...














    • [1] reply
    • Sorry to hear that, Dorim. Must totally suck to dream about having a skylight and then ending up with a crappy one. Hope you get your roof fixed and your money back.

      Jared:

      What do you mean, "quality work?" I only see one person actually working in one of the pictures.
      • [2] replies
  • Jared - I am in Wells Maine about 25 miles North of Portsmouth NH. The roofer is in Sanford, the next town over.
    • [1] reply
    • Very cool, Wells is awesome! I lived in Rochester NH growing up, and Portsmouth for a while, used to go to Wells Beach, & York beach all the time... beautiful area.

      My parents still live in Rochester and they had their roof done a few years ago, (before I got into roofing) and they were/are still very pleased with the work... also had 2 skylights put in... been probably 4-5 years, and no problems whatsoever... I will give them a call and find out the contractors info for you if you would like.
      • [1] reply
  • Seasoned - The employee and his two 16 year old sons are from North Hampton NH, I don't know if Maine laws about work permits apply to them..........
  • I just phoned the District Attorney's office in my county and they told me to call the police dept and file a complaint and the police will determine if fraud has been committed because of the insurance being canceled, if no fraud has been committed then its a civil case and they can't help me. She gave me the child labor office to report the use of the 16 year old boys to so I just left a message there. I need a miracle to get things fixed on my end.
    • [1] reply

    • HOW was their insurance cancelled? If it was because of VERY high complaints, an issue they were told about, their request, or they were told by the company in person or phone, tell the police that! If it was via mail and possibly a surprise, the police could consider it innocent, and NOT fraud. If I were you, I would call their carrier.

      Steve
      • [1] reply
  • Dorim, absolutely go to Angie's List and take time to post your experience with these guys. I can't post a link yet, but just put in a search and you'll get it. We just bought a home and are going to be having a fence put in around our back yard, hopefully a tankless water heater put in, our furnace checked/cleaned before heating season (we're in WI). I will be checking Angie's List for sure.

    I'm so sorry to hear about your problems, that is so discouraging.
  • I need a lawyer, a roofer, a people finder and some stress relief. Sounds like the beginning of a joke I heard in a bar a long time ago.
    Sorry I couldn't resist.
    Really sorry to hear about your situation though. Hope you get it resolved.

    Locpic63
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    I need a lawyer, a roofer, a people finder and some stress relief

    My contractor replaced my roof and two skylights in Jan 2009. He showed up with his employee and the employee's two 16 year old sons to do the work. Shortly thereafter the roof started leaking and the skylights started leaking. He canceled his insurance policy on January 1, 2009 and signed the contract with me on January 2, 2009, so from the start he was deceptive and fraudulent and the certificate of insurance he provided me with worthless.