Roofing Company Trying To Demand $ and Threaten Over Unfinished Project

[Polliesleeps]

Colorado - Not only did they not finish, they did a shoddy job so far. They sent a threat saying that if I don't pay it's a breach of contract - which I really doubt - and that they're going to sue me. I don't have access to to the contract so I'm wondering if that's why they feel so bold doing this ridiculous bullshit. I wrote a response and was wondering if someone knowledgeable could check and see if its ok, I don't have a lot of money for a lawyer right now, thanks guys. Let me know if you want to see the initial letter they sent me:

Hello __________, This email represents an official response to the demand letter I, __________, received on Thursday, October 3rd, 2024. At this time, I refuse to comply with the demand to pay __________ (CE) for the following reasons:

CE did not perform all of the agreed-upon services. The drip edge on the back of the property was incorrectly installed and still needs to be replaced. The gutter/downspout was never primed or painted. Damage resulting from the front window replacement has not yet been repaired. See the attached pictures.

I did not receive an invoice from CE on October 26th, 2023. The windows were not even installed until Friday, April 26th, 2024. Your letter surprises me as I have been working with a CE employee named Dan the entire time, who never asked for the demanded payment and is supposed to address the unperformed services. Dan can be reached at __________.

If you are accusing me of breaching a contract, please provide a copy of the contract and explain the accusations in detail. I respectfully request that you cease all activities related to your original demand except for communication that provides my requested documentation. I intend to resolve this matter without the need for litigation. Dan can call me anytime, and I plan to pay CE after all the agreed-upon services are performed.

Sincerely -

 

[quincy]

Colorado - Not only did they not finish, they did a shoddy job so far. They sent a threat saying that if I don't pay it's a breach of contract - which I really doubt - and that they're going to sue me. I don't have access to to the contract so I'm wondering if that's why they feel so bold doing this ridiculous bullshit. I wrote a response and was wondering if someone knowledgeable could check and see if its ok, I don't have a lot of money for a lawyer right now, thanks guys. Let me know if you want to see the initial letter they sent me:

Hello __________, This email represents an official response to the demand letter I, __________, received on Thursday, October 3rd, 2024. At this time, I refuse to comply with the demand to pay __________ (CE) for the following reasons:

CE did not perform all of the agreed-upon services. The drip edge on the back of the property was incorrectly installed and still needs to be replaced. The gutter/downspout was never primed or painted. Damage resulting from the front window replacement has not yet been repaired. See the attached pictures.

I did not receive an invoice from CE on October 26th, 2023. The windows were not even installed until Friday, April 26th, 2024. Your letter surprises me as I have been working with a CE employee named Dan the entire time, who never asked for the demanded payment and is supposed to address the unperformed services. Dan can be reached at __________.

If you are accusing me of breaching a contract, please provide a copy of the contract and explain the accusations in detail. I respectfully request that you cease all activities related to your original demand except for communication that provides my requested documentation. I intend to resolve this matter without the need for litigation. Dan can call me anytime, and I plan to pay CE after all the agreed-upon services are performed.

Sincerely -

You really need a copy of the contract.

Have you paid anything to the roofing company?

 

[Polliesleeps]

Yeah I paid them half upfront - $9,203.87. Original agreement was to pay half upfront, the rest when finished. They very visibly didn't finish the project and are demanding the full payment or legal action as if they did. Sadly, I don't have the contract, and that's on me.

 

[LdiJ]

Yeah I paid them half upfront - $9,203.87. Original agreement was to pay half upfront, the rest when finished. They very visibly didn't finish the project and are demanding the full payment or legal action as if they did. Sadly, I don't have the contract, and that's on me.

Of course they are threatening to sue you. The intent is to scare you into paying them even though they haven't completed the job. Keep responding to them with a list of things that still need to be completed before they will get paid. Keep copies of every response you make.

 

[quincy]

Yeah I paid them half upfront - $9,203.87. Original agreement was to pay half upfront, the rest when finished. They very visibly didn't finish the project and are demanding the full payment or legal action as if they did. Sadly, I don't have the contract, and that's on me.

You are in a good position as far as getting the work completed. Too many people pay for everything up front and the company then has little incentive to return to complete the job or fix the work completed improperly.

I would worry mostly that the contract you signed does not adequately cover all of the work that you are now demanding be completed or fixed. That is why it is important to have a copy of the contract.

Otherwise, the threats by the company appear to be idle ones. If the company has not lived up to its end of the bargain, they are not going to want to appear in court. I agree with LdiJ’s advice.

 

[LdiJ]

Just as an FYI, I had a house fire a couple of years back and the contractor who handled the rebuild was a lot like this one. He wanted to be paid in full for the job before it was finished, and he wanted to be paid the entire amount that the insurance company provided even though it was agreed that he wasn't going to do a chunk of work that the insurance company gave me the money for. The owner blustered and threatened and said really horrible things trying to get me to pay. He told me that he was going to take me to court and that he was going to own my house in the end even. What he didn't realize was that I was an accountant and I had tracked absolutely everything to the penny and he wasn't going to get more than he was entitled to get. Finally, when I was ready to pay him the balance of what I felt he was due, I told him that he had to sign paperwork stating that the payment was final and in full satisfaction. He signed it and accepted the amount I paid him.

Now, that doesn't mean that every single customer who disputes a balance due or the work completion is going to be in the right. It just means that if you are in the right, you should not allow a contractor to bully you into giving them money that they shouldn't recieve.

 

[Polliesleeps]

Alrighty, this helped a lot, thanks for your time guys

 

[quincy]

Alrighty, this helped a lot, thanks for your time guys

You’re welcome, Polliesleeps. We appreciate the thanks.

Hopefully the roofing company will soon finish the job that they were contracted to do, and without any additional threats of a lawsuit.

Good luck.