Several weeks ago my neighbor had a roofing contractor who was soliciting door knock business in our neighborhood after a hail storm look at his roof for hail damage. Roke Harris,who presented himself as an employee of Golden Shingle Roofing, had an young man look at our roof while he was at my neighbors and later came out and was present when an adjuster from my insurance company went up on the roof for an estimate, something my insurance company informed us was entirely unnecessary as any influence or coercion toward the appraiser would violate several laws.
Roke Harris had me sign a document which he said would give him the ability to talk with my insurance company to find out when an adjuster would be out to inspect the damage. He said nothing about it obligating the homeowner to use Golden Shingle. On the flyers their door knockers hand out is printed call us today for a no obligation inspection. It is obvious now the only reason Golden Shingle does this is to insinuate Golden Shingle into the claim process and secure the job without having to provide a bid. Roke Harris and his brother, David Harris, supposedly the owner, now claim the form is a contract obligating the homeowner to use their services or pay a substantial penalty to them. Supposedly there are three days to cancel. During that time the Harriss will not accept phone calls and refuse certified mail at their business address.
When the adjuster came out, he found damage and approved the claim for the roof as well as some interior damage. He also told Mr. Harris to stay on the ground and let him do his job.
A roof was installed at my neighbors home, but the other work promised as part of the job (gutters replaced, cleanup, etc.) was not done in the time agreed and was still not done with trash (killing grass) and nails all over the ground two weeks later. After his many calls to Golden Shingle were not returned, my neighbor sent a certified letter to Golden Shingles address of record as listed on their agreement with him in order to cancel the undone work due to non-performance by Golden Shingle. The certified letter was refused by GoldenShingle Roofing with no forwarding address provided. David Harris finally contacted my neighbor only after my neighbor had called his insurance company to tell them not to honor any claims for payment for the work that had not been
done. Mr. Harris had already submitted a request to be paid on the gutter work not done. On the Golden Shingle Flyers, it clearly states that invoices will be submitted to the insurance company only for work completed.
Several days later the man identifying himself as the owner of Golden Shingle Roofing, David Harris, called my neighbor and was verbally abusive, yelling at him, calling him a cheat, etc. Later David Harris, the purported owner of Golden Shingle, showed up at my neighbors home and was verbally abusive toward him in my fiancs presence as my neighbor had asked that he be present when Harris showed up. I decided at that point that David Harris was not a safe or reasonable person to do business with. His loud, aggressive behavior was outside what I would expect from any business person that I would hire to do work for me. I tried to call Roke Harris to inform him of this but his phone was not receiving calls and did not have a voicemail option. I presumed that since my fianc, I and two others had witnessed the confrontation with my neighbor that the Harriss would understand I would not be hiring Golden Shingle.
However, Roke Harris called a few weeks later. I had him call my fianc who told him that his brother Davids aggressive behavior and his inability to perform his contractual agreement with my neighbor in the time promised had left me with no option but to find another company whose owner lived up to his obligations and did not engage in verbally abusive and aggressive language and behavior. As expected after hearing my neighbors report, Roke Harris became aggressive on the telephone and yelled threats, and then David Harris took over and yelled more and threatened to sue your dumb a*s. This behavior, as outlined in lawsuit by the Attorney General of Texas against a roofing company using similar tactics of deceit and intimidation, is unlawful. In short, I considered Harriss behavior threatening, abusive, intimidating, and unlawful. I do not appreciate my fiancs being cursed, and I have no intention of doing business with people who curse me or try to intimidate me. I wondered why Roke Harris had taken the trouble to tell my fianc that he and his brother had been boxers. In retrospect it fits well with the brothers bullying behavior pattern by adding a potential physical element. I may be in my sixties, but I am not intimidated.
Golden Shingle never gave an estimate of how much my roof would cost, just saying that I would not have to pay my deductible. I did pay my deductible. It was deducted from the check from my insurance company.
David Harris, purported owner of Golden Shingle, has threatened a law suit, mechanics liens (no work has been done or will be done by these people), saying he wants $2400, a penalty based not only on the amount of the roofing claim but also on damage inside the home that a roofing company has no part in, demonstrating again deceptive practices. I have apprised my attorney who
advised me that I cant be forced to do business with someone incapable of performance and whose behavior I find threatening and abusive. Golden Shingle has bought no materials, has done no work, and never provided a written bid of any sort.
Certified mail to Golden Shingle sent by my neighbor and by me was refused even though I
confirmed the address does exist with their sign on the side of the building and the car David Harris was riding in when he confronted my neighbor parked out front. To me, these are not good indications of a credible business. On the certified mail refused, no forwarding address was given. There have been three address changes for Golden Shingle since October, 2011.
I have drafted a complaint to the Texas Attorneys Generals office outlining the abusive conduct of Golden Shingle Roofing. In a recent action concerning contractors deceiving homeowners, the Attorney General filed a lawsuit against a Texas roofing contractor to address the contractors abusive, deceitful, and intimidating behavior. According to court documents filed by the
Attorney General's Office, the contractor unlawfully coerced homeowners into using their services for roof repairs. Under the terms of the agreed judgment, homeowners who paid the liquidated damages or penalties assessed by the roofing company on or after Jan. 1, 2009, will be eligible for restitution. The contractor must also pay $25,000 in civil penalties and $10,000 in attorneys'
fees to resolve the State's enforcement action.
It is obvious that roofers that operate in this manner are liable for their wrongful behavior and I have requested the Attorney General to investigate the abusive and illegal business practices of Golden Shingle Roofing. A report will also be filed with the Texas Department of Licensing.
This is not a company anyone should ever consider do to business with in my opinion. There are a lot of competent and honorable roofing companies in DFW. A good company should address problems that arise and try to come up with solutions in an amicable manner. The Harriss of Golden Shingle instead respond with aggression and cursing and threats of lawsuits. Buyer beware!