It seems in this day and age it doesn’t really matter how much due-diligence you carry-out with tradesmen, rogue builders somehow manage to pop-up like a weed.
Since moving to Bexley these people have slithered out of the woodwork to ply their dubious trade.
Let’s start with Frank Dunthy of unregistered All-Weather Roofing Erith (originally registered at 56 whitehall lane, Erith, Kent, DA8 2DN)
When I arrived in Bexley my house was dragging along a garage which had a leaking asbestos roof. I thought I’d try out RatedPeople (26/11/2014) . In theory genuine feedback from previous buyers coupled with responsive tradesmen should be great – no, not at all.
Frank was one of the first people who responded to my advert on RatedPeople.
I Inviting Frank to my home, he seemed a fair tradesmen looking to build his profile. He had a few references from the local area and provided a reasonable quote – I was eager to go ahead and get shot of my leaking roof.
I decided to give Frank a quick call to reassure myself that his quote was genuine, and he would do a good job. Here’s his invoice:
One evening I decided to do a bit more research on All-Weather-Roofing – nothing, nada. This company didn’t exist. I decided to give Frank a call, he’d be reasonable so far – maybe he can explain. He once again assured me that he was straight up and would do a good job. To his merit, him and his team got to work within the week.
Let’s fast forward a while, Frank is making excellent progress and asked for payment to cover his material costs. Fair enough I thought. I’ll pay him the initial cut. I wasn’t too concerned as I’d offered him the opportunity to carry out further works worth three much more than this gig. Turns out this was a major fail on my part.
A few days past and his team were carrying out works on my neighbours properly (ED: which I should add has been redone). Okay fair enough, I’ll wait a little longer – until….
Fantastic, water streaming through the area where they used a cheap flash band. Oh and that was against a rendered wall – good work. Great, the leak is now worse than it was before. Let’s give Frank a call.
…A few days later he arrives and come to “fix” his mistake. Rather than using lead or setting the roof into the rendering he threw some concrete on it. Fantastic, let’s have a look at his handy-work
Yes that’s right concrete. Let’s have a look inside
Yes, that’s a light fixture hanging by it’s cord surrounded by asbestos dust. It’s a damn shame I can’t find the pictures of all the asbestos he left. At this point Frank disappeared.
I spend a day and a half, by hand clearing and washing down all the Asbestos.
It was only when I left him “bad feedback” did he decided give me a me. I received multiple calls how I was “ruining his business”, I doubt he needs my help.
He was reported to Environmental Health, Bexley Council & Trading Standards.
[Update]
Despite Frank’s ten year guarantee, his concrete fixed failed leaking over some rather expensive equipment (thankfully it was fine).
A good friend of mine was able to rectify this bodge job in a few hours. This is how it should look
[Update 2]
Last name corrected in title.
It’s possible Frank is now trading as Weatherproof Roofing Services (Erith). I cannot confirm this yet. Please perform your own due diligence.
[Update 3]
Allegedly Frank is once again trading under a new firm, Southeast roofing
Bexley Watchdog 
Hi, Frank Dunphy did same thing to me, my conservatory roof is in a very bad condition now and I am now looking for him for a refund. Can you recommend the guy that fix yours? Thanks. George.
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Evening George,
Sorry to hear that. Unfortunately you’re not the first, and you will not be the last. I’ve spoken to a few people in the same situation, and there are a few avenues you can take.
If I were in your situation I would gather everything you have about the exchange. Make sure you have building control involved, he may have broken several rules/laws – if he has incorporated a company that opens up several new avenues to claw back any funds.
RE: Roofers, I wont be sharing that on this blog – feel free to email me however.
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Hi,
Thanks. I have contacted citizen advice consumer services as a first stage.
What is ur email address? or kindly reach me on reedg1980@gmail.com.
Thanks for all ur help.
George
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Evening George, is your yahoo no good?
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Yes, is good. Thanks
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Good work Frank 🙂
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Hi Linda,
What is your point here?
Do you mind coming over to see the work for yourself?
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Sorry George, this is a post from Frank I believe. It wasn’t intended to be surfaced on this blog. It’ll be hidden shortly
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Hello Miles, I have still not sorted out my roof. Any help please on who fixed yours? Thanks
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Hey George,
I’m sorry to hear that. Have you considered taking his new limited company to the small claims court?
RE: repairing the roof. I ended up using a friend of mine, but he’s got two pretty nasty hernias now so he’s packed in roofing and stick’s to internal refurbs now sadly.
I was going to use these guys for my main roof: Unfortunately I cannot directly vouge for them, but they appear to be quite highly rated: http://www.clayridgeroofing.co.uk/testimonials/
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WARNING!! Stay away from Weatherproof Roofing Ltd in Erith. Especially FRANK DUNPHY.
Please do not employ FRANK DUNPHY to carry out any of your work. He has no clue what he is doing and He will take your money without completing the job.
May 2017 – First person that responded from Quotatis was his brother in-law Dean Smith director of Weatherproof Roofing Ltd. Dean now passes the job onto Frank. Frank initially spoke and appeared very timid at first, I should have followed my instinct not to employ him but I thought he needed to build his profile and trying to make it so I decided to give him the work (my biggest mistake).
I had some leaks on the roof but decided to fix the whole roof to give the house a new and better look. Extremely dissatisfied with the finishing which was very untidy. No guarantee certificate given.
EXTERIOR WALL: Uncompleted exterior wall painting. Paint all over the black plastic poles and marks from scaffolding still visible. He promise to come and to apply second coat but never did. Work not completed!
BATHROOM: Used wall tiles for the bathroom floor. Pipes installed from inside the shower has hole, it is busted inside and now cause leak which has badly affected the living room wall. Work not completed!
Collected money and did not finish the job. Started work at my address end of May 2017 and still have not finished. Frank Dunphy kept promising to refund the money owed for work not done but he never kept his promise.
Skip overflow and piles of rubbish was left outside my house for at least a month and he failed to collect the rubbish left after the skip was removed. He finally cleared the rubbish on my driveway when I told him neighbours had complained to the council. Frank also had the audacity to bring his own household rubbish and left it on my drive way. I have pictures and evidence of everything mentioned here.
He collected £1,900 extra for work not even attempted which was agreed at the beginning (kitchen tiles and painting). I chased him for months before I was my lucky to get (1,300) back. He still owe £600 and has stopped to make contact or refund my money.
Frank refuses to pay the workman doing all his work so the guy then completely stopped in the bathroom.
Frank has caused more damage to my house rather improve it. I’m still struggling to get someone to finish the mess he created.
I’m having to carry pay someone to redo my bathroom all over again.
Frank DUNPY needs to be stopped!!!!!!
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Please notify me of others comments via email. Thanks.
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Frank Dunphy has struck again. Wish I had seen these posts before I hired him. He subcontracted my job to someone else who did not complete the work. I am £800 out of pocket for a half finished job. They now go buy J.L Contractors (not a registered company).
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Well Frank Dunphy definitely needs to be stopped!!!
I found him via Quotatis & he called me the same day. Came round for a quote to clean moss off my roof.
He gave me a fair price & as I hadn’t long moved in, felt that being on a reputable site would employ him. He started that afternoon & said he would be back again in the morning to carry on with another person. I was talking about having an existing attached outbuilding converted into a shower/utility room & he said we can do that !
He gave me a total price of £7800 including the roof cleaning. Took his bank details & he asked for some of the money for materials. Fair enough I thought & transfered £1500. He came back the next day with 2 Romanian men who didn’t really speak very good English but we managed. I was having my drive done at the same time & the chap came round the back for some water, I asked if he would go up the ladder to check the guttering was correct (by this time Frank said he would only need 1 more day to complete) all the old guttering was just propped up into each other, all full up with the thick moss that had come off the roof, fascia was burnt & roof felt was on upside down. When he went inside he found no plumbing started for new toilet, sink or shower, yet about half a metre of concrete had already been laid.
He then said that the outside was plastered in bonding which is only used on inside. I myself didn’t realise that even though it was an existing building it should of had footings dugout but when tested it was found to of been laid on top of existing patio with breeze blocks…..
I was in tears & was distraught as I had now given him £4800, he had asked for the final £3000 but I thought I’d wait until finished as had paid enough (thank god I didn’t). Long story short, this was May 2017 & he kept promising I would get my money back. It is now January 2018 & have still not received a penny back despite my constant chasing. I still have all the rubbish in my back garden. Still no shower room or utility as employed the driveway guy who said he could probably get the build done for the £3000 that I had left. He started in August 2017 & have now paid him well over double & still not finished.
I am going to take him to the small claims court!
This has made me ill & I felt he had taken advantage of a single disabled lady but it seems others too have been scammed!
I wish I had never set eyes on this creep let alone paid him for this shambles!
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Dear Julie, you’re now among a growing list of victim of this scam call Frank,. I was too and have sent over £12,000 to finally fix my conservatory roof. You can see many people here who Frank has done same to. He still own me money till date with same strategy of I WILL get the money back to you but never does. I will be willing to give evidence when you do take him to the small claim court.
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Thanks for that George, issued court proceedings today so let’s see what happens.
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Submitted directions questionnaire today asking for Dartford County court as I thought this is much better for you to attend if needed. He has admitted to £1800 of the £5000 I am requesting when to my face & in whats app messages he agreed I am owed the full amount back. I would have liked more but the costs are more if you go over the £5000 band & didn’t feel I could risk it as already out of pocket.
Thanks once again George.
Please feel free to email me at jkmeaney@sky.com
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Hi Julie, would you be able to share his contact details? I’m glad to hear you are having some success recovering your funds, I along with others would no doubt like to follow the same route.
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I wish I’d seen this blog before hiring Frank… 😦
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Wow is this cowboy still going? If the guy would apply as much effort into running a decent company than he does conning people he could actually be pretty successful.
Sorry to hear he’s fucked you over, everyone should google the names first. I’ve got at least 3 more companies I need to post about when I get some time.
Can I ask what happened?
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Also Ant, what company was operating under?
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FD roofing
https://www.quotatis.co.uk/tradesmen/f-d-roofing-kMv2v
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Interesting, check out the address. Several over roofing companies (at least one compulsory struck off)
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WOW I wish i had seen all of that before allowing to do some work for me. Taking the matter to court now for my full money back…
He came to fix a roof that was leaking… and guess what the roof is still leaking and i am now out of pocket £700.
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Sorry to hear it. Amazing how prolific these assholes are. See if you can gather up all the info you have and post it here so new customers don’t get screwed.
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I took him to court but didn’t get a penny back of my £5000 as doesn’t have any money, assets or vehicle. He barely exists on paper.
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There really needs to be strict regulations on the trades. They get away with absolute murder. I’m now city and guilds qualified for a few trades because I’m so sick of being made to look like a fool by these scumbags.
This blog still has a few articles I need to write. Frank in my world is ancient history, I’ve had yet more major issues.
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I took him to court for £5000
Didn’t get a penny as has no assets.
Barely able to exist on paper!
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He appeared to hold indemnity insurance of up to £1,000,000, I even have his insurance paperwork to prove it. So I don’t understand how he can have no means of paying up? Unless the document is a forgery? FD Roofing appears to have disappeared without a trace, I guess too much heat building up online to keep it afloat.. I have my suspicions about Fine Line Roofing (https://www.bark.com/en/gb/company/fineline-roofing–painting/nne31/) and Regency Roofing (https://www.bookabuilderuk.com/profile/regency-roofing) however
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FD Roofing is the name. I’m out of pocket 3k and after repeated failed promises at paying the money back I’m left with no choice other than court action. Julie, I don’t understand how he can have no assets after managing to swindle countless individuals?
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Frank Dunphy has struck again, although he now goes under the name of Frank Gregory trading as Fineline Roofing. He has taken over £7k in payment and left the work unfinished with poor workmanship, sub standard materials used and numerous broken promises, lies and deceit in order to get his money and run. I wish I had been more vigilant and have been conned out of money that I had to borrow and still have a leaking roof which is no better than when he and his motley crew started the work. I originally came across Frank as he was working on a neighbours property at the time and asked him to have a look at my roof which was leaking and give me a quote. First alarm bell should have been when he sent one of his minions up to the roof to take a video of the damage, quickly followed by a quote of over £7k to repair the roof, repair and repoint walls, replace a flat roofing section and make good all damages, despite asking for a written quote this then arrived in an email, poorly worded and spelled, no company details, VAT numbers or details of breakdown of costs. Frank quickly asked me to confirm and after checking with my neighbours, who vouched for the work being carried out at their properties I agreed to the invoice, no cooling off period for me for the very next morning he had erected scaffolding up at the house, OKthis is good he will get the work completed quite quickly i thought. However he then requested £3000 for materials, Ok this is not unusual I determined and paid the deposit. He then sent a couple of men to start clearing the roof, taking down old render and start preparations to re render, second alarm bell was when they left work for the day and left tools laying around, rubbish not cleared and no attempt to clear up after themselves, what professional workmen would do this. A few days later I noticed that despite re rendering the walls it was starting to crumble in the rain, they also stole a food waste bin from one of my neighbours in order to mix the cement and sand in. After a few days and probably £150 spent on materials Frank messaged me to say that he needed another deposit to pay for a carpenter? Really, what happened to the £3000 I have already sent.Frank is very good at making excuses, lies and generally fobbing his way through. OK I agreed to pay but demanded to see that work had been done before any more monies. Flat roof layer and completed and in all fairness it did not seem like abad job. But his so called workmen were appalling, stealing items, not clearing up and generally appalling, I later found out his main man is Jay Pendergast and the other lad totally incompetent. They started painting the walls a different colour to the rest of the building. Frank wanted another payment to cover costs and again made up excuses despite the roof still leaking, Don’t worry it will be 100%wateright he said, we will do a water test, sure running a hose for 10 minutes is their idea of a water test. Anyway has now been paid over £7000 not finished the job, made up excuse after excuse and I have had enough to tell him to bugger off as he has not completed the job or the work quoted for. Needless to say I am now going to submit a small claims through the courts although as others have said not think I will ever see my money again, although once the legal aspect has been covered I am going to make Frank Gregory very famous on social media, TikTok, Facebook etc, he even has a cheek to advertise on Slade Green and Erith Group site on Facebook. I have been keeping blog day by day of all work carried out including pictures, videos every day, and have kept copies of text messages, emails and recordings of telephone conversations and meetings taped on my phone. I have also informed Citizens Advice adTrading Standards of his methods and hopefully RipOff Britain may even take up the story and interview Frank about his actions. In truth I wish I had never met Frank (Gregory) Dunphy as he has been doing the same thing for years and getting away with it, changing company names, changing his name but still the same old con man.
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Jesus, sorry to hear that mate. Thanks for sharing
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Sorry for the loss of £7000.
I’m amazed he is still able to do this as when I took him to small claims court he got away with paying me anything as he filled out the form saying he only earned £11,000 per year.
I have never seen a penny. I also wrote to rip off Britain but nothing came of that either.
Trading standards are also a waste of time as they did nothing. I have come to believe that is why he continues to carry on as not one person has gone about stopping this conman. I have since had other conmen who have also ripped me off & to be honest I have many jobs that need doing, but have lost faith in having anything done as I can’t trust anyone anymore.
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@Julie, I feel exactly the same way. I’m sick of cowboys like Frank, I went so far as to get qualified as a city and guilds labourer.
Idiots like this only understand one thing, the belt.
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Don’t worry, although I have no hope of ever getting my money back, one thing is for sure, Frank will get his comeuppance, he’s a small time con man who has been doing this for years, but in the world we live in now with the internet, Facebook, TikTok, etc I will make him go viral.
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I can’t believe I’ve just had the same issue with Frank Dunphy who is now using Southeast roofing to promote himself on quotatis. We’ve given him and his stepfather and brother nearly £29000 for roof, guttering, garden tile repoint, shed base… but work has not been finished in a professional way and many incorrect use of materials with lies after lies.
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It’s quite incredible how people like Frank has literally made a career out of essentially theft and intentional damage. £29k is a huge amount of money, I presume you are engaging a solicitor?
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Well, I did take him to court & all he did was complete forms saying he only earns £11,000 per year has to support his children & never got a penny of the £5,000 I was claiming for. It is a total disgrace how he is allowed to carry on under a new name without paying for any of his crimes & leaving people out of pocket. This person should be locked up for continuing to commit fraud.
Why will nobody do something about this horrible little man.
He will just carry on regardless until he injures or kills somebody!!
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Unfortunately hiring a solicitor will not help, even if you manage to get Frank to court and win your case, it is very likely he will never repay any monies owed. The only thing that will happen is that he will start up again under a new name. Trading standards are a waste of time, they only direct you to other recommended tradespeople. Sadly the only way Frank will be stopped is for someone to end up dying because of his shoddy workmanship, poor materials and cut corners and then may be someone in authority will take notice and have the guts to prosecute to the full extent of the law.
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I have no doubt he’ll trade under a new name, this thread alone shows it’s far from the first time. That said, doesn’t hurt to make it as difficult as possible for him to continue to trade. It’s still worth reporting him to trading standards, the council, NFRC (roofing trade association) and share on social media etc.
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Not only new trade name but also out of Kent area now. We are getting help from citizen advice but as you all know how much help they can get us. It’s such a shame that we do not have any laws to protect customers like us. There are landlord deposit scheme for renting properties to protect renter but for building work we don’t have anything.
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So sorry about your loss TL. Indeed he had 11 CCJs last time I checked so the civil court route doesn’t seem fit for purpose. Best chance of bringing this guy to justice is through a criminal court on the basis of fraud I’d have thought.
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We have been patiently waiting for Frank to refund us but he has been using different excuses to postpone responding and giving us the refund. I’m afraid we won’t have the patience to wait for him anymore seeing that his work has caused increased signs of damp and gutter noise complains from neighbours. Our area MP has been informed and will liaise with local authority trading standard due to complains from our neighbours. As we don’t have enough money to rectify the damages Frank and his team caused to our house, I do hope that either him refunding us asap for us to sort everything out or the trading standard will come to investigate further and then he will be in real trouble.
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@TL I can’t believe it’s nearly ten years later and this scum bag is still at it.
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@TL, unfortunately you will not get a penny out of Frank, he does the same thing over and over and over, so sorry for your loss. I had to take out another loan to repair the damage he caused to my roof and get it put right. Seven thousand pounds out of pocket and he is still trading unbelievable. The authorities ought to lock him up once and for all.
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You’ve taken out a loan to repair the work that he was suppose to fix?!
I’m beyond irritated. That little prick needs some Irish attention which involves a drill to his knee caps.
It’s important that this blog and post are shared so this little bottom feeder can’t continue his ‘trade’
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I have been informed by Citizen Advice that they just report trade names to Trading Standard unless we specifically request to include additional information (i.e. Frank’s names Frank Dunphy/ Gregory, and all the trade names he used in the past years.
So apart from sharing this blog, please if you have time report Frank to Trading Standard again via Citizen Advice to provide the following information so to prompt investigation.
I have gathered all the information from this blog and summarised that “Frank Dunphy/ Gregory have been using the following trade names since at least 2014 – All-weather roofing, Weatherproof Roofing Services, FD Roofing, Fineline Roofing, Regency Roofing, Southeast Roofing (and Property Maintenance). ”
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/get-more-help/report-to-trading-standards/?fbclid=IwAR0tA-hLwQkJzvma86-Je_rRsGaxgJsVXEBbmxRj1nKREP2VTKZJq8lU3Fg
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@TL. Sure. I’d suggest everyone impacted here also raise a report.
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Hi everyone, not surprised that I have found Frank has been lying again and again with no hope to be able to recognise his faults. I have now set up a dedicated email account aiming to gather all evidence and continue liaising with MP to push forward bringing Frank to justice. Please drop me a message if you want to join the force roguebuilderfrankdunphygregory@gmail.com
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