Beware of Frankfurt Roof Sharks: Elderly Citizens Beware of Scammers

Roof sharks pretend that senior citizens are suffering from damage and then demand exorbitant prices. They are currently back in Frankfurt.

Frankfurt roof sharks are on the move in Frankfurt, warns Bernd Neumann, master roofer and active in the Oberrad trade association. He was alerted by an acquaintance: In Eschersheim, an elderly couple had been taken in by such traveling craftsmen.

At first it was said that only one brick was loose, which the craftsmen wanted to fix. “When they came down, they said there was more broken.” In the end, it was claimed that the battens were rotten and the roof needed to be completely re-tiled. Even the chimney had to be replaced. “My friend made advance payments several times, a total of 7,500 euros,” says Birgit H. “They said they had tiles in the car for one side of the roof, they could start right away.”

Birgit H. became aware when she was visiting the elderly. She informed Neumann, who drove from Oberrad to Eschersheim. “The roof is fine, completely normal considering its age,” says Neumann. “This is crystal clear rip-off. Far inflated prices are charged for work that is not even necessary.” Neumann has often had to deal with the work of such roof sharks. “Once people are hooked, it’s almost always too late.”

In the present case, a lawyer was called in, who then also made a home visit. “He has issued a ban on entering the property,” says Neumann.

Affected company speaks of damage to reputation

However, it may be difficult to get the prepaid money back. “I have set a deadline,” says attorney Raimund Ernst. “So far nothing has been received. The deadline has passed. The company is just not responding.”

The company in question declined to comment to this newspaper. “We’re not roof sharks and are preparing to report damage to our reputation,” says owner Patrick L. He didn’t want to say more. Not even whether he is already working on the next “broken” roof.

The company is registered in Wächtersbach. A phone call to the responsible Chamber of Crafts in Wiesbaden confirms that the company is entered in the Register of Crafts. However, not as a roofer, but as a building cleaner, interior decorator. Roller shutter and sun protection technology is also a field of work for the company, as is wood protection, wall protection and the installation of standardized prefabricated parts. A works manager who had the necessary qualifications for roofing work was probably also employed at one time. That is no longer the case. The Chamber of Crafts now wants to write to the company and, if necessary, report it to the regulatory authorities if the suspicion is confirmed that it is offering unauthorized roofing work, according to the Chamber of Crafts’ legal advisor.

Hermann Schmidt, foreman of the roofers’ guild, knows the trick: “They look at older houses from below. When the residents are older, they offer small jobs. They usually come off the roof with a piece of rotten wood. They brought the wood with them beforehand.” An advance payment is almost always required: “Once the bricks are covered and the next rain threatens, people get scared and pay up.” They often have no children or live far away. So the pensioners become victims and are ashamed of it.

“These scams are clearly planned,” says Schmidt. Sometimes there are pushers, field workers who recruit the orders and pass them on to official companies. They themselves are often just shell companies. “It’s a sophisticated system.” If you have any suspicions, you can contact the roofers’ guild: “We protect our companies and consumers, we provide legal help, we want to approach door-to-door workers and unauthorized companies.” no ads,” says spokesman Manfred Füllhardt.