A building job to raise the roof over.

Mahroof Hussain decided to add a conservatory to his home to make the most of the summer weather.

What he didn't expect was to be so exposed to it.

His light and airy garden room turned out to be too much so ( with no roof.

Mahroof, of Studley Road, Stockton, asked Norton Windows and Conservatories to quote for his new conservatory.

But ten months later, it still has no roof and pounds 1,775 worth of work remains unfinished.

Despite repeated phone calls and messages to the Michael and Brian on the Norton Windows and Conservatories business card, neither Watchdog nor Mahroof can get a reply.

"I agreed with someone called Michael from Norton Windows, to pay a deposit of pounds 2,500 on September 12," said 43-year-old Mahroof.

He then paid another stage payment of pounds 2,000, on October 7, after the firm had built the dwarf wall. The frame of the conservatory was fitted the next day, so Mahroof was happy that progress was being made.

But now it is July - and that is as far as the work has got.

There is a base and windows, but no roof. And it has been raining for days.

And that isn't the only problem for Mahroof.

"I can't get a reply at the home number I have and the mobile number only takes messages, which is why I've contacted Watchdog," he told us.

Mahroof has even been round to the home address he was given ( Grange Avenue, Grangefield, where he was told there had been "a long-term illness."

While Norton Conservatory and Windows was working at Mahroof's home, he was told a patio door would be pounds 775 extra to the original quote.

That brought the total cost of the conservatory to pounds 7,275 and he had already paid pounds 5,500 for a building with no roof.

Sadly though, in Watchdog's expert opinion, Mahroof has a written contract from Norton Windows which is almost completely useless.

He knows he has been dealing with two men who called themselves Michael Bradley and Brian Flaherty, both of whom he assumed were partners in Norton Conservatory and Windows.

Mahroof has even been given business cards, but they simply carry the first names of the two men. He gave Watchdog the mobile number, but it has never been answered.

So how can he get any satisfaction? Is there a route he can take to get redress?

It seems not.

Mahroof would find it difficult to sue the company because as it stands, there is no one to sue and no proper or effective address where legal documents can be served.

The conservatory contract does not have the firm's business address and the telephone number relates to a house.

Mahroof did eventually get to speak to Brian, who claimed he has split from Michael.

"He said Norton Windows is nothing to do with him and if I want to pursue the matter, I should contact his ex-partner," Mahroof said.

If only Mahroof and Watchdog could.

It looks as if he will have to get someone else to complete the job.

Watchdog believes there are important lessons to be learned here:

* Whenever you sign a contract, check the document to see if it contains certain statutory information.

* There should always be an address on the contract documentation. If there is no address, be very wary.

* HAVE you a consumer issue you'd like us to investigate? Send letters or an e-mail ONLY to: Watchdog, Features Department, Evening Gazette, Borough Road, Middlesbrough, TS1 3AZ, fax [phone] or e-mail [e-mail]

You must be prepared to have your consumer STORY and PHOTO published in the Evening Gazette.

www.icTeesside.co.uk/watchdog