...to say I am unhappy with the job they did, small local business?

[sharond101]

Asked for recommendations on local facebook buy and sell page for someone to paint my fence. Was messaged by small local company who came out and gave me a quote. I asked if it was for 2 coats of paint and they said so. Another person offered me a quote (don't believe he has a business) and I asked the first business if they could meet it and they agreed (it was £20 cheaper). They came and began painting. Midday I asked how they were getting on and if they were getting started on the second coat and they said, "If we have enough paint." I wasn't home when they finished, my Mum was there and they said if I wanted a second coat to message them for a quote. The paint is patchy and not as expected. I messaged them on facebook to reflect this and they ignored me. I saw them advertise tonight on the same page so added to it by saying I had messaged them but had not received a response.

ME: Thank you for such a prompt service at painting our fence. I am however unhappy that only one coat has been applied as in areas it is very patchy. When you provided the quote you stated it would be for two coats. I realise you ran out of paint but surely that should have been accounted for? When I got a second quote they also quoted for two coats and I now feel let down.
9:43PM

THEM:Sorry didn't recive your pm, it was new wood so has obviously soaked the paint in. The quote was for one coat, when we finished you were happy with the job,
If we done another quote it wouldn't have been worth our while doing the job. As I wouldn't have been able to pay the boys.

ME:I questioned on quoting and on the day if you were doing two coats and you said at quotation yes and on arriving att he job, "If you had enough paint." I was out when you finished the job, it was my Mum who spoke to you and you asked her to get me to message you about it.

THEM:We told your mum to get you to message us if you wanted another coat. I said one coat and if we had enough paint we would go over it,
ME: i would have gone with my second quote from elsewhere if that was the case as they also quoted two coats. My neighbours fence who did it themselves looks better than mine!

THEM: If you want to supply the paint, I will get someone to come over and apply it, if it was for 2 coats the price would have been more
ME: I understand that two coats would cost more than one coat but on quotation you said you would do two coats, that was what we were expecting and a pre requisite for choosing a company to go with as we expected it to seep in.

Well sorry for the misunderstanding. I can get someone to come and paint it for free if you supply paint, I'm not sure if home base or b and q are Doing an offer on paint at the moment
That still leaves me paying more than initially expected and more than that of the alternative quote I received. I asked specifically if you would be doing two quotes and wouldn't expect a job to be left half done.

To be fair we had 3 boys on the job who obv needed to be paid. The best we can do is send someone to paint it for free if you cover the paint, I just checked and you can get 2 5litre tins for £10
We will obv have to pay one of the boys to come and paint it again, so we will do that if you get the paint
I understand and wouldn't expect them not to be paid but as leader you need to quote the right price for the job to be done properly.

We will get the paint and send someone to apply it one day next week

[sharond101]

Pressed send to early basically, am I being unreasonable to accept their offer to come out and paint another coat free of charge as now I feel bad about it but equally believe they were in the wrong giving me a quote too low to manage.

[deste]

For ten pounds I would take up their offer. It's not worth the hassle.

[sharond101]

It wouldnt be £10 that was the cost of one 2.5l tin. It would be around £40.

[Tiggeryoubastard]

Why did you let them do the work when they turned up and said 'if there's enough paint'? Surely you should have told them not to bother then?

[MiddleClassProblem]

If they said 2, you should have 2. Was it in writing? Either way the "enough paint" comment suggests that the boys came to do 2. I prob would have given in and gotten the paint but I'm a push over and have much respect for you sticking to your guns

[RaeSkywalker]

Guessing you don't have a written quote from them for 2 coats- was this all a verbal agreement?

[RaeSkywalker]

Did you pay them in full in advance? If not I'd withhold some of the fee until you're happy with the work.

[sharond101]

Already paid yes and verbal agreement.

[arethereanyleftatall]

Thing is, he's saying he said one coat and you're saying two. With nothing in writing, it's just your word vs him.

[OreosAreTasty]

Argos sells large-ish pots of paint cheap btw (we got 4 rooms painted for under £40 doing it ourselves) will try to link

[OreosAreTasty]

Hope it's attached correctly. They've got other colours too but possibly more expensive, we just wanted White as we're preparing to move so just wanted everything looking clean/fresh/new etc. Hope this helps! :) x
PS when I checked eBay/Amazon I found some cheapish ones too.
X

[steff13]

Thing is, he's saying he said one coat and you're saying two. With nothing in writing, it's just your word vs him.

This^^ A verbal agreement is worth the paper it's written on.