To think that she should have completed this job sooner?

[MojitoMadame]

Someone I know has a DH who runs a picture framing business. About 18 months ago I gave them 6 prints to be framed, but heard nothing and to be honest, had completely forgotten about them. Yesterday I received a message to say that they were ready and that I owed them £300.

I don't want to be unreasonable or make a fuss, but I do think that this is a long time; the prints were for my daughter's room, but she is off to uni in a couple of months. I actually don't need or want them any more, but I don't want to act in an unfair way either.

What would you do?

[rubyslippers]

In the entire 18 months you didn't chase?!

[ErNope]

YANBU but he did do it especially for you so you may have to pay unless he specified a time
Frame in which they'd be completed and they weren't done in that time

[rubyslippers]

They've done the job

You've changed your mind

Think you'll have to pay

Did they communicate at all with you?

£300 is a lot / are they massive pictures?

[AdrenalineFudge]

I wouldn't pay if you no longer want them. It's been 18months fgs! Say thanks but no thanks. Don't be drawn into apologising or making up excuses out of guilt.

[FiveGoMadInDorset]

Are you sure they didn't complete the job much earlier and are now chasing you as you haven't paid. why didn't you chase earlier?

[SuburbanRhonda]

So you didn't contact them at any point during the 18 months to ask when they would be ready?

I agree it's a long wait but the framer probably assumed you were fine with it since you didn't get in touch.

[Lookatyourwatchnow]

18 months? I'm a massive wimp ordinarily with stuff like this, but I wouldn't be paying.

[twirlypoo]

Reply and say "bloody hell I gave you those 18 months ago - DD is going to uni now so we really have no need for the framing any more. Thanks for getting in touch about it anyway"

[NarkyKnockers]

I think as you forgot about it and didn't cancel you will have to pay. wonders why anyone would pay £300 for picture frames

[Lostwithinthehills]

Did you know the frames were going to cost £300? And how long were you told it would take?

If I was planning to spend that much money I doubt I would have forgotten about it.

I think that the picture framer was unreasonable to take so long but you also bear some responsibility for the situation. Perhaps offer to pay half because of the length of time the job took.

[NapQueen]

How did you not establish a finish date or chase them in all this time?

Yabu.

[MsJamieFraser]

Personally I would just say that as it took so long for them to complete the work, you got artwork done elsewhere.

[MojitoMadame]

No I didn't chase and no, I wasn't given a price. I don't want to be unreasonable and don't mind paying something, but £300 seems quite a lot and I don't really want the pictures any more.

[rubyslippers]

YABU for not chasing. Find that odd as she had your goods

I don't think it's fair TBH that you don't pay something

[OnionKnight]

If you didn't chase then it's your fault.

[Cagliostro]

difficult but i think YWBU for not chasing them earlier :(

[JoJoSM2]

You could tell them that it's been an extremely long time and that you don't need them anymore. You could offer to pay a smaller amount that you're comfortable with or offer for them to sell the pics on and keep the money (if you're not fussed about the pictures).

[NarkyKnockers]

Also you will know next time to ask the price first.

[Therealloislane]

I'd reply saying you'd forgotten all about them. It ha's been so long you assumed they weren't being done.

[2nds]

Pay the money. It just looks like you were avoiding paying them to be honest. You should have chased them up a few weeks after you gave them the prints. It's possible that they were finished ages ago.

[monkeywithacowface]

I would message back "I'm not sure what has happened here, I asked about those prints 18 months ago, but as I didn't hear back about a price or completion time and such a long time had passed I assumed you were not doing them. My mistake for not chasing you up but after so much has now past I feel you should have confirmed that I still wanted them and was happy with the price."

[bookishandblondish]

Just to put the price into context, I had an A2 poster size print framed this year - it cost £77 with no mount.

I personally think £300 for six prints is reasonable. But I would have expected a quote in writing and also choice of frames/ mounts ( and some discussion for each print) and I also would have chased.

[BastardGoDarkly]

Bollocks, I wouldn't pay. You wanted them a year and a half ago! If they can get in touch now, they could have got in touch ages ago, why didn't they? Because they weren't done/they forgot, tough shit I'd say.

[hippiedays]

The framer probably thinks YABU for not contacting her sooner to pick them up and not paying her before now.

I imagine she has had five big frames stacked somewhere for eighteen months while waiting for payment

That said, both of you should have contacted each other and possibly both of you forgot all about them.

I'd say you have to suck it up and follow through with collection and payment. You could ask her for a discount given the delay ie if she was supposed to contact you when the work was complete.

[DoreenLethal]

In the entire 18 months you didn't chase?!

It has been 18 months and the OP said she forgot all about them.

Someone I know has a DH who runs a picture framing business

'What prints? You mean the ones I gave you 18 months ago. Nice try!'