Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To invoice a repairman?

227 replies

Shazzabaz · 31/07/2025 18:21

Hi.

My DH took our car to a local handyman/mechanic who is a friend for some work needed. Basically tyre changes, oil changes, handbrake tightening etc

He kept the car for three days, and then when we returned it he gave us an invoice of £30 to cover "costs".

What "costs"? We supplied the tyres to him!

My husband paid him, but I'm fuming. He originally said he wouldn't charge for his labour, as we have known him for so long.

I have decided I am going to send him an invoice for keeping our car longer than he said he would, to reimburse us for having to get the bus into town when we should have been able to drive.

I know this is petty, but a point needs proving. You can't keep a car longer than you promise, and then invoice for a favour!!!!

I'm wondering if it's petty to invoice for more than £30, just to make a point?

My DH says no, and this will only cause trouble, but I'm not being a doormat for his dishonest mate.

What do you all think?

OP posts:
MasterBeth · 31/07/2025 18:50

Why are you giving him a promissory note if a) you've already paid him and b) it's thirty quid??

Original poster
Shazzabaz · 31/07/2025 18:50

I should have added the last time he did us a favour we DID give him a promissory note in advance!!! And it was a large one. I should have mentioned that in the OP but it adds valuable context.

OP posts:
UsingAMansNameInAWomensWorld · 31/07/2025 18:47

Happy summer holidays everyone

RatherTardy · 31/07/2025 18:47

Vote is interesting

Inertia · 31/07/2025 18:47

I think you would be absolutely cutting your nose off to spite your face.

That amount of annual service type work would cost hundreds if completed by a regular mechanic, and then you’d still have to pay for the parts on top.

You ask ‘what costs?’

There’s the cost of the parts he used, the equipment and tools needed to fit the parts, the years of training, his workspace, his expertise.

If I were your husband I’d be thoroughly unimpressed with your snotty attitude, and if I were the mechanic friend I’d be telling you where to go next time.

Original poster
Shazzabaz · 31/07/2025 18:46

I will make my promissory note for £500 and I'll apologise to my husband. This wasn't an easy read, but the strength of the response...wow

OP posts:
legsekeven · 31/07/2025 18:45

Seriously he did you a big favour. Maybe it actually took three days! You should have insisted on paying him for his time!

Laura95167 · 31/07/2025 18:44

Shazzabaz · 31/07/2025 18:37

Ok...looks like I'm in the wrong on this one.
I'll give him a promissory note for the full £30 tomorrow.

That's correct. You are in the wrong

Original poster
Shazzabaz · 31/07/2025 18:43

Ok..ok..

I'm wrong.

I get it.....

Sorry.

I misjudged the situation.

I will give him a big promissory note tomorrow so he knows he is covered for future repairs

OP posts:
Laura95167 · 31/07/2025 18:42

Shazzabaz · 31/07/2025 18:33

Maybe I didn't express myself clearly.

He promised to do this for free?

He promised to give his time for free. Not the parts (oil, filters, deicer) you got an absolute bargain.

And if you act ungrateful because you thought no labour charge meant no bill he wont offer again and youll have to get a service somewhere that will so decide whether this is worth your strop or not

Whammyyammy · 31/07/2025 18:41

CF of 2025 goes to.....

Motherofalittledragon · 31/07/2025 18:41

So you want people to maintain your car free of charge? Even if he stated he’d do it for free and you supplied all the parts would you really give him nothing for his time?

Icepinkeskimo · 31/07/2025 18:39

Your not a nice person, someone does you a BIG favour the norm is you would at least have the decency to offer them some money as a goodwill gesture.
To even think of issuing an invoice to this man is crass, self-entitled and mean spirited.
Do you ever get of your throne of point scoring?

Original poster
Shazzabaz · 31/07/2025 18:39

Yes, that's why I'm giving him a promissory note and not cash

OP posts:
UsingAMansNameInAWomensWorld · 31/07/2025 18:38

Shazzabaz · 31/07/2025 18:37

Ok...looks like I'm in the wrong on this one.
I'll give him a promissory note for the full £30 tomorrow.

But he's been paid already?

Sundaymorningcalla · 31/07/2025 18:38

Holy shit, what have you been smoking OP, because I wanted some too.

Ps. Can you pass me the details of you friend, he's done you a favour and invoiced you I expect for consumables such as oil, filters etc. Why should he pay for those out of his own pocket? He has provided free labour, next time pop on down to your local garage and see how much it costs.

What a CF you are.

RepoTheGeriatricOpera · 31/07/2025 18:38

Shazzabaz · 31/07/2025 18:37

Ok...looks like I'm in the wrong on this one.
I'll give him a promissory note for the full £30 tomorrow.

I thought your husband paid him already?

UsingAMansNameInAWomensWorld · 31/07/2025 18:37

Shazzabaz · 31/07/2025 18:33

Maybe I didn't express myself clearly.

He promised to do this for free?

He won't be if you are this stupid

Original poster
Shazzabaz · 31/07/2025 18:37

Ok...looks like I'm in the wrong on this one.
I'll give him a promissory note for the full £30 tomorrow.

OP posts:
didgeridid · 31/07/2025 18:37

This has to be a wind up .

£30 for a service and to fit tyres?! He still needs to cover costs for oil and oil filter and his time. You can't expect that for free.

GasperyJacquesRoberts · 31/07/2025 18:36

Shazzabaz · 31/07/2025 18:33

Maybe I didn't express myself clearly.

He promised to do this for free?

Maybe you didn't read the question I asked: did you supply the oil, oil filter and all the other consumables needed for the work you got?

GonnaeNoDaeThatJustGonnaeNo · 31/07/2025 18:35

Don’t be an arsehole

RepoTheGeriatricOpera · 31/07/2025 18:35

Yes you absolutely should, then you can see the real cost of these things rather than giving a few quid to a mate, because he will, quite rightly, tell you to fuck off.

Original poster
Shazzabaz · 31/07/2025 18:33

Maybe I didn't express myself clearly.

He promised to do this for free?

OP posts:
InterviewGhost · 31/07/2025 18:31

This cannot be real. You are grossly unreasonable.