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Not paying painter due to carpet stains?

181 replies

Reasonswhy · 22/10/2025 16:13

Starting off with - I’m the most under confident person in the world so any form of potential confrontation feels so hard for me, appreciate I may be making a mountain out of a molehill.
Had a painter out this week to paint 2 rooms. He said on Monday he woolr
get it done that day, but has taken 3 days as said he had other jobs chasing him and his apprentice off sick - fine, no big deal. He finished today while I was out, and I’ve come home to an ok job but it’s patchy still in places and the carpet in one room has a lot of paint on the carpet 😢I’ve attached pics of the smaller areas - for some reason the larger patches pics have been flagged as sensitive😂The areas are damp and slightly white so he’s clearly already put something on it to soak it up which isn’t worked.
I summoned up the courage to call him and he sounded defensive from the off, said he was coming back to finish the darker blue room which had been a “nightmare” as such a dark colour. I told him about the carpet and he said oh is just a dribble? And I said no, there are lots of areas and given they are damp I’m guessing you knew about it and put something down- I just need to know how to get the paint off. He said he’ll sort it over the coming days and rang off.
What do I do? He left an invoice for £680 including materials asking politely for it to be paid within 48 hours. I don’t want to pay it in case he doesn’t come back to fix it, and I don’t think the paint will come easily unless he has a magic solution. WWYD? Do I deduct something from the amount to cover carpet cleaning? If so what would be reasonable? Or will this cause a confrontation?

ugh. TIA

Not paying painter due to carpet stains?
Not paying painter due to carpet stains?
Not paying painter due to carpet stains?
OP posts:
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BallerinaRadio · 22/10/2025 16:21

Get a price to get the carpet cleaned. He can either then pay that or knock it off your invoice. If he doesn't (but if he's any sort of reputable tradesman he should) then you have to decide how to take it further

PastaAllaNorma · 22/10/2025 16:20

Whyherewego · 22/10/2025 16:18

I would simply ignore the invoice until he comes back to you. If he chases then say you will pay once the damage is sorted.

Exactly. I never pay until the job is completed to my satisfaction because otherwise they disappear into the ether without an incentive to come back and fix everything.

Reasonswhy · 22/10/2025 16:20

Catsknowbest · 22/10/2025 16:14

Why wasn't the carpeting covered up? 🙈😮

It was, Monday and Tuesday it had his painting sheets covering the floor but I’m guessing today he moved it too soon? 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️no idea!

OP posts:
Whyherewego · 22/10/2025 16:18

I would simply ignore the invoice until he comes back to you. If he chases then say you will pay once the damage is sorted.

NotbloodyGivingupYet · 22/10/2025 16:16

Catsknowbest · 22/10/2025 16:14

Why wasn't the carpeting covered up? 🙈😮

That's what I want to know too!

Catsknowbest · 22/10/2025 16:14

Why wasn't the carpeting covered up? 🙈😮