Builder overcharged, coming back for cash

[sameshoestwice]

I needed a small area of my front drive re-surfaced with tar and chip as the concrete was cracked. I’m due to have an operation next month and will be out of action for a while, after which I want to market my house, so had a sense of urgency.

Rang 6 local firms listed online after looking at reviews. A week later, only one got back to me. He came round, quoted £1100 - a big sum for such a small area. He then offered to ‘knock off the VAT’ and do it for £900 cash. Even this seemed a lot for the size and I don’t usually pay cash, but I was feeling a bit desperate, so foolishly said yes.

He turned up next morning with another guy and a tar boiler and the job was done in 45 mins.
He said he’d come back for the cash - didn’t say when.

I realise I’ve been had - the size of the job isn’t worth anything like that amount. I was stupid for many reasons and am kicking myself. But I also feel vulnerable and a bit scared, I don’t want a doorstep argument when they turn up for the money, although I balk at paying so much for such a tiny job.

Obviously I’ve learned a lot for the future but at the moment I’m feeling very anxious and wonder what other people would do in this situation. Pay up, lick my wounds and put it down to experience? Or offer less and say that's all it's worth? Thanks.

I'm sorry you're in this position, but you agreed a price and he did the job, so you have to pay him.
It would be different if he turned up on the doorstep for payment and whacked another couple of hundred on, then you could refuse.
Chalk it up to experience and don't make financial decisions when desperate in future.

We had the end of the drive re-concreted, an area about 7ft by 8ft and it cost £700 by a reputable company we've used before. How big is the area you've had done?

Do you have anything in writing?

If not I'd give him £90 and front out that this was the sum agreed

Chancer.
You've agreed the price and he's done satisfactory work so you do owe him £900. If you felt up to it you could ask for a reduction but he isn't obliged.
I don't blame you for feeling shitty, it's happened to most of us.
Don't beat yourself up it's done now and you will know next time to be on guard.

Come on, he quoted , you agreed. You were happy enough to pay cash to get your discount at the time.

You were willing to pay it when you agreed to him doing the job,
you can't now decide it is too much and refuses to pay,
you entered a legally binding agreement, he did the work as agreed, you owe the money you agreed to,
it might be overpriced but you agreed to it so just pay him.

This really annoys me. It doesn’t matter how long the job took! You agreed a price so you pay it. Whether it took him 1 hour or 1 week, that was the price agreed for the job.

He gave you a price and you accepted so that's the amount you should pay. You can't wait until they've done the job and then change your mind!

So is he a legitimate company and did he have good reviews or a changer that just knocked on your door?

Thanks so much for speedy responses - that helps me make the decision to kiss the money goodbye and learn for next time.

@Scrumptiousbears

So is he a legitimate company and did he have good reviews or a changer that just knocked on your door?

She contacted him, not the other way round

Pay what you agreed but you could leave a review saying you think their prices are too high with description of job and what you've put here re. the time it took.

Even this seemed a lot for the size and I don’t usually pay cash, but I was feeling a bit desperate, so foolishly said yes

I think that's the crux, really. You already knew it was overpriced, but you wanted fast work, so agreed.

I do feel for you, but you've accepted the quote. It doesn't really matter how long it took - he's presumably got years of experience to do it well and fast. You accepted a set fee for quick turnaround.

@Chicchicchicchiclana

Pay what you agreed but you could leave a review saying you think their prices are too high with description of job and what you've put here re. the time it took.

This isn't very fair. OP wasn't under any obligation to accept the price. She could have gone elsewhere. The price was agreed, she knew the size of the job. Surely it doesn't matter how long the job took to be done. The end result is that the job is done, and she was happy (or at least agreed) to pay that amount to get that end result.

Why leave a review and possibly damage someone's business? Horrible idea.

He’s avoiding tax. Report him to HMRC anonymously if you want on their website. Give as many details as possible.

I think you paid extra for quick work. Look at it like paying higher delivery charges to get something in one day rather than two weeks. Also, when considering the work, you’re not just paying for the time it takes but for the knowledge he’s built up to do it that quickly. Part of what you pay for is the time he blocks out to do the work, so
If he can’t take on another full day job because he’s doing your little job the costs will be higher, it’s always more cost effective to get a bigger job done. It’s why there’s always difficulty getting someone to fit in little jobs

Take it on the chin.

You need to pay what you agreed. Yes, he's avoiding tax and you're helping him do so by accepting a reduction for cash. Which you also knew before he did the job.

@LindaEllen but £900 ex VAT for 2-3 hours (being very generous) plus some inexpensive materials IS excessive. People are entitled to know.

I do accounts work for a skilled tradesman in a trade that is heavily regulated and requires annual inspections/exams and ongoing compliance for all members of staff in London, and the absolute maximum he would charge for 2 people working for an hour each on a call out would be £316 total plus materials. And that would be in the congestion charge zone, would be under £250 if local.

So, no I wouldn't feel bad about mentioning the man's prices in OPs case. I think it's pretty horrible that he thinks he can exploit people like this.