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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

It's only £7.50 but I feel a bit swindled...!

40 replies

TheEndlessArete · 15/11/2011 16:59

Basically - we're having an extension built. Just got the first bill from the architect (for loads of money). As part of his expenses he has billed us for the cost of petrol for three visits he'd made to our house.

It is true that he has made three trips to our house, but the first one was before we had agreed any contract with the firm - it was basically him touting for business (we had several architects round during that time).

AIBU to quibble over £7.50 which is such a small proportion of what the final cost will be ? Surely I don't have to pay for a visit before we've engaged his services ?

WWYD ?

OP posts:
thereinmadnesslies · 15/11/2011 17:01

If £7.50 is the only amount you have to quibble over the course of your project, you will be doing really well ...

HeidiKat · 15/11/2011 17:12

I would probably let it go tbh, £750 I would kick off about, £7.50 not so much.

HexagonalQueenOfTheSummer · 15/11/2011 17:13

I would quibble it. On principle

ZillionChocolate · 15/11/2011 17:13

I think it's cheeky of him. How about promptly paying the bill minus the £7.50 with a note about how you didn't have a contract with him until X date.

eurochick · 15/11/2011 17:14

The first one he certainly shouldn't bill for but is it really worth it over 2.50?

minipie · 15/11/2011 17:15

I agree in principle it's wrong for him to charge you for what is essentially his marketing costs. But I'd let it go too and save your ire for the bigger battles down the line. Unless you think he's been cheeky in other ways too in which case maybe mention it as a small part of an overall bigger picture.

FredFredGeorge · 15/11/2011 17:21

Just tell him he appears to have made a mistake as he only made 2 visits to you.

YANBU to quibble, you certainly should, he's either made a mistake or he's deliberately gouging you.

ExquisiteCake · 15/11/2011 17:22

I'd tell him to shove it up his arse.

If he wasn't hired then you don't pay him to come and give you a quote. That's utter bullshit.

Original poster
TheEndlessArete · 15/11/2011 17:36

eurochick, it was £7.50 for each visit.

YEs thereinliesthemadness, if this is the only quibbling, we'll have done quite well.

Thanks for opinions - albeit undecided !!!

But good to get it confirmed that he is being unreasonable to charge for that first visit.

OP posts:
1Catherine1 · 15/11/2011 17:39

I wouldn't quibble until I had had the final bill...

Maryz · 15/11/2011 17:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

complexnumber · 15/11/2011 17:44

My cynical side is saying YES do question it.

Maybe this will give them the message from the very start that you will be the sort of customer who will be scrutinising what you are actually paying for. And that you are not gong to be a push over.

CheerMum · 15/11/2011 17:45

you need to have a look in your contract with him to see what you have agreed to pay for

squeakytoy · 15/11/2011 17:46

I wouldnt start quibbling at this stage over such a small amount. If he wants to start being a jobsworth when you need him, it might not be the best way to go.

valiumredhead · 15/11/2011 17:48

What Maryz said. I have never heard of such a thing - a builder doesn't charge you when he comes to do work at your house, it's built into his daily rate.

bibbitybobbitybloodyaxe · 15/11/2011 17:51

His willingness, haste even, to add this to his bill signals huge great flashing RED LIGHTS AND WARNING KLAXONS to me, I'm afraid.

gastrognome · 15/11/2011 18:38

YANBU.

When we had our kitchen extension knocked down and rebuilt, our architect came over several times before the project started. He even came over one night at 9pm to help us pack up the kitchen contents before the builders came in. He never billed us for anything except the plans and the project management work agreed in the contract. No hidden extras.

And I agree with Maryz and Bibbitybobbity - it sounds like a bit of a warning sign I'm afraid.

Original poster
TheEndlessArete · 15/11/2011 18:39

ha ha, yes, feels a bit 'jobsworth' to quibble ! we're actually only using him for the initial stages, so might ask him about it as it's not going to be an ongoing relationship....

OP posts:
plainwhitet · 15/11/2011 18:41

A solicitor I was using charged me for a round robin letter he sent me to tell me his colleague was leaving! I queried it and the cost was refunded. I would do as zillionchocolate says.

cocoachannel · 15/11/2011 18:42

I'm amazed he's recharging his travel. I'd expect it to be absorbed into his fee. Make a stand and don't pay any of it unless it's explicitly stated in his contract.

Towndon · 15/11/2011 18:46

YANBU. You would expect a professional to factor in travel costs and other overheads into his overall fee, not to charge specifically for that. And a free consultation should not incur any charges.

FabbyChic · 15/11/2011 18:47

Id quibble now so he knows you arent going to take any unecessary expenses on the chin.

PomBearAtTheGatesOfDoom · 15/11/2011 18:48

It could be the start of a pattern though, if he does this (for whatever small thing he comes up with) ten times over the course of the work, that's £75... just politely say you think there's been a mistake - quite understandable ha ha, but stand firm. He could well do this with everyone and use their reaction to judge how much to fiddle bill them later and what for.

Towndon · 15/11/2011 18:58

Are you committed to using this person now? Could you get someone else to do it?

Towndon · 15/11/2011 18:59

Shock That takes the Biscuit

"A solicitor I was using charged me for a round robin letter he sent me to tell me his colleague was leaving!"

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