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

[TheEndlessArete]

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 ?

like cheermum says, look at the contract. Who knows what else you have agreeed to?

Agree with fabby, nip it in the bud and show him that you will be checking costs line by line. It's not about the amount, it's the principle.

I agree with maryz and others and say if he's charging you for this now what other little extras will he be asking you to pay for - presumably he will be back a few more times so you need to say something before he charges you again. I think the route of "i'm sure it's a mistake" is good. Let us know what he says.

DD swimming teacher charged me a joining fee when I resumed lessons after one term off (and i'd paid £20 to keep her spot free while she couldn't swim too) and i quibbled it and she tried to argue but gave in in the end - cheeky cah.

If you were overcharged £7.50 for a bottle of wine you'd quibble. £7.50 is £7.50, wherever it comes from

ooh LIP that is cheeky. one or the other surely - either hold place or joining fee (plus risk of no space)

ZillionChocolate is right. He is not legally able to charge you for work not detailed in the contract Nuff said.

yeah either get someone else or set the tone by telling him not to take the piss. beginnings are important

on the other hand though he sounds quite anal in his breakdowns so the meticulousness could be a good sign?

I have to say, the would wind me up no end and I would quibble,.

I think it would be wise to shhhh until he has completed his work and you've checked everything.

Because if you piss him off now, he's more likely to shaft you for a lot more than £7.50. And anyway, he'll just hide that £7.50 in another place just to get one up on you. It's human nature innit?

Play the long game, you know? That way you hold all the cards.

Could you bill him for any cups of tea you made him, cost of heating the kettle, tea bags, sugar, milk, and any water he used going to the toilet - the total bill could be, say, £7.50?

ha ha, thanks all. Yes, the only reason I know such detail about the expenses was because I asked him for a detailed breakdown after I received the bill.

Yes, I thought it was a bit cheeky to pay for travel expenses anyway !

If he asks why you're quibbling over a small amount, then say you're sure he won't mind you not paying such a "small amount" :o

Is it possible he just doesn't realise it's not usual to include this as an expense? He's an architect not an accountant, although obviously if you're running a business you're supposed to be familiar with usual practises.