We got a quote with a famous DG firm a few months ago for 3 new windows on the front of our house. The quote was £1500. We signd all the things, a surveyor came out, said all was ok and the work started on Mon. The top two windows went in ok but when they went to put in the living room window, they pulled out the original window then said that there was a piece of wood resting inside the outside layer of bricks which, when removed had cause the outer bricks to bow out and would ultimately cause that piece of wall to fall off.
He rang his superior who said that they could do the work for £520 (or we could get our own builders in) - we said to go ahead as the downstairs window was now broken beyond repair and the brickwork already damaged anyhow. Whilst the fitters told me about the problem, they were able to point out that our neighbours ( a few houses) had obviously had the same problem (our houses are roughly 80 years old) and that clearly it was something due to the age of the house.
My question is should the surveyor not have noticed this potential problem? Should we pay the extra £520 when the work is completed or with hold it and argue our case? I hate arguing about money but I do feel like they cheated us. Also, we live in an ex-council house and are not well off. Any thoughts?