To think that she should have completed this job sooner?

[MojitoMadame]

Someone I know has a DH who runs a picture framing business. About 18 months ago I gave them 6 prints to be framed, but heard nothing and to be honest, had completely forgotten about them. Yesterday I received a message to say that they were ready and that I owed them £300.

I don't want to be unreasonable or make a fuss, but I do think that this is a long time; the prints were for my daughter's room, but she is off to uni in a couple of months. I actually don't need or want them any more, but I don't want to act in an unfair way either.

What would you do?

Firstly, 18 months is such a long time and I can understand that you're taken aback by this.

I echo the questions of previous posters. My only indulgence is artwork and limited editions. Sometimes I buy unframed canvases and get them professionally framed separately. You're paying for a specialist service here and it's really not the same as buying frames off the shelf. For perspective, I paid £120 for a recent 30in x 30in canvas. So I don't think that your invoice is inflated but it really does depend on what you'be had framed.

That should read that I paid £120 to get the canvas framed.

You haven't chased in 18months, they've never quoted a price and have gone ahead after all that time without even checking with you? Bollocks to that. I'd not be Paying.

Yes you should have followed but acting and charging so long after the initial contact is ridiculous behaviour.

Thanks everybody, perhaps I am being too generous in just paying up, and should try to negotiate - I do feel let down to be honest.

You could chance your luck.
But you will look silly if they tell you "they've been lying on a shelf for ages, we were getting ready to sell them".
I honestly don't think that they have only just done them. If they had been forgotten about and found recently unframed I'd think they'd have called before doing the work. Or decide to save face and ignore them logic "client has clearly forgotten too so why bother"

I would message back "I'm not sure what has happened here, I asked about those prints 18 months ago, but as I didn't hear back about a price or completion time and such a long time had passed I assumed you were not doing them. Perhaps it is my mistake for not chasing you up but after so much has now passed I feel you should have confirmed that I still wanted them and was happy with the price."

I would reply with this. You are a mug if you just pay up.

Was price not discussed when you placed the order?

Can't she take them to University with her?

I suspect they were done ages ago, and they have been waiting for you to collect them.

Update - we had a bit of an angry text exchange, but I decided to pay up as they had clearly done the work. They apologised for the delay, caused by serious health issues; spouse hospitalised and seriously incapacitated.

So I paid up, they brought the pictures round and they are fabulous!

I'm always when people say "Oh...that's a lot!" re things like this.
Why the hell wouldn't you ask for a price!?

YABU anyway. You ordered them and whether you want them or not, you have to pay.

I don't have an issue with the price, it was the delay. I think a term could reasonably implied, in the absence of an express term, that the work should be completed within a reasonable period. However, happily all is resolved!