To cut a long story short, we want to make minor improvements to our house, and it involves some structural repair work at the same time.
We contacted several companies who came out and measured etc, we chose company A based on local reputation, competitive price and availability to do the work (at the time I was 6 months pregnant and wanted the work doing before baby arrives to avoid too much disruption, mess etc).
After choosing company A, they came out again and provided a written quote- we signed everything, paid a deposit and take the rest on interest free finance.
Company A then sent a surveyor out to confirm everything we wanted doing and he pointed out some minor things that we would need to do before the work could take place, so we made arrangements for that.
We were then expecting to get a start date for the work, but got another call asking if the surveyor could come back and double check something. He did, but caused some damage in the process (unavoidable), this will be made good during the works.
Again we were expecting the next contact to be a start date for the work, but I was called up and informed that due to the results of the survey, the work will cost more. The company claim that the written quote they gave was 'subject to survey' and this was in the small print.
I cannot see the clause the company is referring to, only one which says they assume the building is up to regulations and may need to charge more if it isn't.
The work they are referring to is the structural part, which we specifically pointed out, and is detailed in the written quote, but they say it will cost more as it is an unusual design.
I say, that's not my problem, they should have assessed this before giving the written quote OR made it clear that the quoted price is for 'standard' design, we wouldn't get a firm price until after the survey, and they should not have taken our deposit or arranged finance until after the survey.
I am awaiting a call back from someone more senior at the company, so AIBU to expect them to go ahead with the work as initially agreed (and would the law support me in this) or is the best I can hope for a mutual cancellation with our deposit returned in full?
Either way, it's taken so long that the work won't get done before baby- I'm due any day and we've already passed the guideline date that we were given when we chose company A!