Hi.
First off I'd like to say it's late here and I may fall asleep, so apologies if don't come back for a few hours.
Right, a sort of family friend (friend of my H - separated) offered to make me a piece of furniture.
He is a professional with quals, insurance, legally registered etc etc.
I've seen his previous work.
He estimated a cost $200 for the materials, plus an additional fee of $300 for his time which is below the going rate but not hugely so (I'd expect to pay $750)
The first week he got a lot of materials and invoices me $218 for materials. I pay this, thinking something had gone up in price etc for $18 I wasn't about to fuss.
The 2nd week I am invoiced again for materials. I query this, go to see work done thus far and he gives me an explanation as to why I'm invoiced again. Basically saying he was very sorry and had under estimated by x y z material amount. I know he's not doing too well at the moment business wise perhaps this is why so I pay up. This invoice was for $116.
This week another invoice arrives, again for materials.
$104.
I'm really really not happy - not least when I'm going to be expected to pay AGAIN for his time upon completion (I'm not sure why this wasn't paid upfront but I assumed it would be, he's since said it's standard for him to take payment for his time once I'm happy with it and it's complete)
He has a 3/4 made piece of furniture, apparently needs yet more materials. What the fuck do I do?
Normally it's an IKEA job rather than having things made - I just thought it'd be nice to have something made for me, so I'm not entirely sure what to expect to be honest.
Aibu to be really unimpressed with ever rising costs that weren't quoted for?
I can afford to pay up, but I'm not sure I want to when I feel I've been fucked about.
Then again I'm not sure I've much of a choice. If I don't I've basically set fire to a good few hundred, his time is wasted, my time waiting for this to be made has been wasted and I don't get the item anyway if he can't/won't finish it.