Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu to think they're trying to rip me off, and do I have the right to cancel?

175 replies

ChickenOrEgg6 · 03/06/2018 14:34

I need my new carpet fitted I have it here already (bought and paid for, different company).
I got a quote for the fitting, £400 (this is for v small hallway + 2 rooms). This was listed as total cost, but the fitters arrived earlier and said it was £400 for each "section" (hallway, 2 small bedrooms = 3 sections apparently) making the "quote" £1200, I expressed my surprise at this for the reason above and showed them the email quote I had received. They said "we can discount it to £350 per section" but that's still over £1000 and way more than I'd be spending willingly. They also said "well we've arrived now so we have to do the job and you have to pay" I asked them to go, They're now sat outside in a van and one of them is on the phone.
Aibu to think this is a ridiculous price and they're trying to rip me off?
Can I cancel? They hadn't started work at all and to be honest if this is how much it will cost me I will just fit it myself (nervous about doing it)

But I'm worried especially as they're hovering outside and I'm not sure if I am liable for the cost of this. I could afford it but it would make other things so much harder for me...

OP posts:
AlonsoTigerHeart · 03/06/2018 16:04

If the carpet company have a Facebook account call them out on it

cinders15 · 03/06/2018 16:06

Did you know they would be coming on a Sunday?
I think that they are chancing their arm - I bet the job was in the office Friday and they saw it, and came to you on a Sunday to fleece you. I think they are working on their own.
Tomorrow complain to whoever gave you the quote and see what they offer - if you still want them to do it, they should knock off something for the CFery! Angry

SimonBridges · 03/06/2018 16:07

Completely taking the piss.

Fairenuff · 03/06/2018 16:10

Even if they agree to do it for the original £400, tell them no as you've lost faith in them now. In fact, just don't speak to the fitters at all. Call the company that you booked through, make an official complaint and cancel the fitting.

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 03/06/2018 16:11

Are you okay OP ?

SluttyButty · 03/06/2018 16:18

Christ alive! We paid just short of £500 for an entire three storey house to be carpeted and vinyl laid in the kitchen. Every single room...

DailyMailFail101 · 03/06/2018 16:22

£2 per square yard is the average price for fitting...

Katedotness1963 · 03/06/2018 16:36

While I think they're piss taking chancers, are you sure there's no extra charges for Sunday work?

CristalTipps · 03/06/2018 16:37

Get more quotes. I paid £68 to have two rooms fitted. Warn/have a go at whoever recommended them to you!

eddielizzard · 03/06/2018 16:48

total rip off. i agree they're planning on giving the boss £400 and taking £800 for themselves. the email is clear. they can fuck off. even if they come back and say they'll do it for £400 you don't have to accept. trust is broken.

DarlingNikita · 03/06/2018 16:49

Kate, they should have said that in the quote if so –I'm assuming that they agreed then on the day of the week they would come.

And treble time is a hell of a mark-up even if it WAS for working a Sunday.

Oddcat · 03/06/2018 16:50

The original quote was still far too expensive even for a Sunday.

sadeyedladyofthelowlandsea · 03/06/2018 17:00

Christ alive... I paid £800 for my (admittedly very cheap & crap carpet) and that included free fitting, for a 3 bed house. I hadn't even realised they were going to do my stairs, built in cupboards, and they left me enough remnants to recarpet at least two rooms!

MissConductUS · 03/06/2018 17:05

The quote you have, with your acceptance of it, constitutes a contract. If they want to change the terms of the contract by charging you more, you have no legal obligation to agree to the new terms.

If they come back to the door explain that to them and tell them to leave.

thecatneuterer · 03/06/2018 17:11

Even the original quote was rip off though. So the OP shouldn't be trying to get them to stick to that. She just needs to report them to the company and then get a much, much cheaper quote from somewhere else.

Don't try to fit it yourself though OP - badly fitted carpets look dreadful.

NewToCats · 03/06/2018 17:12

Please don't let them back in the house, even if they offer to fit for £400.

Phone up a different company on Monday and get a new quote based on what people have said here.

doughnutbits · 03/06/2018 17:21

If they come back with the boss saying he'll stick by the original quote, do not let them in the house.

Get in touch with the firm, tell them you're cancelling the order, period. Reason, you don't trust them. Why? I just don't trust them and if they don't leave my drive I'm calling the Police.

Good luck to you, feel proud you stood your ground.

MissConductUS · 03/06/2018 17:22

It does sound like a lot. The only way I can see it being remotely fair is if it includes installation of a top quality padding (or underlayment as it's called) under the carpet. Even then it sounds like a lot. The job you describe is two hours work for two experienced carpet layers at the most.

I think getting some other quotes before you proceed is a very good idea. It really ticks me off when tradesmen think they can wildly overcharge like this just because someone might not know better. We have two websites for rating tradesmen and contractors in the US - homeadvisor.com and angieslist.com. I always check the company out there before I hire them, and I make sure they know that I found them there. That way they know I'm going to rate them and write a review when they're done.

Good luck getting it sorted, and sorry they tried to take advantage of you like this.

Rachie1986 · 03/06/2018 17:25

Hows it going OP, are they still there?

Puzzledandpissedoff · 03/06/2018 17:29

The "good reviews" on Facebook were probably all written by themselves or friends ... reviews on these "find a tradesman" sites are often the same, as I've learned to my cost

If they really have been sent by a reputable shop of some kind, tell the shop about this; they may well have planned to give the boss a fraction of what they hoped to charge you and will certainly lose their contract over this

MissConductUS · 03/06/2018 17:45

The "good reviews" on Facebook were probably all written by themselves or friends ... reviews on these "find a tradesman" sites are often the same, as I've learned to my cost

It can be a problem, especially with homeadvisor. Angieslist charges an annual membership fee to access and write reviews and ratings, and you'll find plenty of really awful reviews on there. They also tend to fall into a pattern, like everyone complaining that a particular plumber aways runs late or won't return phone calls. I think most of them are genuine. It's not perfect, but it's better than just asking google.

19lottie82 · 03/06/2018 18:09

LOL

We paid £320 to get a 4 bedroom house done.

ScattyCharly · 03/06/2018 18:20

Outrageous robbers.

hibbledibble · 03/06/2018 18:40

Op did you get more than one quote? It is always advisable to get several quotes, as some people chance their luck with pricing.

Fwiw I paid £30 to carpet a box room, this included removing carpet and underlay, fitting new underlay and carpet and joining the carpet (carpetted with am offcut). It was a box room, but still makes your original quote sound way off

lololove · 03/06/2018 21:19

I'd be tempted to post to Rogue Traders on Watchdog too - I bet Matt Alwright would love to get his hands on them.

Swipe left for the next trending thread