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

[ChickenOrEgg6]

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...

What happened in the end OP?

Oh dear.
Now I'm invested and I need to know what the outcome is.

Just on carpet laying costs. It was £700 to fit my large lounge, with extra thick underlay, door trims, original carpet removal... all the trimmings. So £400 for 3 rooms sounds quite reasonable to me. £1200 does not!

Keep them out. If you feel threatened phone the police. Good luck!

Any update OP?

Just bought a carpet yesterday and fitting is £40 per room so sounds like the original quote was ripping you off never mind those cowboys!

What happened?

Has she come back yet with an update?

Definitely that is what they were trying to do. Usually carpet fitters quote per square metre and you will know how much carpet you bought so should be able to have a reasonable guess at what it should cost in total just for the fitting. Everything else eg edging,door threshold rails. Hope you have found someone more honest.

Not joking we have a fantastic local guy fits each room for £25!

Outrageous! What happened in the end?

Shame OP decided not to come back to her thread but, hey ho, that's the way it goes sometimes.

Maybe the OP has become snared on the gripper rods while trying fit it herself.

Or has tangled herself up in the carpet and is currently living off abandoned hobnobs she’s found under the sofa. With the phone tantalising out of reach.

@ChickenOrEgg6 What happened in the end?

This is going to appear on those "what ever happened..." threads, isn't it?

Well er, nothing happened
They left and I fitted it myself - I managed to glue myself to the doorframe, briefly. But otherwise everything went fine.. Don't think that's the interesting update that was hoped for, though!
Sorry for not updating quicker I didn't realise it was going to be such a big mystery!

Did you contact the shop and ask them about the £400 quote?

glad you came back op and that you manged to fit it ok. we laid vinyl across 2 big rooms once, never.again!

I did send a fb message to the business, they've read but not replied. I'm not really interested in kicking up a stink, more a way of making sure they're aware. It seems odd to me that someone would recommend them if they pull stunts like this, which is why I thought maybe the fitters wanted to pocket the 800 pound difference.

I knew that 400 was a bit pricey (expected about 200-250, but I've never had carpet fitted here so..) but I was desperate to get it down asap as my house is quite small and I didn't have a way to store the rolls of carpet easily, and I wanted to do the DC's room nicely but couldn't with the furniture everywhere (so the carpet could be fitted) so just thought well I'll pay the 400 didn't question it until they wanted 1200 out of me.
Did it myself though and it went absolutely fine I watched a YouTube tutorial got some spray glue from B+Q and got to work it seems properly fitted and secure and it's all even I'm quite proud of myself and I'll spend the £400 on something nice for the kids room

Good for you OP.

I laughed when you said that you glued yourself to the doorframe. I always buy carpet tiles and fit them myself. The ones I buy are washable, just take up the one that has the muck on , wash, dry , put back. Easy.

Well done you!

Paid £25 for carpet fitting in small room.

Well done and a big 2 fingers up at the carpet company!

Well done you! 🏅
Enjoy whatever you do with the money - I think I'd have such a smug grin on my face that people would think I'd been up to no good.
Would be interesting to hear if you ever get a reply from the shop.

Serves them right. They didn’t get any of your money in the end. Well done you.

Good for you, feel proud of yourself.

Can understand why you left it at that, but I feel it's worth doing a review somewhere to warn others about the firm.

Just for interest, the last time we bought a carpet (25 years ago!) it was free fitting. It does need replacing but we'll use a local firm that we know is reliable.