Decorator really awkward please help

[Donkdonkgoo]

I had a quote from a decorator to paint small kitchen walls ceiling and skirting on one wall and fill cracks first, and also woodwork paint in hall and upstairs which I had already painted and some other bits in the hall like loft hatch. The quote itemisation was incorrect and things included that shouldn't have been and also some things missed off so i replied to the email listing the work that I wanted doing. He never replied and I chased him a few times but I know the guy and he said he would do mates rates so presume there wouldn't be a problem. Anyway he has done the work and he was there a max of 4 days (I was at work but I called him and knew when he was there and not there) the bill was £920 for 4 days so that's £230 per day!! I've been told by a prof tradesman the going rate is £110 to £130 in my area. I've explained to the decorator the bill is too high for 4 days work and I asked him how much his day rate usually is he response was (after a pause) £160. I've replied to him via email to say I would pay him £160 per day, he isn't happy but he never replied to my numerous requests for a re quote before the work. I think I have been more that fair paying £160 per day when the top local rate is £130. He's said a quote is a quote I've told him £230 per day isn't fair or mates rates!!! Obviously the friendship is ruined (not a close friend and not seen him for 15 years) do you think I am being reasonable?

No
I’d be expecting the Sistine Chapel for that

In fact I've worked out he did about 20 hours of work, as he had gone before my son was home from school at 4 and I know he started after 9.30 when he dropped kids off and on top of phone I had with him when he said he had "just left" so that's about £46 per hour he's trying to charge me 🙈

While he is taking the piss, it's your fault for letting him start work without finalising the quote. He may not have replied when you chased him but you still let him start without an agreement in place.

More fool him for agreeing to start without a quote being accepted then Wombat. OP YANBU.

More fool him for agreeing to start without a quote being accepted then Wombat.

The OP should have finalised the price before letting him start. However I wouldn’t pay him what he’s asking for, that is ridiculous.

£130 a day sounds low for a painter and decorator to be fair. However a grand for 20 hours is steep.
You should’ve agreed a price before the works

Well done to him. He's just done himself out of any further work and recomendations.

What happened between him sending the quote and doing the work? There must have been some communication as he actually did the work.

He can't really say 'a quote is a quote's in this scenario, unless he isn't aware of what a quote is. Quotes are given before work commences and can be agreed or disagreed to, what he has given you is an invoice. Whilst you most definitely should have never let work commence without agreeing on a price first, I have no idea why he is trying to charge you the extra £70 a day and I certainly wouldn't be handing it over.

How much was the original quote for? The one that was incorrect? I would expect the final bill to be somewhere in that ballpark, unless there was a huge mismatch in what was done and what was quoted.

What about materials?
Around here (NW) you pay around £120-£150 for a decent decorator, so your £160 is fair. Tradesmen tend to work 8am till 4pm but often finish a bit later tidying up.
I wouldn’t have someone in without agreeing the price up front though.

You agreed a job rate, not a day rate when you took on his services you should have checked the going rate before agreeing to allow him to start work if you were going to challenge it.

Why are you trying to work out his hourly rate? £46/hr doesn't mean anything unless you know all his running costs too to work out his take home pay - van and run costs, ppe, tools, accountant, tax, materials, liability insurance etc etc.

If you didn't agree to his rate you shouldn't have taken him on. After the job isn't the time to negotiate.

You seem to be saying there wasn't a proper quote, but he is purporting to be relying on a quote.
So was there a quote? Is it a question of making deductions from his original quite for the things he didn't do?

You say there were things missed off & others that shouldn't have been included on the initial quote. You restated, by email, what work you wanted doing. What was his response to this? Despite not agreeing a new quote, asked him to come & do the work.

You entered into a legally binding contract at this point.

You dont say what the difference is between the first quote & the final bill. Your final bill should have been itemised to give you a breakdown but doesn't always happen. Did you discuss any additional costs or extra work whilst he was doing the job?

He provided a quote and it included work that didn't need doing and he missed some things too, I sent him an email saying the quote wasn't right and I listed everything that needed doing. Basically he was the best man at my wedding and not seen him since then and divorced years ago. Like an idiot I trusted him and after 3 times of chasing him for a new quote via email he confirmed via text the start date. In my stupidity I presumed he had over quoted and thought we would agree on a reasonable price based on him long it takes him to do it, he's a one man band and started about a year ago. I've worked out he did about 20 hours over 5 days coming and going including taking and picking up his kids from school etc. I agree I have been stupid and too trusting things have been made complicated as the work was bitty and not just one whole complete room so that's where the confusion arose.

How much was the original quote and is this what he charged you? You've said he quoted for stuff that needed doing and not for other things that you did want done. Did he do the things you wanted done from your second email/text to him and just left off the stuff that he'd listed in error? Maybe the quote would have been the same for whatever he did.

This is why I avoid employing friends to do anything. You can't complain without it causing awkwardness.

Sorry, I've just realised this was only for painting, thought there was a load of other maintenance stuff as well. He's charged you a lot if you live in a normal sized house.

So did he charge you what he quoted you? If so then thats what you should pay.

Not one place in this country has a "top rate" of £130 a day for tradesmen that's not even a labourers top rate.

"mates rates" can work out to be the most expensive - and the most stressful

Was £920 in line with his original quote?

I think if you didn't agree the quote in advance, it's his problem not yours. You can pay what you think the job should be worth, and he'll have to take you to the small claims court if he wants more. Which will be difficult if there's no evidence of a quote agreed.

However, £46 an hour does not seem unreasonable - I would expect to pay £200 a day for labour for a skilled decorator, then there are materials on top of that.

He's taking the piss charging that much over the going rate..... However you are totally out of order as you should have settled the cost before, who doesn't settle the cost before hand!
Also you can't just say I'll give you this much and decide yourself what to pay, you should pay it and learn from it

You can point out all the items in the quote that he didn't do (as he quoted incorrectly) and tell him that you are not paying the full amount as he didn't do what the quote covered.

If I've learned anything from Judge Judy it's find out the exact price before and sign a contract, preferably in blood.

Yanbu - good for you for telling him so!