To query a quote for works

[MissB83]

I've just had someone complete a major works on my house. It was originally quoted on the basis of 8-10 days labour. It hasn't been 8-10 days labour; it's only been about 10 days since I bought the house and not all of those have been working days. So I asked the tradesperson for a detailed breakdown of the final bill. He got a bit shitty with me but then sent something through which I can only describe as a work of fiction: for example he has put that there were three tradesmen in the house for 8 hours on the first day. I was in the house all that day and there wasn't ONE person there for 8 hours; there were three people there briefly, but for about 1 hour! Essentially they have been juggling jobs and have been in and out of my house, doing 1 or 2 hours here and there. I've been in and out of the house a fair bit to get the garden done so I've had a good idea of when they've been in.

I've already paid him a part balance which was obviously advanced for materials etc but I'm working out whether to start questioning the rest of the bill. AIBU?

Sorry the post title is a bit misleading - I should have written to query a BILL for works.

Was it a quote or an estimate you were given originally or did you agree a lump sum for the work or a time and materials contract? It all depends what you agreed to. Is the amount you are paying what you expected and are you happy with the standard of work?

The original document says quote which I accepted which was a lump figure on the basis of labour and materials although he didn't break down what was for what.

Can you explain what the difference would be?

Yeah, I think it depends on whether you agreed a flat fee (which may have been calculated on the basis of assumed man hours) or an hourly rate + materials.

It sounds like you agreed a lump sum which means that the actual amount of time it takes them isn't really relevant any more - you're held to the total figure you agreed.

Is the final bill more than the quote?

Gotcha, that makes sense. It was a genuine question, it's the first house I've owned so wasn't quite sure how these things work.

NickNacky the final bill is a little over the quote because he added some additional works that we agreed, I guess I was confused how it could be more though if the work took half the time?

In that case, I can’t see a problem. He’s made a mistake or what ever with the first days labour but if the bill is what you agreed and reasonable then what is the issue?

Why did you need a detailed breakdown?

I mean the legal position isn't necessarily what you can negotiate though.

It looks like he's taken the piss a bit by quoting for a much higher labour cost than the job actually required. I'd point that out and try and haggle him down a bit for the additional works personally...

DH will price his jobs based on how long he thinks it will take - but doesn’t put that in the quote, as he does fixes fees where he can. He wins on some jobs but loses on most as he underestimates how long jobs take!

It depends whether the quote was an estimate or a price for the job - only the correspondence between you and the builder could shed light on that.

Nicknacky it's not just the first day. He is claiming that they have done about twice the amount of labour that they actually did (I was at the house for most of those days so they perhaps did eg 3 hours not 8, as they were going between jobs). I don't have a problem with the quality of the work.

I did wonder if it might be a point to negotiate about adding more money to the quote and why that would be necessary.

I'm assuming he quoted saying the job will take eg. 20 hours work so will cost £500, and OP agreed to that £500 as a flat fee.

In reality she now knows it only took 10 hours work but she's still being expected to pay the full £500.

Is that right OP? Obviously the numbers are made up.

PCohle precisely that. You explained it better than me!

I guess I am a bit pissed off as I know this guy's team has been doing work on other properties on the same days that there were supposed to have been in my house for 8 hours!

So basically he has priced it so he can make a profit. If you were happy with the price and the job then I would pay him without quibble.

I just paid a guy to do my floor. He charged by the square metre rather than time and I did think it was a lot however his work is good and the job was completed to my satisfaction.

Many tradesman are working on other jobs at the same time. That’s perfectly normal.

I agree that would piss me off OP.

Depending on the wording of the contract you probably are obliged to pay the flat fee agreed regardless of the hours actually worked but as I've said I'd definitely be bringing it up and using it as a bargaining chip against the additional costs incurred.

NickNacky I get that but are they telling all the customers that they were in their house for 8 hours that day?

Personally I would be treating it as fee for the job rather than an hourly rate and be glad the job finished quicker! But that’s just me.

It sounds like you accepted a quote and he gave you an estimate of how long it would take - which is fine, you wouldn't be expected to pay more if it took longer unless there were unforeseen problems, and you wouldn't be expected to pay less if it took less time. However, you added some extras so they will be paid over and above that quote. If the work is done to standard it's not right to quibble over how many workers were there for how long imo. It's better to get a fixed price than to pay daily as it can be spun out in that case.

I don't think tradesmen tend to quote per hour though. It's usually a price per job (which you were obv happy with) then if it doesn't take them as long then that's to their benefit? Unless he has broken it down into an hourly fee on the quote?

So the original quote was simply a figure with no breakdown for the job, and that’s the figure he’s asked you to pay, plus extras that you agreed with him?

This is a totally normal and a legitimate way to run a business. Tradesmen also have to be paid for the unseen hours they work coming out to quote, doing the quote, going to the builder’s merchant, sorting out their labourers etc. This is all built into the quote.

Nicknacky the job didn't finish quicker, the workmen were just only there for half of each day that they said they would be!

Seems like a consistent view here though so that's helpful- thanks all.

Did he price to complete an agreed job for a price, of which you agreed to?
Or was it agreed that he would have a set amount of resources, over a set amount of days to work in your house?
If the former, pay the man. Tradesmen win some but lose most.
If the latter, you are being fobbed off so argue to your hearts content.

If the work took longer than originally stated, would you be happy to pay extra? I’m guessing that you wouldn’t.
It’s unfortunate that you think he’s overestimated the labour but it’s been a fixed price quote so you should pay in full.

In future, it’s a good idea to get several quotes from different people for any work so you have a good idea of what’s a reasonable cost. We’ve also experienced tradespeople coming and going to other jobs.