I feel my husband is making us fools

[Wouldyoudoit2]

We engaged a company with good reviews to move our hot tub from one property to another. The distance is approx 100 miles.

We were quoted £600. Having had a hot tub moved in the past, this was the maximum I wanted to pay for this distance but asked if this was inclusive of VAT. We were told it was, all good.

The agreement was to meet (socially distanced) at one property at 9am for load and then the company had another job to do somewhere on the way, so the plan was to message or call and give a guide as to when they would be arriving at the other end and we would get there to ensure access is available for drop off.

My husband goes to the property as planned at 9am. The company did not arrive until nearer 10am.
I get a message from my husband to say it has been loaded on to the truck and that they will be taking it back to theirs (not sure if it’s a lock up or home) and bringing it to destination property on Monday.
They will wash it over the weekend and do the service on Monday at the house.

I’m fuming!
Here is my side: I feel that my husband has just allowed a company to drive away with our property and they could do anything over the weekend such as create jobs/repairs that they will come across when servicing it on Monday.
He has allowed this as the guy is running late (not my problem he has been more than one job for the day in the diary and arrived late) and it will make it easier on everyone.
The guy has offered no discount for moving the goal posts. I am quite happy to wash my own hot tub over the weekend and can accept he may run later but want my hot tub to be delivered on the same day as planned.
I then find out he is not charging VAT. I didn’t want a cash job, again this guy is manipulating the situation to suit his agenda at no cost to him.

This is just not what was agreed and I’m not happy.

My husband thinks I’m too cynical and need to trust people.
I think he is being foolish.
Who do you think is BU?
I’m also annoyed that he did not call to discuss whether I agreed with this change.

(The hot tub cost £15k when new. Please don’t take that wrong, it is just factual information as to what they have in their care over the weekend).

YANBU. I'd be checking on their insurance cover as PP have suggested. And just to reiterate, no you are not unreasonable for wanting a tradesman to keep to his side of an agreement, nor for wanting your spouse to ensure a high-value item is properly looked after and/or protected by insurance.

VeganVeal
Yes we have a written quote and how it would happen. To be picked up and delivered the same day.

I don’t feel it unreasonable for my husband to give me a quick call to relay what was being suggested. It is courteous and no more than what I would do in reverse.
Each relationship is different.
We make many decisions separately and many together.
Often when I have asked for his view on something, he has highlighted things I haven’t even thought of and it has been insightful and useful.

If you have a partner, I’m sure they are capable of making mistakes from time to time or are they are superhuman and you can blindly trust every decision they make because it is impossible for them to mess up?
Discussion is not always about seeking permission.

You DH is to blame re late delivery as he didnt get your blessing.
You are both to blame regarding everything else.
Considering this is a £15k hot tub you really didnt do enough due diligence

If you have a written quote then is shows if VAT is included. If it doesnt then dont assume just cos he said it does

recycledbottle

Potentially being out of pocket by £1000’s is quite important to me. I’m glad you have so much that it would be a small matter to you but that was something I had worked very hard to get.
Of course in the grand scheme of things it is only a material object but I’m not comparing it to the value of life itself.

OP, stop rising to the bait. People are only being prissy because it's an expensive hot tub. itit's just jealousy. As a PP said, if it was your car then the answers here would be very different.

This is something which you've spent a lot of money on; money which you have worked for. And your husband let someone drive off with it without any documentation showing storage agreement, condition or insurance.

Have you called them yet to find out that information? You really should.

VeganVeal
Re read my posts.

I did my due diligence, have it all in writing.
The goal posts got moved without my knowledge. I was informed of a change I may have not necessarily agreed to but wasn’t given a discussion to bounce it about together and decide. This is the very essence of my post.

15K on a hot tub

Hot tub party this weekend! I'd give it a good clean and rinse when you get it back

Mrsmadevans no judgement there eh! 😁

I keep reading this and seriously, I would be royally pissed off if someone did this. They have given you no indication of the storage location whatsoever and not even a promised delivery time on Monday. They didn't even try to say they can deliver it tomorrow on Saturday as an apology for the lateness. No way I would let this slide.

And yes, why on earth would they offer to wash it unless they were going to rent it out or use it themselves? Is that normal to wash it after a move? I guess maybe to get light amounts of dirt off, but really?

@Mrsmadevans what's wrong with 15k on a hot tub?

Ok, so the only issue you have is that it will now be delivered Monday not Friday and your DP didnt call you to see if it was ok?
Because if you had correctly carried out the due diligence you would know if the company was going to add VAT onto the quoted price, that they had insurance, they had a good reputation, and it was someone you could trust with £1000's of your property, right?

Sounds like they are having a party this weekend and want to use your tub.

@VeganVeal it's seems like you're trying really hard to blame the OP here.

I think op had plans for her sex pond this weekend...

I would have called the company to know where my property was going to be stored over that time, asked to see proof of it in said location (easily done with todays technology) confirm insurance covered this, and to see proof of said insurance.

Id also had been asking to come to an agreement on reducing the original quote due to his changes to the original contract.

I hope it turns up by Monday, its a long time for something to go wrong and items to disappear.

Yanbu OP.

@VeganVeal

I imagine they did their checks on the companies transport ability, insurance etc. She said they researched around and have done a move before so they knew what to look for.

They wont, however, have checked out the companies storage facility and insurance for that purpose because they didnt hire them for that. Her husband just let the guy go off and take it... that's why she is annoyed. And it seems like you would agree with being annoyed that her husband has allowed them to provide a service which the OP and her husband havent actually checked them out on.

@JingsMahBucket I'm not, just try to understand what the issue is. To start with it was late delivery and VAT, then it was going to be rented out for the weekend, then it was they were going to be fleeced for a repair. Other than the DP say ok deliver it Monday they are both to blame. If it was a reputable company then weekend storage would be ok, if not a bit disappointing. Whether you would get any recompense for that you'd have to check the company's T&C's.

I only trust companies and tradespeople to a point

Very wise of you, OP, especially when - as you mentioned - reviews can be so easily bought
I wouldn't want to assume things will go wrong, but like yourself I'd certainly have a few concerns when flakiness is already starting to show

I think a PP asked but I didn't see your reply ... is this someone genuinely experienced in what he's doing, or just "a man with a van"?

VeganVeal
Yep, appears to be a reputable company. Checked reviews. Got a written quote and details agreed.
It is about as much as you can do but as I’m sure you are aware, even reputable companies do bad things and there is always an element of risk. It is about reducing that risk as much as possible right?

Company arrives late, says they are running behind and will now drop it off on Monday.
Husband agrees and then informs me by message what is happening.

Now the goalposts have been moved, there is a different set of risks involved. A number of additional factors that could possibly present difficulty.
Of course there is a chance I am worrying unnecessarily but this is not a situation I am comfortable being in not having done business with this company yet.

I am annoyed that my DH did not have a discussion with me. This does not make him an inherently bad person, nor does it make me someone who is controlling and waits for permission to be sought from.
It is something we have both worked hard for and my post asks people if they think I am being unreasonable or whether they think he is.

There are likely zero relationships that run smoothly 100% of the time. We have all made a daft decision or 10 in life, it is how we learn but I would rather not risk a mistake that “could“ cost £1000’s. That decision has been taken out of my hands now and I will wait to see the outcome and hope for the best.

@BobbieDraper. Thanks that makes more sense, it was the VAT/insurance/renting out to someone else that clouded the issue.

So the verdict of my court is,
Yes I'd be pee'd of if DP hadn't checked where it would be stored/insurance, but not that he didnt call me to ask my view.

Anything else is a joint blame.

@Wouldyoudoit2 Sorry cross post, so the VAT issue isnt your DP's fault, but a joint one

It’s a hot tub, not a child.

Anyway, it’ll be used as a sex pond this weekend.

Feel like I’m reading a different post to others!
Those say it’s ‘just a hut tub’- it cost 15k!

The company have not provided the service agreed, it’s completely reasonable for the OP to not be impressed and have reservations!