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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Price on invoice different to quote

16 replies

Thejoyfulstar · 09/03/2021 10:09

I live abroad and need to get my marriage certificate translated for some beaurocratic reasons. I sent the translation company a photo of the 2 page document and they sent me a quote for the equivalent of "£140 all inclusive". Then they asked for the original, which I sent. They have just sent an invoice for £190 and said they will only return the certificate after I pay.

I am probably really naive about all of this but doesnt a quote stand as the final price, unless discussed before proceeding? Especially when I sent a photo in advance and they said it was 'all inclusive'.

I know £40 isnt much to some people but it's still £40 that I feel I should be able to decide on how I spend it and not be blackmailed into, after the job is done! I have had a lot of experience of being seriously ripped off where I am, so am just being a bit more cautious.

Yabu: costs can go up during translation work and this is normal.

Yanbu: this isnt fair to add another £40 when the previous quote was lower.

OP posts:

araiwa · 09/03/2021 10:11

Ask them to explain the difference?

ChessieFL · 09/03/2021 10:11

It depends what they said. If they said it was an estimate then they can change it once they see the actual work involved. If they said it was a definite price they shouldn’t amend it, but even then if they felt that you misled them about the amount of work involved it might be reasonable to amend the costs - but they should have discussed this with you.

PurpleFlower1983 · 09/03/2021 10:11

Has some form of tax been added?

Original poster

Thejoyfulstar · 09/03/2021 10:11

Sorry the difference is £50, even worse!

OP posts:

Original poster

Thejoyfulstar · 09/03/2021 10:13

Tax has been added but surely 'all inclusive' means just that. I'm waiting for them to reply but I get fobbed off so easily that I wanted to double check whether I need to stand my ground or let it go.

OP posts:

steff13 · 09/03/2021 10:14

Did they explain the difference in cost? If it was going to be more, they should have checked with you before proceeding.

araiwa · 09/03/2021 10:14

If the £50 is tax then it's not all inclusive

I'd stand my ground

Original poster

Thejoyfulstar · 09/03/2021 10:15

And I sent a photo of the document, both pages, for them to clearly see the work they had to do in advance.

OP posts:

Original poster

Thejoyfulstar · 09/03/2021 10:16

@steff13 no they didnt. They gave me a quote based on the picture of the documents I sent, then this morning sent me an invoice for a higher amount.

OP posts:

Thelnebriati · 09/03/2021 10:20

I am probably really naive about all of this but doesnt a quote stand as the final price, unless discussed before proceeding?

You need to find out what the laws are in the country where this happened, about the quote and about holding the document.

TeenMinusTests · 09/03/2021 10:22

Dear X,
I am confused by your invoice. You quoted me £140 all inclusive but have invoiced for £190. Please send a corrected invoice. Regards.

PurpleFlower1983 · 09/03/2021 11:27

@Thejoyfulstar

Yeah I would have thought all inclusive meant the tax but maybe this is where they have been unclear. I would definitely question it.

DifficultBloodyWoman · 09/03/2021 11:33

Dear Translator,
Thanks for sending the invoice through but I think there has been a mistake. You quoted £140 all inclusive after I sent through photos of the certificate (see attached) but this invoice is for £190. Please could you amend it accordingly and I’ll pay/transfer the money ASAP.
Thanks, Thejoyfulstar

Cloudyrainsham · 09/03/2021 11:35

Was it a quote or an estimate? We always make it clear in our business that an estimate I’d just that and May change. Especially for those people that come back a year after the original estimate was given to get the job done!

CherryValanc · 09/03/2021 11:41

Is the tax £50? If so that's your answer (though you would have thought there would have been a "plus tax".

Is the invoice broken down?

Original poster

Thejoyfulstar · 09/03/2021 12:20

Thrilling update!
They responded with a breakdown which amounted to the higher amount.

I said that this was higher than the original quote.

Background info: after they gave me the initial quote they asked me to post the original document. I did this via recorded delivery that cost about a fiver. Yesterday, before sending me the new invoice, they got in touch to ask how I would like it returned. I said recorded delivery.

The mentioned in the recent breakdown that postage would be free.

I queried the discrepency and they immediately sent me out a new invoice for the original amount, with this comment:

'Please could you tell me if you asked us to post your letter at the beginning?'.

They were trying to imply that I too had wavered on my side of the deal. I replied and said if they wanted to charge me the £5 cost of delivery, that would be fine.

They didnt bother changing the invoice.

Thanks everyone. They begrudgingly reneged. They had been trying to pull a fast one it seems.

I hope this all makes sense!

OP posts:

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