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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Do I pay the decorator the full amount?

25 replies

Geezeoh · 21/08/2023 17:13

Agreed on x amount for a days work, painting a room. Ceiling, walls (3 white, one colour) and wood work.

He arrived 1.5hrs late.

It's 5pm he's only done the ceiling and the white walls, he said the paint isn't drying properly?!

DH is talking to him and I just asked what he's going to pay him. He said the full amount, it's still a days work.

But the works not done?! The coloured wall hasn't been touched and the woodwork hasn't either. The white walls don't have enough coats on to be finished.

DH has said we can't not pay him the full amount as he's been here since 10.30am

Im thinking 'doing what??!' The doors been shut to keep the dogs out.

OP posts:

FFSWhatToDoNow · 21/08/2023 17:15

Pay half. Sounds like he has done half the work.

ElizaWinter · 21/08/2023 17:16

Ask him when he plans to finish it? Pay him for today only.

mycoffeecup · 21/08/2023 17:16

never agree to a day rate. Agree to an amount of money for a job of work.

EsmeSusanOgg · 21/08/2023 17:16

You do not pay the full amount until the job is complete.

Original poster

Geezeoh · 21/08/2023 17:16

FFSWhatToDoNow · 21/08/2023 17:15

Pay half. Sounds like he has done half the work.

That's what I'm thinking.

If the white wall paint wasn't drying then why didn't he start the woodwork?!

OP posts:

hdbs17 · 21/08/2023 17:17

Why would you pay him before the job is complete?

DH is a plasterer and the only time he takes any money is when the customer is giving him the material cost upfront. Labour is taken once complete.

Original poster

Geezeoh · 21/08/2023 17:18

mycoffeecup · 21/08/2023 17:16

never agree to a day rate. Agree to an amount of money for a job of work.

Sorry it was x amount for the job. To be finished in a day.

There was no expectation for him to get more if he needed to come back.

I was very clear I would be paying x for the whole Job. He said it would take a day and X is his price for a days work.

OP posts:

Original poster

Geezeoh · 21/08/2023 17:19

So I should ask when he's coming back to finish and I'll pay him the x then?

We usually do all work ourselves so not been in this position before.

OP posts:

Nopenott0day · 21/08/2023 17:20

Pay him the agreed amount when he finishes the work.

Him taking forever is his problem

LovedmyRaleighChopper · 21/08/2023 17:20

I would ask him when he’s coming back to finish the work? And tell him I’ll pay him when it’s complete. Give him a reason to return quickly!

Peony654 · 21/08/2023 17:21

If you agreed a job rate, pay that when he's done.

Original poster

Geezeoh · 21/08/2023 17:21

I feel like I'd rather just fucking finish it myself. It's been more of a pain having him here than DIYing it.

OP posts:

Iusedtoliveinsanfrancisco · 21/08/2023 17:28

Just say do you want half now and the rest when you’re finished.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 21/08/2023 17:37

mycoffeecup · 21/08/2023 17:16

never agree to a day rate. Agree to an amount of money for a job of work.

This ... anything else is just an opportunity to spin the job out, use hours for other tasks and god knows what else

As for "what to do now", I agree with PPs saying pay half

Puzzledandpissedoff · 21/08/2023 17:38

Sorry it was x amount for the job. To be finished in a day

Apologies OP, I cross posted with you and hadn't realised this

In which case the time he's taking for it is his problem ...

foolishone · 21/08/2023 17:40

You pay him what you agreed. That's the price decided on and the only change would be if he ran into an issue with your property that needed sorting.

It's a pain in the arse if he's taking too long but that doesn't increase the price. That's why you agree a job price not an hourly rate.

Frabbits · 21/08/2023 17:44

You pay him for what he has done or he comes back to finish tomorrow.

The fact that he is taking an age over the work is his fault.

agent765 · 21/08/2023 17:47

You were quoted for the job, pay when the job's done.

Fewer people would be conned by bad tradespeople if we all said no, you're paid when the job's done.

Zebedee55 · 21/08/2023 17:52

I have a decorator in once a year, have had him for years. He's quick, efficient and clean. I just pay him when the job is done.

mrsm43s · 21/08/2023 17:52

Surely no-one can prep and then paint ceiling walls and woodwork in a room in one day? I don't think that would be possible, even in a tiny boxroom, because of drying time if nothing else.

Did he really say a whole room could be decorated, from start to finish in one working day? I think this is where the problem lays...

Sunshineclouds11 · 21/08/2023 17:55

Depending state and colour of walls before hand it's alot of prep and paint to actually do one day isn't it?
Prepping holes etc, allowing time to dry between coats.

I wouldn't pay till jobs done.

TenderDandelions · 21/08/2023 18:02

OK. So who decided it was do'able in a day? Him? Make him come back and finish it, then pay for the whole thing.

You? I think that's unrealistic and if you pressed the timeframe then you should pay him. That said, he should have told you it wasn't likely to be do'able.

We had similar done to a room in our house recently but it involved stripping one wall of paper and making good some cracks, then sanding and painting the woodwork and painting two walls white and one in a colour (fourth wall is all wardrobes so nothing to paint). Then he had a very small bathroom to paint too.

All in, it took him (a professional painter and decorator) 4 days to do it.

I think one day was massively underestimated, especially for any walls/ceilings that were going to need more than one coat of paint.

We agreed our fee on the basis of the number of days he estimated it would take, using his day rate, but then fixed the price for the job. i.e. if he had to come back a 5th day, he'd not get an extra day's rate for it.

He's been doing the job for 40 years though, so knows exactly how long things will take him.

Original poster

Geezeoh · 21/08/2023 18:03

mrsm43s · 21/08/2023 17:52

Surely no-one can prep and then paint ceiling walls and woodwork in a room in one day? I don't think that would be possible, even in a tiny boxroom, because of drying time if nothing else.

Did he really say a whole room could be decorated, from start to finish in one working day? I think this is where the problem lays...

We did the prep. Non needed. We snaded, filled holes. Cleaned the woodwork etc.

But why wouldn't he get on with the woodwork whilst waiting for the walls to dry? It's all brilliant white.

OP posts:

Nosleepforthismum · 21/08/2023 18:26

My DH is a builder and you pay when the job is finished unless you have agreed phased payments upfront. However, nearly all the guys that work for him are terrible with money and are constantly asking for loans so I’m not surprised your decorator is trying it on. Just remember once you’ve paid him there is zero incentive for them to complete the work.

YouMustBeHotYourPantsAreOnFire · 22/08/2023 17:45

What did you do op? Is he coming back to finish or are you doing it yourself?

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