Kitchen Drama

[AngSey]

I need opinions on if we are BU.

We are currently getting the kitchen renovated. We are on week 4 of no facilities etc. We were priced for 2 weeks and told it would take 2 weeks.

Due to issues with suppliers, we have had to order some different parts which have taken our fitter longer to install. Before we ordered anything different, we asked if they would be okay. He said yes, no problem as long as you are happy.

He’s now turned around and said, I want 4 days more pay because it’s taken 4 days more work. We have said no as if he had said that at the time, we would have picked something different.

It’s worth noting that he gave us the quote before he knew anything we picked so what we picked didn’t matter. And there was no delay with delivery etc as he was still plastering when they got to the house so that in itself hasn’t caused the delay.

He’s also not doing full days - he is doing a morning here and an afternoon there.

AIBU - pay the extra 4 days.

AINBU - he should stick by his quote. It’s not your fault he has estimated the time incorrectly.

Tricky one. Yes, you’re technically right but do you want him to walk out and leave you with an unfinished kitchen? Could you maybe compromise on 2 days extra?

This is my major worry.

We’ve already paid everything as well (foolish, I know!) so we are over a bit of a barrel.

If you were at work, and you were expected to finish something in two weeks, then your boss changed the parameters meaning it took four days longer - would you be happy to work those four extra days for free?

I would be expected to do it in the time.

BUT, if it took me longer because I had been doing other jobs (and getting paid from elsewhere some mornings and afternoons), yes, I would expect to make the time up myself.

Can you write down and show him how many (few) hours he has done....

So now your story is changing.

Has it taken extra time because you provided different parts, or has it taken extra time because he hasn't been there?

@ISeeMisledPeople the story is hardly changing when it is written right there in the OP.

Dont pay it, he quoted before you picked anything and hasn't been working full days at your property. So many trades do this, flitting from one job to the next throughout the day, he got his estimations wrong but that shouldn't impact you.

It says in the OPs first post that he was only doing part days. ‘He is doing a morning here and an afternoon there’. She hasn’t changed the story!

Sorry - I would hope unclear rather than deliberately misleading. My apologies. I did say in the original post about mornings and afternoons.

I think it has taken slightly longer (not 4 days) but it has been compounded by the inconsistency of hours worked.

It would have been been better for him to say when we said about ordering the extra parts ‘yes fine to order those but it’ll take longer so it’ll impact the price’ and then we could have made an informed decision/choice. We wouldn’t have picked it if we had known it would cost an extra £x amount.

Thank you for the support. It’s much appreciated.

Do you have a ring doorbell or nest so you can clock the hours he's done?

Was quote based on finished job?

Were the order issues with his suppliers or yours? His, he pays; yours - I would offer something

Lessons for next project:
Never pay everything up front
Get your builder/joiner to source and provide the supplies - then anything missing, broken, late or substituted is there problem. (Not always the cheapest as first look, but usually is in the long run, and a lot easier)

thank you, too! 🩷

I would perhaps speak to citizens advice so you can get the wording right, you need to sound informed !

but, did you get a quote or agree a price ? if he’s only working a few hours a day, and most workers do 8 - 4ish in my experience, I would call him up on that, so you’ve paid 2 days and he’s worked 2 but over 4 ? Then I think in this instance you will need to compromise.

but let it be a learning curve for you, you should always always agree a price for the job not pay by day, and get it in writing.

I would pay him 2 days extra as a goodwill gesture. I have had similar twice, our builder totally misquoted and underestimated how long our floor would take, he told us it was on him but we gave him an extra few days pay as he was grafting hard, trying to hang a tricky door at 4pm on Christmas Eve etc.

we also had a painter who took 3 days longer than he was supposed to, but he was turning up about 9.30am and knocking off by 4, we gave him an extra days pay but not the full amount as he wasn’t exactly working at full pelt but did do a good job (& he is very cheap so wanted to used him again)

Why don't you just say

You quoted us to do the job, without knowing what we wanted/had ordered. So, if I'd ordered these things originally, your fee would be the same as you quoted, so why would you think it's ok to add to your quoted fee because I've had to order them now? The items were here when you were still plastering, so they haven't slowed you down. You've only done part days here, so it probably feels like you've been here a lot, but you actually haven't.

or

ha ha ha you have to be kidding !

Firstly, do you have a contract? What does that say about delays and time?

Usually, if it’s your fault the job has overrun (so issues with your suppliers), then yes, you do pay for the additional time.

But if you showed him the parts and he said it was fine, then he does have some responsibility so I wouldn’t pay him the full 4 days.

Er, the story isn’t changing. The OP said he’s not been doing full days but a ‘morning here and an afternoon there’

Yes, but it says that it has taken longer because of the different parts - nowhere does it say that it was because of the part days, until op didn't like my answer!!