Am I responsible for the costs here?

[Shouldipayornot]

Willing to accept I'm the unreasonable one hear but want a sense check.

I've previously used a tradesperson who does good work at an affordable rate, but who is also incredibly disorganised. Think not turning up on the day with an array of excuses, poor communication etc. Revews of him all essentiaĺly say the same.

A while ago he came round to quote for a few jobs, he also suggested additional work which we were tempted by. After chasing for the written quote FOR MONTHS, he finally responds with a figure for all the work, it's good, we like it. We book him in for three weeks' time.

Now, a week and a half away, we've realised the additional work he suggested we dont actually need or want, however we still want all the original requests and there's other work we are after which could be done during the time he would have been doing the other thing.

So, I message him this. He responds effectively saying its too late as he's already got all the materials in for the extra job and has already prepped them all and its cost him hundreds.

We categorically dont want the work done but he's pushing to still do it. Or, I think wants us to pay for materials.

Here's the thing, I'm almost certain he's making this up. Firstly, given his disorganisation, it's almost laughable that weeks in advance he would have diligently been prepping for our job.

Secondly, he didnt do a thorough set of measurements for the work (just rough ones), thirdly, previously he didnt work like this, he did it all on-site, fourthly I've googled the raw materials cost and I cant see how it comes close to what he has suggested, fifthly, i would have thought if he was going to start prepping everything, he would have checked in just to confirm before spending his own money.

However, because I had aggreed three weeks prior to the work, I know this also reflects badly on me. But AIBU in this situation to not continue with the extra job/be responsible for the cost of materials?

Ask for the receipts

It’s hard to say without knowing what this extra job is? A patio, or painting are two completely different things. Paint can be returned, patio is slightly harder to return

Why on earth did you quote the whole OP!

Yes, and ask why he bought stuff based on rough measurements.

Ask for him to bring you the prepped materials and receipts - they are physically yours if he is asking you to pay for them.

It’s reflexive, not a big deal.

Because I’m rubbish at this!!! Have I done it right this time?

I think you entered into a contract of sorts.

Well, trades don’t tend to operate like this, so I agree he’s making it up. Ask him to come round to drop off supplies and receipts (dated prior to the change of plan of course) as they will be yours if you pay for them. Unless of course, he is able to use them on another job….

I would ask for the receipts and materials to be dropped off, and pay for them provided the receipt pre dates you saying you didn't want the work.
If you're right that he hasn't ordered anything, he'll drop it. If he has ordered the materials, you really should pay for them (and could recoup some money selling them on possibly).

What @redalex261 & @NameChangedAgainn said - you only pay if/when he can provide valid receipts that pre-date the day you informed him you didn't want the work doing.

And, if by some chance he can show them, you then pay only on delivery of the goods to you, because you would literally be buying them, so if it was (perhaps) receipts for materials purchased for other jobs, he could have receipts but no longer have the materials, so you need to have both before being prepared to pay.

If the ‘extra works ‘ were included in the quote , as you have accepted the quote you are now under contract. It sounds like he might be taking the p, but I can’t say without knowing what the job is. I think if you second guess him though, you are going to make him angry.

Yup, tell him to drop off the materials and reciepts showing purchase price and you'll pay for them.

He won't, it's a load of bollocks, but chances are once caught out like this he will disappear or theres an outside chance he will back pedal wildly and say he's managed, just, phew... to use them somewhere else.

Do let us know which, I am a nosey fucker!

It’s not unreasonable for a tradesman to have arranged for the materials 1.5 weeks’ away from the job. It also depends on the work you’re having done, if the bits do require prep work this would have been factored in to be completed before attending. (Even if unreliable)

If you chased for months for a quote it would have been quite clear you were desperate to get the work done, and after confirming you want to go ahead (in three weeks’ time) it’s not on the contractor to be chasing you again to confirm that you really want the work done.

Requesting receipts is all well and good but be prepared to not get them.. what you also have to bear in mind is the cost, logistics and most importantly time to sort out the materials would have been factored into your job. Are you then going to expect them to work for free in this regard? It’s more than just material costs..

"what you also have to bear in mind is the cost, logistics and most importantly time to sort out the materials would have been factored into your job. Are you then going to expect them to work for free in this regard? It’s more than just material costs.."

@Dveos you're right, but the receipts showing the purchase of the materials is the step that shows all the other stuff had been done, which is sensible for the OP to check.

None of your business. Be nice.

What's wrong with that? While it isn't necessary when replying to the very first post, quoting is the only way to keep track of what exactly are you responding too on MN, and there is no option of partial quote or just linking the specific post.

Mentions are useless for this, because you don't see the post in question, it can be on different page.

Do you suspect that he had the material before, so he suggested the work based on that?

It should definitely be possible to switch work for a different work within the same timeframe.
As for the material costs, it is a grey area. I suppose if it is a week before using it and if he has it and is ready to produce receipts, he would have a good case saying the material costs is yours.

It is a question of how to get the best outcome now - maybe offering some partial compensation for the material and insisting on the work being switched?

Agree with the others, you'll pay for and accept receipt of the parts, with a valid receipt dated prior to the cancellation

This !

Ask him for receipts for materials and if they are legit, ask him to quote for prep completed and see if you think it’s reasonable.
My DH is a small jobs man and as such, doesn’t lay out money for materials. He will ask the customer to pay for them or to order them themselves for this reason.
Be aware though, even if you pay for materials he may walk away from the whole job if he doesn’t want to deal with you

Totally unreasonable. This is how a lot of tradesmen work - I’m married to one so I know! What IS infuriating is when people say they want things, book it in and then change their mind like it hasn’t already cost the tradesman time and money in planning, prepping, ordering and turning down other work to do yours. You should pay for the materials at the very least, but he’ll still be out of pocket for time either way.

Genuinely interested in what your DH would do in this scenario. Would he expect to be paid for the materials (and then deliver them to the customer)? Or would he arrange to return the materials for a refund and just bill for his time spent prepping and ordering? Or would he (I assume, unfortunately, most likely) have to suck it up and never work for that customer again?

I'd probably pay but ask for the materials for the job, 'just in case you change your mind later'.

This is fair.