Aibu to underpay?

[WishIWasAPanda]

Tradesman messed us about. Aibu to pay less on the final invoice?

long story as short as I can make it. Had a tradesman in to do a bunch of things, was supposed to come 14th September, confirmed him the week before, on the day, after I text to find out his arrival time he told me his previous job ran over and he ‘forgot’ to text me

turned in the Tuesday

Wednesday he disappeared from site, didn’t turn in Thursday, Thursday night I text him to ask if he was ok.
Friday didn’t turn in. Got a text at 4pm saying his Grandfather had died and he would be back Monday and Tuesday (21/22nd) to complete

sent our condolences

Monday text him to check he was there, at 10:45 said he was but was leaving soon to get materials. Said he also needed the Wednesday.

confirmed that was ok.

worked Tuesday and Wednesday

came back Wednesday and no where near complete. Text to ask what was happening. Assumed he was coming back the Thursday.

Thursday didn’t turn in. Got a text at 4:30pm telling me he was coming the next day. Told him no as we had other people in etc. said could come Tuesday/ Wednesday/Thursday the next week

says he will come Wednesday. I ask if he will need more than one day, assures me he won’t

fast forward to the Wednesday (yesterday) and yet again not complete. Text and say this isn’t on. What is happening. Promises he will be back today to finish.

he has finished now, haven’t got back yet to check.

bear in mind he was supposed to be done by 18th of September and has had my house keys since the 15th. I have had no working kitchen or electric in my kitchen throughout this. It is now 13 days past agreed completion

i paid half up front, i
considering saying I am knocking 15% off for the inconvenience, lack of communication and being messed about, and £70ish off for food we have had to buy as no kitchen (this is actually really low as lived off tgtg bags etc)

am I in my rights? If he has done the job, should I pay him full

yabu - He did the job

yanbu - He is taking the mick

Have you got the keys back? Did he do a good job?

Just pay the man.

If he (eventually did the job) I'd pay him.

This is exactly what online reviews are for.

Leave a very honest one.

No you can’t do that - he has done the job and hopefully your happy with it

I think trades men tend to be a bit shit at arriving when they say (I know the pain I have book holiday before for a roofer that came a week later .)

be happy it’s been done to a good standard, pay and move on

it does sound like he’s not showed when he can’t be bothered I agree, but the job is done and I doubt you would even get away with not paying for the work

I'm with you here OP I think you should deduct the 15%.

Legally I don’t think you can’t not pay him
Next time put it in writing that you’ll deduct £10 for everyday over the original completion date if the project runs over.

If the job is done to standard then you pay in full. You can’t arbitrarily renegotiate the contract after the work is complete. You should have had a discussion about discount at the time you felt he was messing you around.

Asking him to pay for food from a restaurant because he took a few days longer than he should on a kitchen? Good luck with that.

Check the work, and if you're happy pay him. Honestly quibbling over inconvenience etc is just more hassle than it's worth. Presuming you know you won't use him again. But if the quality of the work seems decent I'd just pay and move on.

And get taken to a small claims court?

You can't just make the rules as you go along.

As shit as this bloke's attitude was, he completed the work eventually.

The time for talking about any deductions, is in advance and needs to be agreed by both parties in writing.

Yabu sorry, and I say that as someone who's also mid kitchen install and spent 100 quid over 4 days for dinners. I appreciate how infuriating it is. He's done the job he priced for. He's definitely pissed you about, but you need to pay him for what he's done. Then leave a negative review on Google/social media pages. Don't ever use him again or recommend him.

If he has finished then pay him in full.

£70 extra over 2 weeks isn't that bad.

I did this once and thet took me court and won! I honestly thought i was in the right but legally you need to pay in full, then claim compensation.
Shoddy workmanship so withheld 10% of final payment to cover costs of repairs etc. Ended up having to pay them in full and all their court fees, plus their loss of earnings!!! I was absolutely gobsmacked as I had photographic evidence, emails etc......

You are not within your rights, you need to pay him. Just don’t recommend him or use him again

He lost his grandad! Clearly his communication was poor but he could have easily needed to take a couple of weeks or more off work but didn't? It only went 2 weeks over. You wouldn't win a case in a small claims court if you did that.

He can take you to court over this and will very likely win. Unless there is a clause in the contract about delays and a discount, you can’t just decide you deserve one.

you can ask for a discount, but he doesn’t have to agree.

He's done the job he quoted for and you should pay in full. Yes, he's been irritating and messed you around, but you have no legal reason to decide you will pay him less than you agreed.

Unless you want to be taken to court then pay in full. He has the law on his side.

All tradesmen have elderly relatives who are liable to pop off at any moment. Some of them bury a grandparent half a dozen times a year.

Sounds as though he had another job on as well as yours at the same time.