to grass on an over-charging decorator?

[jumpjockey]

Had a guy in last week to do some plastering around 2 windows. He estimated a 2-3 hour job (£30 an hour). Did 3 hours on the first day, said he had to come back the next day to finish up. Arrived at 8.20, at one point left the house for 45 minutes to pick up a ladder "for a job I'm doing at home", was still here when I left the house at about 1 but I got back at 4 and he'd gone. Timesheet said 8am-3pm.

Have got someone else from the same company today to look at another bit of the work (that first guy wasn't able to do despite saying he could ) so do I point out that he didn't actually arrive at 8, buggered off for the best part of an hour halfway through the day, spent another hour telling me about his kids etc? I really don't know as I'm not sure if you have to pay for the "plaster drying" time ie in between first coat and skim over the top - I would have thought the work could have been shared between the two windows so it was a bit more efficient. I do know he wasn't in when he said he started, and took 3x as long as he'd estimated.

What's the deal with this kind of job? Do we just have to cough up because I wasn't in all day to see when he actually finished? Would IBU to point out to the guy coming today he's left a fairly bumpy plastered surface so paying £300 seems a bit out of order?

I'd call and speak to a manager I think.
No point mentioning it to another guy who works there. He could be the first guys mate or just as slap dash himself!

If its not a good job AND he's over charged you, then def speak to a manager before you pay as you should be able to negotiate a lower price.

I agree with 2point4kids. Speak to the manager.

Chap who came round was head of division so I pointed out that we were charged 10 hours for work that still needs finishing off (sanding down etc) and he said he'd investigate why it supposedly took so long. Good, I don't feel like a total sh!t as he seemed surprised that the guy claimed so many hours.

I thought builders etc charged per job rather than per hour then they would have a good reason for getting on with it

i would say it would be reasonable for you to pay for 3 hours, or 4 hours work maximum and insist that it's finished off properly before you pay. any more than that is ridiculous as they estimated 2-3 hours.

Just to update - it's been reduced to 8 hours as I can't actually prove how long he was there for. The difficulty is once he got started it was more work than he'd estimated (lots of layers of plaster needed). Still not best pleased but it's not as bad as it could have been.

leosdad - lots of the local co's charge by the hour rather than by the job, because often they don;t know how complex it's going to get - hence estimate is very much that and not a fixed quote - when they initially said 2-3 hours that sounded perfectly reasonable.