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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not pay the joiner the entire fee agreed verbally for my inbuilt cupboard?

27 replies

bethylou · 03/02/2010 21:23

Got verbal quote in September and we agreed that he should go ahead. Explained I was pregnant and wanted it done a.s.a.p.
By December, after numerous calls from DH, he finally brought the fitter round and agreed they would get it all done before Christmas (now at 7 months pregnant and nesting for England).
Week before Christmas, joiner's wife told DH that the fitter was now too busy but would be done first week in January. Joiner then made cupboard but had not arranged for fitter to come and fit it (and had the wrong phone number for him - further two weeks' delay)
Last week, fitter arrived and fitted it. He fitted the bottom shelf at completely the wrong height.
Today, joiner came out to move shelf without ringing first. Complained that I should have emptied cupboard (now at 38 weeks' pregnant) and was doing me a favour being here!!
So, can I refuse to pay the full bill but take off a bit for inconvenience? (Also agreed price when VAT was at 15% not 17.5%) Never had a written quote anyway! Has been ridiculously stressful - how the man makes any money I have no idea!
p.s. He did actually apologise for 'being a bit crabby' when I stood up to him!!

OP posts:
OldLadyKnowsNothing · 03/02/2010 21:30

No, you cannot refuse to pay the whole bill or any part of it, you have what you wanted (if not when you wanted it.) Sorry, but YABU.

MinkyBorage · 03/02/2010 21:32

yabvvvvvvvvvu, you should have cancelled him ages ago and got someone else

AnyFucker · 03/02/2010 21:35

yabu

U understand your frustration, but you cannot with-hold money now he has finished it

the time to have done that was when it was part-finished, you could have given him a part-payment and told him not to come back

AnyFucker · 03/02/2010 21:39

I mean I understand...

kinnies · 03/02/2010 21:44

You should pay what you agreed.

My Dh is a builder and I get so that a fair few customers try to dodge paying full price when the job is done (and done to a high standard!!)

I dont blame you for getting the hump that it took so long. Like AF said, you should have told him to get lost when he was taking so long.

nighbynight · 03/02/2010 22:11

I dont think that what you've described is grounds for withholding the money, if it's done to a good enough standard. After all, the hassle is momentary, the cupboard will last for years.

CirrhosisByTheSea · 03/02/2010 22:24

You have waited a ridiculously long time for a cupboard and it was fitted wrongly causing more delay, and the bloke is rude a bit crabby to you! Unbelievable. I'd certainly pay the fee only including VAT at 15%. Because if he'd done the job in the agreed timescale that is what it would be. He should absorb that small amount as a concession to the incredibly long time you've had to wait, imo, if he's got any business sense whatsoever.

AnyFucker · 03/02/2010 22:34

yes, I would actually knock off the very small difference in VAT

but pay him all the rest

however, I would make it clear to him he has messed you about and you will be informing your friends/relatives < evil >

my DH is a joiner, btw, and the threat of a bad reputation will pull him up short

bad payers are just ten-a-penny, tbh, there is always somebody trying to wriggle out of paying you...

WidowWadman · 03/02/2010 22:40

Was the quote including or excluding VAT?

Original poster
bethylou · 04/02/2010 09:28

D'you know I don't even know if it included VAT in the first place!! I'm not quite sure how we got ourselves in this situation as I'm normally really switched on etc.. Can only say that severe morning sickness left me at a lower ebb than normal.
I've always paid everyone else in full wihtout any quibbling, and will pay the fee, but I am going to make the point about the VAT, given the fact that he promised to do it before Christmas. Also, if the bill comes before the baby (when I might be rather preoccupied), I will include a letter to say how disappointed I have been with his service. It has been truly astonishing. Thanks for your input.

OP posts:
morningpaper · 04/02/2010 09:32

I doubt that a verbal quote will include VAT anyway

yes you are being VERY unreasonable

If you wanted a proper job, you should have got it done above-board and not relied on a verbal quote

Original poster
bethylou · 04/02/2010 20:26

In fairness, we wanted it done above board and only realised that we hadn't had a written quote this week!

OP posts:
meaningofnight · 05/02/2010 23:50

I think you are just trying not to pay what you owe.

Someone did this to my husband (who had fitted perfect cupboards as requested) saying "you know what mate, I am not completely happy I'll give you half what I owe you". My husband said not to pay at all then and went and removed the cupboards.

The customer was very dismayed. He thought he would get his nice new bespoke furniture for half price. Nice!

LazyJourno · 05/02/2010 23:55

Good for you DH meaningofnight. Although next time he should accept the half payment... and take out half the cupboards. Sorted!

Pay up OP. By all means have a rant and a quibble about the VAT but otherwise it's tough.

macmam · 06/02/2010 00:04

I come from a family of builders and joiners and ime there are more cowboy customers than cowboy tradesmen. YABVU. Can't abide people like you who try to take advantage. Shame on you.

princessparty · 06/02/2010 00:11

Yabu and sounds like you are trying it on.

Paolosgirl · 06/02/2010 00:15

Def. negotiate the VAT, but I think you'll have to pay the full price. Not a company to do business with again - and don't we all know a builder like that.

ThatVikRinA22 · 06/02/2010 00:22

as someone who has been taken for a ride several times by so called tradesmen i do sympathise but i think you would be V. unreasonable to renege on the price AFTER the job has been done. that really isnt fair - after all youve had since september to decide you dont like the price.

pay up in full.

Original poster
bethylou · 06/02/2010 19:57

Okay, can I just point out the bits I have put within this thread? I WILL pay the full price (except the 2.5% VAT) so stop having a go at me now as I am a very fair person! I would NEVER contemplate not paying the full price to anyone who had done what they said they would do when they said they would do it. I just can't believe how rubbish this man was and then had the audacity to have a go at me in the process (at 38 weeks' pregnant in my own home!!) I get the message and I will pay the arsehole!

OP posts:
FabIsGoingToBeFabIn2010 · 06/02/2010 20:01

But your title is AIBU to not pay.....

Original poster
bethylou · 06/02/2010 20:16

Yes, I did put that on Wednesday, have taken on board the responses and have said that I will pay! How do I get the thread removed?

OP posts:
JamesAndTheGiantBanana · 06/02/2010 20:25

Bethylou, there's no need to get the thread removed, contemplating paying less than the whole amount is hardly crime of the century, and he did muck you about for ages. Plus you're easily upset in late pregnancy, and when you're nesting and just want everything perfect - which most people on mumsnet should understand being mums themselves.

Don't worry about it, pay the pain in the arse his money minus the 2.5% and look forward to never having to deal with him again. You must be so excited about having your baby, don't let a little thing like this get you down in your final weeks. Good luck with it!

GerbilMeasles · 06/02/2010 20:32

Bit off topic, but unless he told you the price excluded VAT in the first place, the law assumes that VAT's been included in the quote. So the rate change shouldn't affect the price.

But you should pay, sorry. The time to negotiate a reduction in the price was whilst he was buggering you about.

Original poster
bethylou · 06/02/2010 20:38

Thank you JamesandtheGiantBanana. I'm really not a bad person and wish I'd never asked!!

OP posts:
Shodan · 06/02/2010 20:58

I do wonder if this man will be looking for payment rather more promptly than he provided the service though?

Bet he will..........