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Inflated invoice out of the blue

11 replies

HorridHandyman · Yesterday 17:14

I moved into a new home back in February. It was all a bit of a rush as I needed work done before I could move and I'm disabled so limited in what I can do, so I hired a few services for painting, flooring and handyman work. It is my first house and so my first experience of hiring tradesmen. I very stupidly didn't get a written quote from the handyman, or any agreement of hours, work required etc. Literally nothing. But I do know what he quoted, as I hired him because he was cheap. I also know he did one and a half days work, and was meant to come back and do some more but called to cancel as his friend was ill. He also did some things wrong, and caused some damage which he was meant to put right.

I didn't like to nag him as I didn't know what was happening with his friend, so I left it. I would add I had been asking him for an invoice since the first day, but again, not in writing. He has just sent me an invoice for over twice what we agreed, so 3 months since I last heard from him. I have asked AI, which agrees the work he did was about 1.5 days work. The hourly price on his website is higher than he quoted me, and I obviously can't prove he offered me a discount as I'm an idiot who got nothing in writing. But even at his website prices, he's charging about £500 more. The invoice is not itemised, and just says for work and materials.

Is there anything I can do? I don't dispute I owe him something and would like to pay him. But not what's he's claiming for, or anything like it!

OP posts:
chirrupybird · Yesterday 17:21

Ask him to itemise the bill and tell him it's x amount more than he quoted you. You will quickly find out if he is honest or not.

If you're not happy with his reply you could just pay him what you think it was worth and let him take you to court if he's not happy with that.

HorridHandyman · Yesterday 17:38

Thank you.

I have asked him exactly what is being charged for, not heard back yet. The whole thing's so dodgy - he quoted me an hourly rate, yet he is charging a lovely round number including materials. Maybe he's going to say we agreed a set price.

If it reaches court, is the onus on me or him to prove what was agreed? I have obviously learnt my lesson, and consider myself very lucky the painter and floorer didn't pull something like this. I should have noticed it was a bit off that he didn't write anything down at all, not even a text to say he was done for the day. I wasn't living there so I don't know exactly how long he was there, just how long he said he'd be.

OP posts:
Mosaic123 · Yesterday 18:22

I think it would be unlikely to get to court as sadly you have no proof at all.

I hope he brings the price down closer to the original.

PrincessofWells · Yesterday 18:27

Mosaic123 · Yesterday 18:22

I think it would be unlikely to get to court as sadly you have no proof at all.

I hope he brings the price down closer to the original.

The onus is on him to bring action for non payment, and op has a reasonable defence if she pays only what was agreed.

WallaceinAnderland · Yesterday 18:36

PrincessofWells · Yesterday 18:27

The onus is on him to bring action for non payment, and op has a reasonable defence if she pays only what was agreed.

With nothing in writing, it's hard to prove what was agreed for either of you. Get the itemised bill and pay a reduced amount that you're happy with. It's vanishingly unlikely that he will take you to court.

PrincessofWells · Yesterday 18:55

WallaceinAnderland · Yesterday 18:36

With nothing in writing, it's hard to prove what was agreed for either of you. Get the itemised bill and pay a reduced amount that you're happy with. It's vanishingly unlikely that he will take you to court.

Yes but @Mosaic123 seemed very confused as to who would be taking action and my response was tailored to that.

Ime the most credible witnesses have the advantage.

Jopo12 · Yesterday 18:56

Sadly this is not at all unusual

If he doesn't reply then send him payment and a written confirmation of what you agreed before work started.

It will be up to him to start small claims court proceedings against you for payment of his invoice and the onus is on him to show proof of the work and time and materials that he's billing you for.

Your defence will be dates and times of conversations and written messages, so make a note now of all of those, and take screen shots from his website to show current prices, ass those to your document.

HorridHandyman · Yesterday 19:19

Still nothing. I'm absolutely kicking myself 🙄 I'm normally anal about paperwork. I still have nicely filed bank statements from 20 years ago FGS!

I hope I have a couple of things in my favour, but I'm aware it doesn't look good that I never chased him. Though I suppose my defence is that he told me his friend was seriously ill so he couldn't finish the work he'd agreed to (leaving me in the lurch) so I really didn't want to start nagging him. Plus, it was him who wanted paying, so why did he disappear for 3 months. I've still not completed all the work he left unfinished, I am wondering whether he left it so long thinking I'd do it myself and then he could claim he did it all.

But yes, I think if I don't hear back I'll send what we agreed and tell him to send me an itemised bill for any materials. And if he wants to argue, he is free to take me to court. I'm just panicking that as there was nothing in writing, he can just claim he did days of work, and I won't have a leg to stand on.

I did call CAB and she said it was up to me to prove that he was overcharging and I'd have to get three quotes from other handymen to show what would be a reasonable price. But I'm not sure how easy it will be to find three handymen who are happy to quote me for work that's already been done, so they can get one of their own in trouble. It also won't help if he tries to claim he did work that he didn't. I'm not sure the CAB lady really understood what had happened though, hence why I'm here.

OP posts:
Wonkywalker · Yesterday 19:28

Just checking, did you give him keys to access the property if you were not living there when he did the work? Did you change the locks when you moved in?

Agree with you that it would be impossible to get three quotes as suggested by CAB

For future reference, if I get a verbal quote I follow it up with a text to the trade person confirming the price and what they are doing for the price - if they turn up to do the work you have evidence that they did not dispute your recollection of their quote.

Hope it is quickly sorted

friedaddedchilli · Yesterday 19:33

He’s trying it on. Sadly very common. He has no more proof of what was agreed than you have. If you don’t want to wrangle, pay him what you originally agreed and tell him that he didn’t complete the job and what he did do wasn’t to a good standard. He will be getting off lightly. Don’t mention anything about legal redress: it’s never going to come to that. He will disappear and you will have some experience which will be very useful for the future.

Tumbler2121 · Yesterday 20:12

There are a couple of websites that will give you a rough idea of how much work should cost.

Id write back saying thanks for invoice, however we need to deduct x for the work not completed and x for repairs to work mucked up. That should add up to the amount overcharged

Also, if he’s charged VAt on everything, it possible that any work done that is adjustments for your disability should be VAT exempt.

all the best.

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