OK - this is boring: sorry. It's all about a stove installation. I'll try to be quick. I paid the deposit on the grounds it was a 2-day job and would be completed a) before the plasterer came in and b) before the holiday season started (I run a small holiday business & the place has to be welcoming & not full of builders).
The job was put off for several weeks, when the plasterer had left, was plastered by the contractor incompetently (had to be redone by my own guy), they left rubbish on site, didn't turn up repeatedly etc etc etc old story. They invoiced before the job was finished. In the end, the job took 6 months to finish completely; then they sent a brusque 'reminder' that my payment was overdue. I objected that I hadn't got the service they'd promised - the whole job's been a stressful nightmare - they argued with my builder, phoned me on holiday, phoned me at 6:45 am, sent lots of long bullying emails justifiying why they were right and i was wrong etc. They said 'time was not of the essence' (rubbish) and then refused to provide a detailed breakdown when I asked for one (I think I should be entitled to one, even after the event?) or any compensation. Right now I've paid them 80% of their bill but am holding back final part of payment - which at the moment is about £1k - because I feel while the stove now works fine - and GOD I want to move on from this annoying incident - they still shouldn't be paid the full amount.
I don't believe in not paying what I rightfully owe, and paying properly for a job well done, but I really object to being treated any old way by builders then expected to stump up the full cost at the end of it all, on time. Do I have a legal leg to stand on? Does anyone know?