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Original poster

Builder has charged me for quotation!

98 replies

Mitosisgirl · 16/11/2020 17:53

Hi all,

We have a three bed semi which we are renovating. It's a small project. No need for planning permission, just building regulations.

We are in a bit of a situation with a builder who gave us a quote. We didn't go for him, as he was too expensive and the quote was wishy washy. He used a quantity surveyor for the quote. He was bitter when we went for someone else and complained about how we used his architect, ideas and that he spent 300 quid on the quantity surveyor. We felt a bit bad and said that we will pay that amount. He just sent us an invoice for 540 quid! We didn't sign anything and weren't told upfront about this cost.

Are we obliged to pay? Do we have a legal leg to stand on?

OP posts:
WhoseThatGirl · 16/11/2020 21:18

I think when you offered £300 he’s put you on the mug list and decided to push his luck. Tell him you have sort legal advice and under their advice you will not be paying.

MrsMigginsMate · 16/11/2020 21:21

What exactly is itemised in the invoice? Can you upload a picture of it with both the builders and your own details crossed out so we can see his breakdown of costs? Or does it literally just say "quotation charge"? In which case he's chancing it.

diamond4u · 16/11/2020 22:12

You don't owe him anything, he's tried luck and then tried pushing it. Do let us know how he responds when you say you will no longer be paying after seeking legal advice

EarringsandLipstick · 16/11/2020 22:23

Definitely don't pay him £300! Why would you? You're about to do a renovation, plenty of use for £300!

Original poster
Mitosisgirl · 17/11/2020 06:32

@lastqueenofscotland

£300 is a pretty standard day rate for a good consultant QS...

Tbf if he mentioned he was using a QS I would have checked if this was in-house.

Wish we had done this. I had a look at the website of the QS company he used. They work for contractors on a monthly retainer. Wouldn't this be fixed like a salary?
OP posts:
Original poster
Mitosisgirl · 17/11/2020 06:35

@MrsMigginsMate

What exactly is itemised in the invoice? Can you upload a picture of it with both the builders and your own details crossed out so we can see his breakdown of costs? Or does it literally just say "quotation charge"? In which case he's chancing it.
I can't post photos, as I'm a new user. The builder in question's "cost analysis" is like 10 pages long. Each item is on a different page. They are all estimates and subject to change, despite using a QS.
OP posts:
Original poster
Mitosisgirl · 17/11/2020 06:36

@diamond4u

You don't owe him anything, he's tried luck and then tried pushing it. Do let us know how he responds when you say you will no longer be paying after seeking legal advice
Will do. 😀
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LondonlovesLola · 17/11/2020 06:43

Really good advice here OP. It sounds like you don’t owe him anything. Can you seek legal advice?

Icepinkeskimo · 17/11/2020 06:48

"Seeking legal advice" for £300?!! 🤣
As if!
Some people really don't live in the real world making a mountain out of a mole hill.

custardbear · 17/11/2020 06:49

Gosh he could make a
Living out of jist giving quotes - wht a good job
I wouldn't pay that. I'd tell him sorry but I've never been charged for a quote before. I didn't ask for a QS. Surely for a small project it doesn't need a QS anyway?!

Original poster
Mitosisgirl · 17/11/2020 06:54

@custardbear

Gosh he could make a Living out of jist giving quotes - wht a good job I wouldn't pay that. I'd tell him sorry but I've never been charged for a quote before. I didn't ask for a QS. Surely for a small project it doesn't need a QS anyway?!
That's what I thought. No idea why he used a QS for quotes.
OP posts:
Original poster
Mitosisgirl · 17/11/2020 06:55

@LondonlovesLola

Really good advice here OP. It sounds like you don’t owe him anything. Can you seek legal advice?
We are going to ask a friend. 😀
OP posts:
LondonlovesLola · 17/11/2020 06:57

We are going to ask a friend.
😂👍🏻👍🏻

OMGisthisforreal · 21/11/2020 16:06

I repeat, your Architect asked for the quote, let him handle it!

custardbear · 21/11/2020 17:33

@Mitosisgirl - how did you get on?

Original poster
Mitosisgirl · 21/11/2020 17:40

Just ignoring him for now. Will be talking to a friend for legal advice tonight or tomorrow. Will update you.

OP posts:
Chapellass · 21/11/2020 18:02

Your architect should be dealing with this as others have said above. Has the builder provided you with a copy of the QS report / advice?

chopc · 21/11/2020 18:16

We had a situation like this. We explicitly told one builder we will want to draw up plans and send them out to tender. He said he can get his architect to draw the plans which we can pay for then can send them for tender. If he gets the job he will take that price off.
When we went with another company he said we entered into a design and build contract with him and sent us an invoice for £5000.

We told him we will see him in court and didn't hear anything further

generalexpert · 21/11/2020 18:26

I use a QS, but that's for multi-million pound construction jobs. I've also done quite a bit of domestic work on my own house and never had a builder engage a QS.

Ignore him. Give him nothing.

Smallgoon · 21/11/2020 18:57

I'm confused. You've already paid the architect that the builder recommended, for using the plans that they drew up. So why do you need to pay the builder? Seems as though he's charging an intro fee, because he sure as hell should not be charging for a quote. Particularly if the quote was 'wishy-washy'.

Smallgoon · 21/11/2020 18:58

@chopc

We had a situation like this. We explicitly told one builder we will want to draw up plans and send them out to tender. He said he can get his architect to draw the plans which we can pay for then can send them for tender. If he gets the job he will take that price off. When we went with another company he said we entered into a design and build contract with him and sent us an invoice for £5000.

We told him we will see him in court and didn't hear anything further

Brilliant!!

The sad thing is, I wonder if some people fall for this stunt.

Original poster
Mitosisgirl · 21/11/2020 20:28

@OMGisthisforreal

I repeat, your Architect asked for the quote, let him handle it!
So, it was actually us who asked for the quote. The architect gave us the drawings and we sent these to different builders.
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Original poster
Mitosisgirl · 21/11/2020 20:31

We got legal advice from a friend, who said that we have three options:

  1. Say no to the charge, as we didn't agree to a cost for the quantity surveyor. He may take us to small claims court, but this may be unlikely given how tedious the process is.
  2. Meet him half way and pay half as a sign of good will.
  3. Pay the full amount.
OP posts:
Original poster
Mitosisgirl · 21/11/2020 20:34

@Chapellass

Your architect should be dealing with this as others have said above. Has the builder provided you with a copy of the QS report / advice?
The builder has given us a cost plan/quote with his own logo. He says that it was drawn up by the QS. There is no advice.
OP posts:
Original poster
Mitosisgirl · 21/11/2020 20:35

@chopc

We had a situation like this. We explicitly told one builder we will want to draw up plans and send them out to tender. He said he can get his architect to draw the plans which we can pay for then can send them for tender. If he gets the job he will take that price off. When we went with another company he said we entered into a design and build contract with him and sent us an invoice for £5000.

We told him we will see him in court and didn't hear anything further

Thank you so much for sharing. Makes me feel much better.
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