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Original poster

Tradesman charging for waiting time

47 replies

BillER · 22/02/2021 10:43

Dear All,

I arranged for an electrician to quote me for a job about a month ago and I couldn't let him in to the house as I was held up in traffic and he's now charged me for keeping him waiting (over an hour). I spoke to him on the phone that day to apologize for not getting back in time.

I just received his invoice this morning and not sure if I should pay. I'm a bit worried as he said he will charge interest if it's not paid. Can anyone offer any advice on this?

Thanks in advance
Gill

OP posts:
TitusPullo · 22/02/2021 11:22

I wouldn’t pay him, you have no contract with the man. It was his choice to wait around. If you had agreed a job with him and then he couldn’t access the property I would expect you to pay, but not for a quote. He is taking the piss and the threat to charge interest for this makes him sound like a rouge trader frankly.

FluffyHippo · 22/02/2021 11:22

@SpongeBobJudgeyPants

No, because people understand that you don't get paid for interviews Hmm
What was this if it wasn't the equivalent of an interview for a job? If 'people understand that you don't get paid for interviews', then this tradesman can just bugger off, can't he?
TitusPullo · 22/02/2021 11:23

*rogue! Rouge - haha!

RogersVideo · 22/02/2021 11:23

I think an apology is enough. He could have left as soon as he realised no one is in.

FluffyHippo · 22/02/2021 11:24

As this was just for a quote, he doesn't have a legal position - he's just trying it on. Ignore the invoice or tell him to take it to the Small Claims Court - he'd soon be rumbled.

SnuggyBuggy · 22/02/2021 11:25

If it was just a quote he could have chosen to sack it off once he knew how long he'd be waiting

isthismylifenow · 22/02/2021 11:35

Has he only sent you an invoice for the waiting time? Have you accepted the quote for doing the work?

isitsafetocomeoutyet · 22/02/2021 11:46

Sorry my mistake. Didn't see it was a quote.

Were you really late over an hour? Did you tell him you were on your way etc?

How much is the bill?

schnubbins · 22/02/2021 11:49

Tradesmen have bills to pay also.I know many who now ask to be paid for the time to give quotes , that money is refunded if he or she actually does the job.In my mind fair enough.

SplendidSuns1000 · 22/02/2021 11:54

Did he know you were going to be over an hour late? Perhaps if he didn't he thought you'd only be 20 minutes late and decided to stay. If he knew you were going to be that late he should've left so he wouldn't lose out on money for paying jobs.

WellIWasInTheNeighbourhoo · 22/02/2021 11:59

Did he do the job for you? I think it matters if he did the work or not. If it was only a quote, well then he could have left and there no contract so it was his choice. But if he stayed and did the work, then I think it could probably be justified (but he should have said something in advance).

NachoNachoMan · 22/02/2021 12:10

Hmmm, I don't think I'd pay... I think he's a chancer.

Did you know what time he was coming or did he just say he'd pop by when he was in the area?

It's annoying BUT there would be no guarantee for him that the free quote would have lead anywhere, anyway. What else could he have done? A couple more quotes, or maybe got home a bit earlier? I doubt he'd have been able to be working in that time earning any money. It's annoying for him but I guess trades people do have to factor in unpaid time for quotes. Did you actually get there to let him in to quote it did he go? Did you use him for the work? He's probably a bit narked if you didn't BUT he doesn't really have a leg to stand - you've not had a contract, written or verbal, to pay for the quote or waiting time.

What can he do if you don't pay? Take you to court? I'm certain he wouldn't win. And I'm guessing it wouldn't be worth him risking losing when he's got to pay court fees and the time it takes to do it.

showgirl63 · 22/02/2021 12:19

Don't think legally you have to pay but morally you certainly should

MissLucyEyelesbarrow · 22/02/2021 12:26

I doubt you have a legal obligation to pay if there was no contract to do so. It's perfectly lawful to charge for time doing a quotation but, of course, any charges should be explained in advance. Did you sign any T&Cs?

Morally, I think it depends on whether you asked him to wait when you realised you were running late. If you did, I think you should pay a reasonably hourly rate for his wait.

MaggieFS · 22/02/2021 13:00

On the day, were you keeping him informed as to how late you'd be?

If you'd said 'I'll be at least an hour' and he chose to stay, you don't pay.

If you had said 'I'll be ten minutes' and were an hour then that's not kind to him and you should pay, although you don't have to, I would have thought, as you hadn't agreed it beforehand.

ElijahsMoon · 22/02/2021 13:03

Thanks for replying. My instinct is to pay (of course) but this was a job for a free quote so I'm not sure what the legal position is.

If it was a free quote im wondering why on earth he waited round for an hour. Legally im sure you dont have to pay anything as you have no contract with this man. However morally I would pay, or at least offer to pay half. You wasted his time and he could have been out earning.

danni0509 · 22/02/2021 13:17

Fuck paying it if it was for a quote!

If it was pre booked work you weren’t in for then I could understand it more, but not for a quote.

Cheeky!

TitusPullo · 22/02/2021 13:50

@schnubbins - I have never paid just for a quote, how odd! I don’t think I’d use a tradesmen who charged for quoting. I work in professional services and sometimes it takes a lot of time to put together a proposal, no one would let us in the door if we tried to charge for it,

121hugsneeded · 27/02/2021 08:49

If you didn't have an agreement in place to pay for his time I don't see how he can bill you ? It was a meeting to organise a quote, not to perform a job.

Tell him you won't be paying as an agreement wasn't in place.

WhoStoleMyCheese · 27/02/2021 22:38

Why didn’t he just leave?
You shouldn’t have to pay...him losing out on potential earnings in the hour he waited around is on him.

CatAndHisKit · 28/02/2021 02:25

Unless you asked / told him to wait and then were delayed more than you thought - then no, you shouldn't pay as he was free to leave and not wait.
And if he decided to wait (or you had asked him) he should have said there and then that he will charge for the wait.

RugsEverywhere · 28/02/2021 07:16

No. I'm assuming he's got sour grapes because you didn't go with him for the work?

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