Surely we don't have to pay this invoice?

mojomcl

Thanks for looking...

My husband and I have recently had a new bathroom installed. The company we contracted to supply & project manage everything has been worse than useless. Hardly anything was the same size/colour/style as we'd ordered. There were numerous installation problems, none of which were addressed by the company in question, and we were left dealing with sub contractors to resolve the many issues. We paid the initial invoice, but requested receipts and final invoice by return, and enclosed a long list of 'issues' with the job. This was in January, and we've heard nothing at all since. The bathroom is still not finished, either.

Today, a large invoice has arrived, in relation to the installation/labour costs, from the company which was sub contracted (not by us) to carry out the installation.

My queries/issues are....the sum requested is roughly akin to the amount outstanding from our 'project manager/supplier's quote. But, with so many items being nothing like as ordered, some things (such as shower!) incomplete, and the over all job still unfinished, we had no intention of paying any further invoice until all issues had been addressed/rectified to our satisfaction.

Whilst having no issues with the company sub-contracted to install the bathroom, we feel we aren't in a position to settle their invoice, as a) it was not us who contracted their services, and all invoicing was to be done via our PM/supplier, making this HIS bill, and b) if we did settle their invoice, we would have nothing further owing to our PM/supplier, and therefore would have paid the entire job in full, despite having major issues outstanding.

Can anyone make any suggestions as to where we might stand on this. I hate the thought of the 'third party' being out of pocket...but I honestly don't feel it is our place to pay them directly. They are, however, not at fault in any way.

Any help would be much appreciated. We're in Scotland, if this makes any difference to anything.

Thanks
x

hollydays

Don't understand why you were left dealing with the subcontractors if they were project managing.What do your contracts say?

mojomcl

No, we don't understand it either!
It was all agreed that we wouldn't have to even speak to any of the tradesmen, and that we would only be paying him. As it was, neither us nor the joiner/plumber could raise an answer or response from him about ANY of the problems, over the two week job. This left us no option but to deal with them ourselves.
The joiner & plumber were also aware that 'we' had not contracted them, as every time we solved another problem between us, either them or us would mention 'but we better try and square this with ***, as you're not working for us/we're not working for you' (in the nicest possible way! lol). but of course they were 'only' emplyess of the firm sub-contracted, so it'll be the accounts dept. now doing this, I should think...possible having been fed some BS from the 'PM'.

We didn't sign a written contract, although emails have been exchanged, prior to work starting, which would back up everything that I've said.

hth?

foxxymynx

No, you don't pay subcontractors.

You only pay the company that you have a contract with, not the company that they have a contract with.

hollydays

Are you sure they were project managing? I imagine that doesn't come cheap.Or did they just drop the word "project managing " into the conversation.I think you need to establish exactly what service you bought from them-you need to speak to trading standards asap.

mojomcl

Well, when I got home and had a good look at the invoice (I was at work when hubby called me to say it had arrived), I saw that the invoice is in/on the account of 'XXX' (the PM/supplier) and there was a handwritten note saying 'sent as instructed by xxx from xxxx'. It is also dated February, which makes me think that they have been unsuccessful in securing payment from him, and that he's trying to shirk his responsibilities.

Yes, we didn't call him a PM, but on our initial contact with him, and all subsequent meetings/conversations etc. it was always perfectly understood that he (offered) to coordinate all trades and we would only be paying him. We said at the beginning we 'only want to deal with one person, and we only want to pay one bill', and he wholeheartedly assured us that that was exactly what he and his company did anyway. He was meant to supply and organise the installation of windows & doors, and bathroom and kitchen. The windows and doors were a bit of a saga, but we got them in fine (but still no receipts for payment made in full months ago, nor manufacturer’s warrantees etc.), and the bathroom was a disaster, and there's never been any mention of the kitchen...all of this was meant to be one job.

Having read the invoice, I have drafted a polite letter, referring the sub-contractor back to the account holder/their point of contract. I'm hoping to have a couple of people read over it before I send it. I hate not paying bills...but this simply isn't my bill to pay, I'm sure of it.

Thanks for your advice so far. Any more thoughts would also be more than welcome.

xx

hollydays

Where did you find him?

mojomcl

He is a local company (well, virtually a one man band, but with impressive premises/showroom/fleet of vans etc), and was recommend by (this isn't even funny!) my financial advisor, who had used him on a small job, and was over the moon with him...but has since used him for a larger job, and been just as messed about as we have been...

He was the last company we approached dfor designs and quotes, and was the one we were most happy/confident with. Oh, isn't hindsight a wonderful thing.

hollydays

I suggest you change you financial adviser..

mojomcl

lol I know, poor guy! He is mortified. We'd gone in to speak to him about the best way to release the money we needed for these home improvements (which was quite simple and quick), and ended up chatting kitchens & bathrooms. He recommended the company in question purely because he'd just had a large utility area installed by them (the same kind of size as my whole kitchen), and he'd been delighted with everything...at the time, we had almost chosen a different company, but weren't totally confident they would furnish us with a couple of the more unusal aspects of the design that we'd requested. I don't blame my IFA at all. But I wont be taking anything other than monetary advice from him again! lol

mojomcl

Just un update, for hollydays especially.

Today I'm sending a letter to the subcontractor, along with a cheque for the tilers' invoice, which is the only part of the job not detailed on my quote with the 'main' company'. I have been polite and expained my situation, and enclosed a copy of the letter I sent 'my' company back in January, which details all the problems with this incomplete job. I have also sent a copy of the letter I am also sending today, to my 'main' company, telling them I am disgusted weith their conduct, and once again requesting they address the issures I raised months ago, and suggest they honour their contract with THEIR sub contactor.

Sorry, I've just reread that, and it's a bit garbled...but I can't think how else to word it!

Thanks so far. Watch this space.

xx