builder wants more money

GT60

Hi we did all the checks etc when we got the builder (BOB)and he is with the FMB.
He gave us an esitmate(18000) for the job first in July when we were looking for a bulider and after all the checks had been done we decided to go with him.

We phone BOB in october and asked for a quote (£18000)for the job and he said " the esitmate he gave us was the price and it will not go over this.
so he sent the bulider (JOE)who was doing the job round to explain everything he came round and we gave BOB a deposit to start work.
There is no contracts or anything all was cash (please dont shout we know it is wrong :eek:)
Problem 1
It turns out that BOB is a builders agent and had took too much of a deposit.£1800 instead of just £1000.
Now 2 months down the line with plumbing, gas ,wiring, and some plastering to be done, JOE is asking for an extra £2500 on top of the final £18000.
We have contacted BOB and he is saying that JOE should have given you a final price both are blaming each other and we are trying to get a meeting together to sort this out as all the £18000 has gone.
What can we do??
Thanks Niall

Plasterer

niall24 wrote: »

Hi we did all the checks etc when we got the builder (BOB)and he is with the FMB.
He gave us an esitmate(18000) for the job first in July when we were looking for a bulider and after all the checks had been done we decided to go with him.

We phone BOB in october and asked for a quote (£18000)for the job and he said " the esitmate he gave us was the price and it will not go over this.
so he sent the bulider (JOE)who was doing the job round to explain everything he came round and we gave BOB a deposit to start work.
There is no contracts or anything all was cash (please dont shout we know it is wrong :eek:)
Problem 1
It turns out that BOB is a builders agent and had took too much of a deposit.£1800 instead of just £1000.
Now 2 months down the line with plumbing, gas ,wiring, and some plastering to be done, JOE is asking for an extra £2500 on top of the final £18000.
We have contacted BOB and he is saying that JOE should have given you a final price both are blaming each other and we are trying to get a meeting together to sort this out as all the £18000 has gone.
What can we do??
Thanks Niall

Hi Niall, Firstly an estimate is not a quote. This distsinction should have been made clear. Also,yes you should have had a contract in place as now it is his word against yours. I think you need to be firm but fair with BOB and quote him on what he said originally "it won't go over this"
Have you paid BOB the rest of the money or have you been paying Joe? If youve been paying Joe, this could get sticky. Like you say, I think you need to speak to both of them and have a discussion. Be FIRM but not aggresive - Its quite difficult to get a builder to take a part job on, and if you do it will definately cost you more than the £2500 for another to finish it.

GT60

We have been paying Joe and also contacted the FMB for help
Thanks Niall

Plasterer

niall24 wrote: »

We have been paying Joe and also contacted the FMB for help
Thanks Niall

Ultimately, I think the buck stops with BOB as you contracted him. Should have been paying him i'm thinking though. See how you get on with the FMB. Been paying cash by any chance? has Joe given you any receipts for materials, days he's been there etc?

GT60

BOb said his estimate is his quote and joe was supposed to comfirm the price but this never happened.
We were only told this the other day when we seen Bob.
Yes it is all cash apart from the Cheque for £1800 to Bob.
I think we can get copies of the receipts.
Thanks for your help niall

Basil1234

niall24 wrote: »

Yes it is all cash apart from the Cheque for £1800 to Bob.
I think we can get copies of the receipts.
Thanks for your help niall

sorry to say this but £18000 cash that amount should set alarm bells ringing, i know most builders like cash fair enough its the greatest nicest tax fiddle in the world! but i reckon bob is who you deal with he was 'supposed' to do the work and all he has done is sub-contractored it out but it was his quote or estimate unfournately in the uk verbal guarnetees are just that and non-enforceable.
also you should have a contract drawn up with all works listed, time frames with completion dates. payments listed with dates and work to be complete to stages before next payement this way there is never any confusion over costs and where the work should be. builders are notious for getting it wrong you should never get any work without the written quote first then you would have a legal legs to stand on.

These extra costs e.g. the £2500 have you asked him to tell you what there for?
example have his supplier costs gone up? or do you think he sees you as a nice soft touch for £2500?

the only power you may have if he becomes unreasonable is to cut him out and pay the second builder direct who is doing the work himself. and tell bob take me to court if you want your £1800 and we will see what a judge has to say.
my most important piece of advice is get a reciept from the builder who has been doing the work as its him you have been paying otherwise you could come very unstuck.

best of luck

booty40uk

Tell him your relative who is high up at the Inland Revenue would like to come to the meeting too to discuss the cash payments.

Andy

keystone

booty40uk wrote: »

Tell him your relative who is high up at the Inland Revenue would like to come to the meeting too to discuss the cash payments.

Andy

If invoices covering labour and have been issued against each payment that would be quite, quite wrong. But the OP has only hinted in respect of this.

Cheers

booty40uk

I'll bet my left one and my right one that not a penny of £18k in cash has been declared.

GT60

There has been No invoices issued everything is cash apart from the £1800 cheque for the deposit to Bob.
All other monies have been paid to Joe each week to cover wages and bricks etc.
The extension is a two story one 4mtr x 3.5 mtr everyone bar two quoted £25k plus and even one at 32K the other two copied the £18000 quote/ estimate.
Cant fault the work though.
We are starting to pay for parts with a cheque card.
Thanks Niall

keystone

niall24 wrote: »

There has been No invoices issued everything is cash{/quote]Ooops!

Time to start negotiating methinks in an adult and amicable manner. Reach an agreement that you all keep.

Otherwise one of you will be needing or receiving one of these:



and someones entire day will be ruined.

Cheers