Can they change our quote?

dg2011

A local decorating firm quoted me £850 + materials to decorate our hall, stair and landing. They said it would take a week for two people. They should have finished on Friday but they got behind so they are coming back after their next job to do the glossing. So far so good.

Yesterday they emailed me with an invoice for the 'final price' which is now £1,100 plus £249 materials. They said that several problems came up that caused extra work eg. the walls were worse than they thought.

I have questioned this increase in price and they have basically said that my 'quote' is actually only an estimate. My problem is that they didnt tell me it was an estimate - I was booking for that as a final price. It doesnt say anywhere on the piece of paper that they may change the price but it does say 'Estimate' across the top. The woman who came to quote didnt say anything about it being an estimate....as I have explained I asked for a an actual quote not a rough guide!

Do I have a leg to stand on or do I just have to pay 30% more than was quoted for the job? She has admitted that her original price was way too low but says that I should have been fully aware that this was only an estimate. I feel ripped off!!!
Please advise.
Many thanks
Debbie

darleydame

If its says estimate that is just what it is- as a plumbers wife we often get trouble over this- if you are dealing with things you cant see- if they strip the wallpaper and half the plaster comes off with it its not their fault. But saying that they should not have gone ahead with any extra work without giving you a price of the extras so you could decide what you wanted. I would suggest you offer them a bit more but not as much a they want and see what happens

keystone

A quote is a price at the contractor's risk.

An estimate is a price at the customer's risk.

However, a quote can be subject to an increase for work that was unforseen at the time of quoting - for example condition of walls after paper removed. In thos circumstances an uplift in price may be applicable provided that the additional work is discussed with you and a price agreed before it is undertaken.

Your problem is you do not have a quote. You have an estimate and a piece of paper which clearly (by your own admission) says estimate.

Your labour uplift is between 22 and 23% NOT 30% BTW.

Your only solution is negotiation. Down the middle seems fairest and simplest. You should aim to settle for £950 plus materials IMO.

Cheers

dg2011

Thanks for that both of you, very helpful.

The price increase is £250 and I have offered to pay £125 so will wait to hear from them.

I realise that as the customer I should have spotted it said 'Estimate' not 'Quote' at the top of the document, then I should have known the difference between the two. But I can't help but be left with a bad taste in my mouth over this as the company knew I had asked for a quote not an estimate. The document does not state anywhere that the final price will only be agreed on completion of the job and it also doesn't state by how much the price could increase. I have looked back at my emails accepting their 'quote' and you can see that I clearly believe it to be a quote ie. a reasonably fixed price, but they chose not to correct me. They also talked me out of using a branded paint as 'it would significantly increase the price' so I had no reason to believe the price would increase until they left on Friday evening.

She has also admitted by email that her original quote was way too low 'due to the current climate'. I feel as if they quoted low to get the work and are now using the fact that they only estimated the job to up the price. But it is a lesson well learned as I guess I should have spotted that in the first place.

Just on another point - they are coming back (one person) a week on Monday to gloss 11 doors and all the bannisters, picture rails, skirting etc. IN ONE DAY!! Even I know that's not physically possible! Will they want to charge me more for that too, all because they quoted/estimated way too low in the first place

BTW Keystone £250 is an increase of 29.4% on £850 - unless my calculator is telling porkies!

Thanks again for the advice....even if its not what I wanted to hear :-)