Can I pay my kitchen fitter less than his quote?

jellyjelly84

Hi, we bought a new kitchen, did all the right things, got 3 quotes, references etc and chose a kitchen fitter who seemed to know what he was talking about and understood our kitchen plan. Initially we were very happy with his work, and the kitchen is solid, I'm pleased with the actual fitting but the finish is not what I expected! He hasn't finished the extractor fan, I've got a big pipe going over the top of my cupboards, I was missing a door (which I know was there when the kitchen was delivered - thankfully the magnet replaced it free of charge), there are no handles on my cupboards, ive got 4 broken handles where he snapped the screws ( again they are being replaced free of charge) there are a few chips on the side panels. Anyway, he phoned me yesterday to explain that he'd left early because tried to contact magnet all day to chase up missing pieces and new screws and hadn't had an answer. I thought this was strange so I rang them myself, they said that he phoned them and asked for the parts to be delivered, they said they could that afternoon but his reply was that he wasn't going to hang around for that and told them not to bother delivering them! Magnet then kindly delivered all the bits needed later that afternoon. The fitter also asked me in the phone call if I was happy with the kitchen, my reply was that it's not finished yet, he then said that my husband had told him that he would finish it for him!! I asked my husband who said he would give him a helping hand if he needed it because the fitter's apprentice is ill! He then proceeded to ask me when I would be paying him!? I said I that i have the money and that he doesn't have to worry abou payment, but it's payment on completion, he then told me he can't come back until a week monday to finish it...in the meantime my husband has finished the kitchen, apart from the extractor fan. I haven't told the fitter this yet...should I pay the fitter the full asking price of the quote? He never gave us an quote on paper eventhough I asked for one, and I don't feel I can justify paying him full price for an unfinished job...any thoughts on how I go about this? Cheers!

tersus_slate

Start off with writing in paragraphs.

jellyjelly84

Sorry. I've only got internet on my phone at the moment and ut is difficult to see how messages will appear on the forum.
Thanks for your constructive response

themull1

If the fitter said he would be coming back to finish the kitchen, and your husband did it before the fitter came back, you would still be liable for the full quote.

27col

You accepted the quote, if you chose to do some of the work yourself, that is entirely your decision. Nothing to do with the fitter whose quote you accepted.

Murtle

I'm not sure if you can suggest that you'll pay him for the work todate (that he has done) and call it quits?

He may not be bothered to come back a week Monday - or could say a week Monday is inconvenient for you as the kitchen should have been completed much earlier.

We had a similar situation, we paid him to go away in the end and are having someone else come back to fix the problems. Definitely not very MSE.

DirectDebacle

...should I pay the fitter the full asking price of the quote?

No. He hasn't done the job he quoted for. Unless the quote included using your husband as an unpaid labourer, damaging end panels and door handles and not finishing the fan.
I suspect he just wants his money now and he will leave you with an unfinished job as soon as he is paid.

Pay him for the work he has done so far less an amount for the work your husband has had to do (you could calculate this at the rate he would have paid the labourer, say £50.00 per day). Deduct a further amount for replacing the damaged end panels (if not done by your husband) and a further amount for paying for someone professional to finish the fan.

keystone

DirectDebacle wrote: »

No. He hasn't done the job he quoted for. Unless the quote included using your husband as an unpaid labourer, damaging end panels and door handles and not finishing the fan.
I suspect he just wants his money now and he will leave you with an unfinished job as soon as he is paid.

Pay him for the work he has done so far less an amount for the work your husband has had to do (you could calculate this at the rate he would have paid the labourer, say £50.00 per day). Deduct a further amount for replacing the damaged end panels (if not done by your husband) and a further amount for paying for someone professional to finish the fan.

Sorry but No. OP and other half need a consistent approach to the project before giving such advice. We have no idea whathas been agreed between OH and fitter with or without OP's knowledge.

Cheers

DirectDebacle

keystone wrote: »

Sorry but No. OP and other half need a consistent approach to the project before giving such advice. We have no idea whathas been agreed between OH and fitter with or without OP's knowledge.

Cheers

This is what the OP asked:

...and I don't feel I can justify paying him full price for an unfinished job...any thoughts on how I go about this? Cheers!

I gave my thoughts on how the OP could approach the matter.

What would you advise the OP?

Cheers.

Sulli

DirectDebacle wrote: »

No. He hasn't done the job he quoted for. Unless the quote included using your husband as an unpaid labourer, damaging end panels and door handles and not finishing the fan.
I suspect he just wants his money now and he will leave you with an unfinished job as soon as he is paid.

Pay him for the work he has done so far less an amount for the work your husband has had to do (you could calculate this at the rate he would have paid the labourer, say £50.00 per day). Deduct a further amount for replacing the damaged end panels (if not done by your husband) and a further amount for paying for someone professional to finish the fan.

Agreed :money:

sunshinetours

Sounds like there have been some problems.
As you are now saving the fitter a days work (guess) I would try and agree with him to knock that off the total price.