Original quote & final Bill are polls apart? do you have to pay?

Hintza

I can't imagine the repairer has anything in writing that will give him the right to charge such an amount. So if it was me it woul be going to court.

One thing what is the cost of this model new? Perhaps we are all not on the correct wavelength here?

I remember at Otterburn we used to shoot this things out the sky when we were doing anti-aircraft practice (think in the reality though it was just a bit of a jolly). The instructors assured us we would never hit it which we did.

maninthestreet

Please tell us what this model is, and how much do they cost new - presumably more than the £7K repair costs??

unholyangel

If his turnover is less than £73k a year, he doesnt have to be VAT registered. However if its 7k for one restoration and he does a dozen of these a year....he should indeed be registered. Did the quote/estimate or final invoice give a VAT reference number at all? Does he work from home or business premises?

As others have said, even if it was a estimate, given that the estimate and final bill are so wide apart, he should have contacted your family member to tell them it was going to be more expensive and asked if they wished to proceed.

It may also be worth your family member asking solicitors in your area for a free half hour consultation as they will be able to advise in a legal capacity as to what all the ins and outs are.

InsideInsurance

Have you actually got the model back yet? On the basis you havent paid I would assume not?

What is the value of the thing? I thought my RC car was expensive at £700 (it was twice the price I paid for my first real car which I bought the same week)

Are you certain he didnt call to let your relative know it was going to be more? Given the values involved it sounds like a passion of your relatives and perhaps they in the heat of the moment said ok given it meant theyd get their pride and joy back?

gollum007

So, I'm a railway modeller, not a RC planes guy, but the principle is the same.
The 'repairer' is taking the wee, full-stop. I don't do this sort of thing personally, but some club members do, and we're all horrified. A small discrepancy, yes, but 5.5k is lunatic.

I'd be asking the club committee to intervene here. Obviously I don't know the full details from here, but with any luck they should be able to give some impartial help, with subject knowledge.

mttylad

I wonder what the tax office would say about this?

Worth considering when discussing it with him.

arcon5

mttylad wrote: »

I wonder what the tax office would say about this?

Worth considering when discussing it with him.

We don't anything about this guys tax affairs or even if he has/is projected to hit the VAT threshold so not really sure what this will achieve -- other than hold things up further.