Kitchen fitting prices - invoice just received - HELP!!

elsien

I know you said he did long days, but 76 hours over 6 days is a 12 hour day. Did he actually spend that long on the premises. Tbh the lunch break isn't really relevant. When I pay a daily rate I expect that to include breaks as long as they're not excessive.

spacey2012

76 hours to fit a standard Kitchen ?
Now I know why he is short of work.

He will be claiming his fuel as a tax expense, so thats fraud.
I would offer him what you think the work is worth, but 76 hours is absolutely taking the ****

Mealybug

Elsien, he was on the premises for 12 hours a day ish and I try not to stand over people when they are working but whenever I (or my husband or Dad) popped in he was standing looking at the kitchen and saying he had this and that and the other to do (and taking in sharp breaths when I asked how long it would take). I've queried the hours with him and he said he has included coming over to measure up, he thing is he then rang me and said he couldn't fathom what he'd written so asked me to do it again!! Spacey2012 I think you are on my wavelength! I have decided not to have him over to redo the plinth, it will mean buying more which is a hassle and my husband has straightened the door which was askew (it took him 30 seconds). The fitter reckoned he'd had to take all the doors off and redo the hinges but there's no evidence of this and I saw the units when they came, they looked fine to me. This is a quality kitchen, there were no problems he has just taken the **** (to use Spacey2012's words). He has also charged us £46 workshop time, this he says is what he is charged for using the workshop (he doesn't have his own). Isn't this is something a self employed person takes into account when setting their hourly rate? Thanks everyone for your replies, keep them coming!

leveller2911

spacey2012 wrote: »

76 hours to fit a standard Kitchen ?
Now I know why he is short of work.

He will be claiming his fuel as a tax expense, so thats fraud.


Rubbish, nothing fraudulent about charging for fuel and claiming for fuel used during business, its whether or not he should include the charge on top of his hourly rate.

spacey2012

leveller2911 wrote: »

spacey2012 wrote: »

76 hours to fit a standard Kitchen ?
Now I know why he is short of work.

He will be claiming his fuel as a tax expense, so thats fraud.


Rubbish, nothing fraudulent about charging for fuel and claiming for fuel used during business, its whether or not he should include the charge on top of his hourly rate.

If you are claiming it from someone else, it is an ALLOWANCE and should be claimed as such, not as an expense.
Yes it is fraudulent to claim an allowance as an expense.
This is not withstanding that the guy is just taking the ****

buglawton

Oh we'll Mealybug, looks like you made your mind up about this before you posted this thread.

leveller2911

spacey2012 wrote: »

leveller2911 wrote: »

If you are claiming it from someone else, it is an ALLOWANCE and should be claimed as such, not as an expense.
Yes it is fraudulent to claim an allowance as an expense.
This is not withstanding that the guy is just taking the ****

I don't agree, if he charges for £70-00 for diesel that will go down on his tax return as income earned and he will then claim some of his fuel back as an expense.

If he is self employed he doesn't claim allowances from the Public, he would if he sub-contracted but he isn't.

He may well be taking the **** but its NOT fraud.

FWIW I think this thread just emphasises that people need to get a detailed quote in writing.

Russe11

£20 sounds a fair price for a kitchen fitter, hourly was agreed hourly you will have to pay.

By all means ask all snagging is compleated before payment, but I could not see any reason why the tradesman would not charge for this extra work on the basis thats what was agreed in the first place.

Most trades would price the fuel into the quoted rate. Asking for it afterwards means your perfectly entitled to refuse payment of the addition.

Mealybug

Hi Russe11, thanks for your comment. What extra work? He didn't do any extra, in fact I have been told as a fitter he should have fitted the extractor fan and the sink which I have had to pay other trades to do. I agree that I foolishly agreed to an hourly rate BUT he led me to believe I would be better off doing so. Leveller2911 I totally agree and would reiterate to anyone looking for a fitter to agree a fixed price and get it in writing. I unfortunately am new to all this and took him at face value. Lesson learnt but having had a number of very good, honest tradespeople who have done an excellent job at a reasonable price I guess I got complacent (or maybe I got lucky depending on how you look at it?!)

leveller2911

Mealybug wrote: »

Leveller2911 I totally agree and would reiterate to anyone looking for a fitter to agree a fixed price and get it in writing. I unfortunately am new to all this and took him at face value. Lesson learnt but having had a number of very good, honest tradespeople who have done an excellent job at a reasonable price I guess I got complacent (or maybe I got lucky depending on how you look at it?!)

I wouldn't pay his diesel cost as already mentioned he should/would have factored this into his hourly rate..On the face of it ,it does sound expensive but I'm not sure you have any recourse.It may be an idea to try and negotiate a deal.

good Luck Mealybug