Dispute with tiler over cost

arcon5

fto wrote: »

He worked four days... That's what the estimate was.
You should never hire anybody by the day,you are asking for trouble.

If he worked 8.30-9.45 Mon-Fri should op pay 5 days?


A day rate implies a full days work. Not 1/2 day. If say he worked 8-4 4 days, then 8-1.30 on the forth day, thus finishing early, it may be reasonable to bill for 4 full days. But based on the hours stated, he's taking op for a ride.


If I was you op, i'd send a cheque for 3 days work and let him pursue you for the forth day. Whatever you do though, don't hold back the amount legitimately owed as this would look badly on you.

Errata

When you agreed to pay him a daily rate, did you agree how long his working day would be? No, you didn't so you can't complain about it.
Next time ask for a price for the job, not agree to pay by the day.

aleksia85

Thanks for your replies everyone.

I can see that not everybody agrees with me.

The tiler has actually just posted a nasty letter through our letterbox threatening legal action again (bear in mind he gave me the invoice yesterday and we only talked to him by phone at lunchtime)

This is getting too confrontational and stressful. I'm due to deliver baby number 2 in the next few days and have heart problems so i've decided to pay him in full so i don't have to worry about this anymore, even if i feel he's taken advantage.

Still i'm taking all your advice into account and i'll make sure to do my homework next time we need someone.

paddyrg

Actually, I'm with the tiler here. He came on site 4 days, which was what you agreed to. He may have allowed a bit of slack in his schedule to account for any potential problems which luckily did not arise thanks to his skill and your good fortune. He quite possibly did some prep work offsite, maybe buying tiles or grout or whatever.

You got a price to do the job, with an estimate of how long it would take. Delivered ahead of time and on budget - that'd be a major win in most trades contracts

flashg67

paddyrg wrote: »

Actually, I'm with the tiler here. He came on site 4 days, which was what you agreed to. He may have allowed a bit of slack in his schedule to account for any potential problems which luckily did not arise thanks to his skill and your good fortune. He quite possibly did some prep work offsite, maybe buying tiles or grout or whatever.

You got a price to do the job, with an estimate of how long it would take. Delivered ahead of time and on budget - that'd be a major win in most trades contracts

And I'm with the OP - she knows there should have been a more formal agreement, that's a given, but IMO, the tiler has taken advantage of this by failing to work what most reasonable people would say is a 'normal' day, even accounting for travel etc. I think most people would think that £160 for a 3 to 5 hour 'day' is taking the pee and I would have paid a fair amount and told him to do one and take me to court.

And those of you who are giving the OP stick about being a bad payer and 'blacklisted' - her comments indicate she isn't, but just wants treating fairly - 'proper' businesses do this as a matter of course and aren't just out to rip people off. I bet it was cash in hand too.............

daveb5

you say he did a good job,i dont know all the details but maybe it was a good job because he got all the tiling finished by 2:15 on day 3 and rather than rush and bodge it up by grouting straightaway he came back for a couple of hours on the forth day to do it properly,better than chasing him in a few months when all the grout fails.

daveb5

but agreed he should maybe have taken half a days pay instead of the full money as goodwill even though he wouldnt have another job to go to

keith1950

If he has budgeted and quoted for four days he obviously no arranged work on the fourth day and so you cannot expect him to refund anything.

If you were happy with the price of £640 then I cannot see what the problem is !

The sort of customer we all dread .

mo786uk

Tough one but IMO you have backed yourself into a corner by not having a firm agreement - so on balance I will side with the trader.

He said it might take 4 days and you knew what your exposure was.

Having said that, if it was me I might think differently - esp if he is taking the !!!! with nasty letters.

neilmcl

paddyrg wrote: »

Actually, I'm with the tiler here. He came on site 4 days, which was what you agreed to. He may have allowed a bit of slack in his schedule to account for any potential problems which luckily did not arise thanks to his skill and your good fortune. He quite possibly did some prep work offsite, maybe buying tiles or grout or whatever.

You got a price to do the job, with an estimate of how long it would take. Delivered ahead of time and on budget - that'd be a major win in most trades contracts

Totally agree. The customer doesn't set the guy's hourly schedule, there's no law that states someone has to work 9-5 to count as a full day, nor did his estimate state that he'd be on your premises between the hours of 9-5 (or whatever time) for the full 4 days. He gave an estimate of 4 days and it took 4 days to fully complete the work. Pay up and stop moaning.