Estimate con

mummysue_3

I recently had a joiner who's name I found in the yellow pages, come and look at my kitchen and give me a quote for some alteration work I needed doing.He told me there would be 4-5 hours work at a cost of £60 per hour!
When I said I would get back to him he made a quick phone call to "his boss" to see if I should have to pay £60 there and then for the estimate fee (of which none is mentioned in the yellow pages) or whether it could be added to my bill at the end of the work.Needless to say "his boss" said I would have to pay the fee there and then. I paid because I didn't know what to do.
Should I have? I feel as though I have taken for a ride and I could kick myself.

dmg24

Hi Sue,

Welcome to MSE!

Did you ask if there was a charge for the estimate, or was it advertised as free in the Yellow Pages? If not, then unfortunately they can charge you.

I think it is very unfair, especially as it looks like you were bullied into paying.

An idea, though slightly underhand, is to call them as a potential customer (i.e. not you!), and enquire as to whether there would be a charge if you had an estimate.

Sorry you have had a bad experience x

RadoJo

That's such a pain!! I would have thought it should be the other way round, and they can only charge you if htey have specifically stated it - how else are you supposed to know until he has come round, and presumably he would have charged you something for coming out either way! It does annoy me that companies can charge without making it clear that this will be applied - maybe a new crusade for us MSE-ers to take up?!

Poppycat

The company should have made it clear when you rang them that they charge for a estimate. I tell them to get lost if they tried to charge me.

I would of thought they are entitled to charge but they should make it perfectly clear that they would from the start either by phone or when they came round, then I would show them the door

mummysue_3

Hi
I didn't check if this guy would give a free estimate as those in the yellow pages who charged, actually stated it clearly. With hindsite I should have asked and certainly will in future. An expensive mistake to make!

mummysue_3

I didnt check if this guy would give a free estimate as those in the yellow pages who charged, stated it clearly.With hindsite I should have asked and certainly will in future.An expensive mistake to make!

maninthestreet

How much did you pay for this estimate charge, and how did you pay - cash or cheque? If the latter, was a cheque guarantee card number written on the back? If you paid by cheque, with no cheque guarentee card number written
on the back, and it hasnt been cashed, than cancel it.

hollydays

Why not ring the company again anonymously,ask if there is a charge for estimates? How do you know the person who called was speaking to his Boss?

mummysue_3

I paid cash unfortunately, but I might take "hollydays" advice and ring the company anonymously, just out of curiosity, but i'm going to have to put it down to experience. Thanks to all who replied.