Invoice dispute - please help

jamie4689

Hi

I wonder if you can let me know where I stand

I had a guy come out to look at my ariel a few weeks back, I was told that the initial visit would be free and that I would be quoted any costs before work was carried out.

The guy did some work and then charged me £84. At no point did I agree to paying on that day. I wrote him a cheque to get him off my doorstep (which bounced) and now I’m receiving many phone calls a day from various personal mobile numbers, and threatening letters.

I’ve been text today telling them if I don’t pay they’ll take me to court and it will cost me many times the original price.

Surely they can’t have a leg to stand on? If I had known it was going to be £84 I would have declined, I don’t have that kind of money and he was only there half an hour (if that)

Please advise on what best to do?

[Deleted User]

It won't cost you "many times the original price".

Court fees for small claims are fixed.

The cost of issuing the initial claim is, a maximum of £35.

However, by giving him a cheque, you may be deemed to have acknowledged the debt.

Also, issuing a cheque you know will bounce, is an offence.

bargainbetty

Did you agree to pay him for the work? Was a price agreed at all, prior to the work being undertaken? Is there any written agreement of the work?

If not, you would be within your rights to obtain a quote from another company for the works done, and if it is cheaper, to offer that in settlement as you were not provided an opportunity to challenge the price.

Send them that with a note stating it is full and final settlement, and if they continue to threaten you you will report them to Trading Standards for their failure to provide you with a proper written quotation for the works prior to them being completed.