Angry Phone Call

hollydays

Edwood_Woodwood wrote: »

What kind of work was it?

Sounds like the company you didn't go with are struggling a wee bit as they sound desperate.

Or just plain rude..

Edwood_Woodwood

hollydays wrote: »

Or just plain rude..

I think it's evident they were rude, I'm curious as to a possible reason.

Giving quotes & having a tenuous agreement that are then not actioned happen all the time.

spookalili

Edwood_Woodwood wrote: »

I think it's evident they were rude, I'm curious as to a possible reason.

Giving quotes & having a tenuous agreement that are then not actioned happen all the time.

It was a roofing company

daytona0 wrote: »

I think they have a point. Depending on the scale of commitment made by yourself (setting a "provisional" date is a commitment of sorts) then you might be in a varying degree of wrong on this occasion. Consider the possibility that they were under the legitimate impression that you had accepted them to work for you (there doesn't necessarily have to be a WRITTEN contract) and the possible loss of earnings they may have suffered from turning down work.

If they can prove loss of earnings and a possible contractual breach (despite you saying no paper contract was signed, as you can make a contract verbally AND having paper evidence of a provisional date would help that argument) then they should take you to court for that. It wouldn't be fair on the company, and part and parcel of consumer rights is that there are two sides.

However, on the face of it I don't think you have to worry about any of the above because it seems unlikely that this is a strong enough case.

I echo everyone else's thoughts in that their call was probably well out of order though. So unprofessional! If they have a case then they should take you to court. If they don't then they shouldn't be tarnishing their name like that.

At the end of the day I think you possibly need to reflect on this whole situation, and the possibility that you have just burnt bridges with these people. Sometimes it is better to box things off straight away, instead of leaving it. You never know when you might otherwise need their services in the future, of which you now no longer have access to (it would seem).

Thank you very much for your reply. I completely agree with everything you have said, and this is part of the reason why I felt so terrible after the phone call. I felt as though I may have lost them out on work, even though I hadn't confirmed anything. The person called me to talk through dates and at no point was this written down as part of the quote.

Either way, I suppose I've got what I deserved for not letting them know when I perhaps should have done - a stern talking to...twice!

peter_the_piper

Two companies were asked to Quote for the same job. One got it. The other should have just moved on. A quote is not a contract. Whilst the customer could have contacted the losing company they are under no compulsion to do so. Businesses get many requests for quotes, its part of business.

pendragon_arther

spookalili wrote: »

It was a roofing company

That explains a lot.

Money-Saving-King

peter_the_piper wrote: »

Two companies were asked to Quote for the same job. One got it. The other should have just moved on.

Bit it sounds like the op delayed in telling them by quiet a bit, well basically didn't tell them they didn't get the job (the op did state dates were suggested over the phone so it would have been courteous to say the least to explain why this is no longer needed).

spookalili wrote: »

We were sent two quotes via email and dates were suggested over the phone.

Maybe if the op phoned them when they got the other quote the original company might have tried to beat it?

I recon dates were suggested, the op said yes that would be fine but didn't clarify they only wanted a quote. If this were the case then you can understand the company being annoyed.

duchy

Alternatively one of the companies for whatever reason told the other company it was a firm job as they assumed /misunderstood and the wrath from the first company was in part because he knew the second company whose men he had subcontracted would flip out.

Whatever the reason -I'd just be glad I didn't use them but remember in the future to be both clear and timely in rejecting quotes.

I wouldn't dwell on it though- What is done is done.

peter_the_piper

Money-Saving-King wrote: »

Bit it sounds like the op delayed in telling them by quiet a bit, well basically didn't tell them they didn't get the job (the op did state dates were suggested over the phone so it would have been courteous to say the least to explain why this is no longer needed).
.

In a business you often get people phone/email for a quote. Unless the OP told them otherwise its up to the business to chase up to see if they were successful. Very rarely does a customer contact unless the quote is successful, its a fact of life.
A bit like getting a quote from compare the market, you only contact the successful company, you don't mail all the others.

daytona0

peter_the_piper wrote: »

In a business you often get people phone/email for a quote. Unless the OP told them otherwise its up to the business to chase up to see if they were successful. Very rarely does a customer contact unless the quote is successful, its a fact of life.
A bit like getting a quote from compare the market, you only contact the successful company, you don't mail all the others.

A provisional date was set though.... so it is more than a simple quote. The company anticipated some sort of work on the specified date, and without being told then they would have gone ahead.

What would happen if, for example, the provisional date was set but the company failed to turn up on said date? What would you say to a customer in that situation?

bod1467

Going with the compare the market example, a firm (not provisional) date is also set (start of insurance). Same answer - you don't inform all the others who quoted that they didn't get the "job".

If I was giving a job to a company that quoted, I'd confirm the date with them and not just assume the provisional date was agreed.