Quote given and tentatively agreed - now unable to carry through?

sportsarb

Thanks for any help.

I had a local firm out looking at my kitchen and they had given a quote for the material cost of the cabinets etc. and at that stage I had given a tentative agreement on their costings with the agreement that I would be contacted by contractors they work with for details on the costings of what they will charge.

While I did receive contact from one contractor I had received no contact from gas fitter, plumber etc, on their costings.

I received another hit with an unexpected bill which will highly likely impact on my ability to pay the bill should the work be carried out. I therefore contacted the firm to advise that I wish to end the process at this point.

I received a reply stating that they had already ordered the products at a cost to them. Now, no mention has been made by them over whether they will try to pass that cost on to me, but I just want to check how things stand.

I haven't been charged, paid a deposit and nothing has been signed. I gave tentative agreement on the price but from my point of view it was also contingent on the total cost including the prepartory work and I had chased for this information.

Can anyone advise what the situation here would be?

Doozergirl

They'll have to prove there is a contract. If they can't, then there's not a lot they can do.

I'm slightly confused that you are getting separate prices from every contractor. If that is the case, then each one is a separate contract, it isn't one as an entirity for the kitchen.

theonlywayisup

I am also confused.

Why did you contact them to "end the process at this point". This seems to suggest that works had started or an order/contract had been made?

sportsarb

Thanks for the replies.

Doozergirl wrote: »

They'll have to prove there is a contract. If they can't, then there's not a lot they can do.

I'm slightly confused that you are getting separate prices from every contractor. If that is the case, then each one is a separate contract, it isn't one as an entirity for the kitchen.

The sales man gave me a price for the kitchen i.e. the materials, cooker, dishwasher etc. This price was given at the initial consultation when he presented the plans he had drawn up. I'd indicated that it was a price I could work with but that I would need to know the costs of the entirety of the work, naturally. The salesman hasn't provided any details of the workmen involved for me to independently contact them and verify the prices so I would view this as part of his overall cost for the project. It was sold to me as a 'one point of contact' deal.

The visit he made to me was over a month ago now and I'm no closer to knowing what the final charge would be.

theonlywayisup wrote: »

I am also confused.

Why did you contact them to "end the process at this point". This seems to suggest that works had started or an order/contract had been made?

No work has started other than his consultation and drawing up of plans. I'd raised a concern the day after his visit regarding needing to have gas extended to the kitchen and while this was acknowledged by saying a gas fitter would be in contact, no contact was made.

I got in touch this morning to say that I felt it necessary to bring this to an end because of my other expenses (unforeseen but necessary as it has an impact on neighbouring property) and the fact I don't know the final costs of the kitchen work.

It was only at this point I was made aware that he had ordered the product. I don't understand why when no money has changed hands and no contract signed and not all of the work required had been costed yet. What if the additional work becomes astronomical? It's his contacts involved.

theonlywayisup

How did you leave the conversation today?

sportsarb

theonlywayisup wrote: »

How did you leave the conversation today?

The exact message aside from personal information:

'This kitchen has already been ordered and production of it is underway. I have already incurred costs for same!'

I obviously don't feel great about that but this was the first time that was communicated to me. I've outlined why in previous posts.

Edit: Just to add, I did have a reply to him all typed up but didn't send it yet, I don't want to be antagonistic but I felt that communication was sadly lacking throughout the process. Having been though an insurance claim this year, which has rumbled on for a long time and is actually only being finished today despite starting in June, I've been left hugely frustrated by the lack of being informed about what is going on. It's really not for the lack of trying on my part. I don't want to be harassing either.

Lbuk

Was there a start date? Is it reasonable for him to started to have things made up considering when the start date was?

I think that is pivotal in if there was a contract or not.

I've never signed anything for works to be done and I've often never paid upfront for anything. I can't remember if I did for my custom kitchen though.

Doozergirl

Do you have any written correspondence at all?

Essentially, if you can show that you were expecting the job as a whole, it would be reasonable that you were waiting for the full price before commiting.

If they have nothing in addition to that in writing to say that you've given the go ahead for the kitchen to be ordered, then it's their problem.

At the moment, they're not asking for anything anyway. It may just go away. Where was the kitchen from? Which manufacturer?

sportsarb

Lbuk wrote: »

Was there a start date? Is it reasonable for him to started to have things made up considering when the start date was?

I think that is pivotal in if there was a contract or not.

I've never signed anything for works to be done and I've often never paid upfront for anything. I can't remember if I did for my custom kitchen though.

No start date had been agreed on. The only discussion regarding on timing was whether there was any time periods when I wouldn't want it done and I had stated that there weren't.

Apart from short, usually one or two line replies to my queries, there has been nothing by way of communication. I'd actually begun to believe that this was being used as a tactic to get me to cancel the job as it's appeared to me nothing is happening. Nothing has been happening from my point of view as I'm no closer to know the overall cost of the project and was oblivious to the fact he'd contacted his suppliers.

Doozergirl wrote: »

Do you have any written correspondence at all?

Essentially, if you can show that you were expecting the job as a whole, it would be reasonable that you were waiting for the full price before commiting.

If they have nothing in addition to that in writing to say that you've given the go ahead for the kitchen to be ordered, then it's their problem.

At the moment, they're not asking for anything anyway. It may just go away. Where was the kitchen from? Which manufacturer?

There is nothing at all in writing. It was all verbal in my home. The only things I have are the diagrams he drew up to illustrate what it might look like. I didn't even get to see the exact costings of the units as he kept this separate and well out of eyesight. Those costings did however seem reasonable with the caveat being the additional costs and he said the tradesmen would be in touch within days (one was in fairness but it's one out of four, no contact from electrician, plumber or gas fitter).

It might go away but I'd like to have knowledge to arm myself with in case it 'kicks off' because it's already been a difficult year. Possibly the most difficult I've had with various issues around the house.

This was actually due to be my investment to make myself and the house so much better. It's not what I want either to have to put a stop to it because of things that have to be done.

I'm jumping the gun but taking legal advice has crossed my mind. Hopefully it doesn't come to that.

Auntie-Dolly

Are there plans and a written quote? Have you signed anything or paid a deposit? If not, I'd be asking him why he has gone ahead and ordered when you have not agreed to the job.

Hoploz

I don't understand this firm.

You are expecting to have them as a single point of contact, yet they told you you would have to deal with the tradespeople separately. They could not give you a price for the whole job. This doesn't make sense.

What if the gas fitter came along and decided the layout wasn't best and you should do it a different way?

There is no way anyone would order goods without knowing when they'd be fitted. You haven't agreed to any dates, and you're still waiting to hear a complete price quotation.

He's trying it on. Don't contact them again, and under no circumstances give them any money.