Plasterer wanting to charge more now job complete

Help1234

Hi all,

I requested a quote from a plasterer for 3 rooms. I have in writing the response: “Rooms that size would be roughly £300 per room and that includes labour and materials”. This was before he visited the property.

He then visited and confirmed that price verbally.

He’s now finished and is asking us to pay £300x 3 rooms + £100 for materials.

Where do I stand with this? If I just pay him £900 like I was expecting the price to be can he take me to court and win?

Carrot007

Help1234 wrote: »

Hi all,

I requested a quote from a plasterer for 3 rooms. I have in writing the response: “Rooms that size would be roughly £300 per room and that includes labour and materials”. This was before he visited the property.

He then visited and confirmed that price.

He’s now finished and is asking us to pay £300x 3 rooms + £100 for materials.

Where do I stand with this? If I just pay him £900 like I was expecting the price to be can he take me to court and win?

Possibly, unelss you have written evidencec of a binding quote.

Maybe he should have p[hrased it as £333 per room instead of splitting it out now where as it was all in before.

£333 to me sounds fine for a rough quote of £300 anyway.

eddddy

A quote is generally accepted to be a fixed price.

An estimate might be a rough guide.

So, if he verbally quoted £300 per room when he visited, he doesn't really have a case to charge more.

If you pay him £900 and he takes you to court, he will have to state why he believes you still owe him £100. And you will state why you believe that you don't.

(I guess he'll say he told you it was an estimate, and you'll say he said it was a quote.)

So, essentially, the court will decide who they believe.

neilmcl

This is why you should always get a written quote before agreeing to any work. If they won't do this then perhaps that tells all you need to know about the sort of tradesmen they are.

Ask him if he'll take £900 for cash.

Zandoni

You could offer him £950 to save all the hassle.

Carrot007

eddddy wrote: »

A quote is generally accepted to be a fixed price.

An estimate might be a rough guide.

So, if he verbally quoted £300 per room when he visited, he doesn't really have a case to charge more.

If you pay him £900 and he takes you to court, he will have to state why he believes you still owe him £100. And you will state why you believe that you don't.

(I guess he'll say he told you it was an estimate, and you'll say he said it was a quote.)

So, essentially, the court will decide who they believe.

Indeed, though people use quote/estimate interchangeably.

And as the OP used the word "roughly" I would say any court would not legally call it a binding quote. it was a "quote" as in estimate.

Though I doubt the guy would take the OP to court over such a little ammount though he might pass word on about being a tightwad and nmot understanding "roughly".

unholyangel

OP just ask him to prove he complied with his obligations under the CCRs - including providing confirmation of the contract on a durable medium and (if the works started within the cancellation period) that he also obtained your express consent in a durable medium before starting the works.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/3134/regulation/10/made
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/3134/regulation/12/made

Also, traders are supposed to give you the total price but if that isn't possible, they can instead give you how the price will be calculated (ie £x per room + £100 materials or £x per hour + £100 materials). Any change to that information is not effective unless expressly agreed between the consumer and trader.

eddddy

Carrot007 wrote: »

And as the OP used the word "roughly" I would say any court would not legally call it a binding quote. it was a "quote" as in estimate.

That's not how I'm reading the original post.

The plasterer said roughly £300 before visiting the property.

Then, when visiting the property, the plasterer gave confirmed a quote of £300.

But obviously I wasn't there, so I don't know exactly what was said.

Voyager2002

I suggest you write to him pointing out that his quote was for a total price of 900, and asking him to explain the increase. If he replies with something that sounds like a good reason then either pay it or negotiate.

McKneff

Look at the Op.
It says 'roughly' £300,
So its an estimate, not a quote. If it was a quote he would say 'it WILL BE £300 per room.

He quoted roughly £300 ...£330 is roughly that.

Fair play now

McKneff

Op said he confirmed.

Yes, confirmed what he had said before ...
Roughly £300.