Builder’s final invoice 160% more than what was estimated!

photome

Is there a reason why you are ignoring my question about how long he took.

unholyangel

Under the Consumer Contract (Information, Cancellation & Additional Charges) Regulations 2013, he is required to give certain information before you are bound by the contract.

Part of that information is the total price inclusive of taxes or - where that isn't possible - how the price will be calculated. So if he couldn't say £1500 total then he needs to tell you £x per hour + £x materials. Whats more important, any information he does give in relation to the required information is binding and cannot be altered unless you expressly agree.

He is taking the mickey.

scd3scd4

I had a lot of work .............new kitchen, boiler, under floor heating, down lighters...and on.


Every extra my man showed on a separate list with cost for parts and labour.

Hanzy13

photome wrote: »

Is there a reason why you are ignoring my question about how long he took.

Hi, sorry no not at all! I didn't see the original question!
He took about 4 weeks to complete it - but was on and off the whole time, didn't show up until midday some days.

Hanzy13

scd3scd4 wrote: »

I had a lot of work .............new kitchen, boiler, under floor heating, down lighters...and on.


Every extra my man showed on a separate list with cost for parts and labour.

Yes! Our plumber did a lot of extra work, he made us a radiator from scratch for us etc. but all of it was detailed and he gave a price for each one.. This I can completely accept and am totally happy to pay for as he has been honest from the outset.

photome

Hanzy13 wrote: »

Hi, sorry no not at all! I didn't see the original question!
He took about 4 weeks to complete it - but was on and off the whole time, didn't show up until midday some days.

May be worth trying to total how many hours he was on site, compared to how many hours he estimated it would take.

As you have asked for further itemisation it may become clearer

Hanzy13

photome wrote: »

May be worth trying to total how many hours he was on site, compared to how many hours he estimated it would take.

As you have asked for further itemisation it may become clearer

Yes, good idea. Will do. Thanks

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

Hanzy13 wrote: »

We have got an itemised invoice of sorts from the builder. It's a bit vague.

In the 'extra work' section, he has included many things that we asked him to base the estimate on (ie. putting floorboards down and a bit of skimming work). I am quite cross at this as I was very specific from the outset of what needed to be done. I have asked him to revise the invoice as I don't think it is fair that he has included these in the extra work when I asked him to estimate for these from the initial consultation!

He says the extra labor cost have come from:
- time spent removing old plaster from one wall
- rendering and replastering one wall
- time spent bagging up the old plaster
- time spent taking bags of old plaster outside
- time spent going to the DIY shop to get materials
- time removing bagging up old bathroom rubbish and putting in the skip
- making a small pipe box to cover a pipe
- making small vanity unit
- £130 for cost of a small skip (seems expensive? but I accept it..)

Is it right that he has charged me so much extra for bagging up rubbish and taking it to the skip?! Surely that is all part and parcel of his job as a tradesman and can't have costed me a few grand!?

I've asked him to revise the invoice and also to give me a breakdown of what it cost exactly to make the vanity unit and to render and plaster the wall so I can understand better where the extra costs have come from.

Does anyone have any more advice or thoughts?

A cynic might suggest he priced the job low to get the work and has now hit you with the real price using fluff excuses like carrying bags of rubbish to a skip for the extra.

Imperial1847

Extras on a job like this can occur but if they were going to be so costly they should have been mentioned and a cost agreed before going ahead, the original estimate/quote of around £1,200.00 does seem rather cheap.

photome

Hanzy13 wrote: »

Yes, good idea. Will do. Thanks

any updates