Historic Work - Disappearing Handyman

Cotta

Hi All,

I had some some work done to a property I used to live in back in December 2016 which look five days with the tradesman disappearing on 15th March 2017. The work was fairly straight forward, it was as follows:

1. Sealing bath, window sill and hand-basin.
2. Replacing Wooden skirting with PVC.
3. Covering some piping behind the hand-basin with PVC box.
4. Fixing the toilet to the floor (attempted but unsuccessful)
5. Fixing bathroom door handle (attempted but unsuccessful)
6. Painting the wood areas white including the door and ceiling border frame (left incomplete)

I had been aware that the handyman arrived particularly late (11 am) and left at around 3 pm each of the days he was working but he seems to have included travel time from when he left his own house.

I had chased him up on a number of times about points 4,5 and 6 and for a price to no avail. In January 2018 I moved away from the house and at around June 2018 he finally contacted me asking if I remember what was don't and apologising for not being in touch. He then sent a disgruntled message in July of 2018 advising that if I did not pay my bill small claims would be enforced (we are in Northern Ireland and no bill had been submitted at this point). As I was passing through where he lived last week I asked him to leave his bill into a local shop where I could collect it. Reading the bill it's extremely sloppy, all wrote in pen with factual and spelling mistakes including bills for 4,5 and 6.

The overall amount is is three separate areas £1200, but below this is 1300 and finally £1500. This seems extremely high for a small amount of work done almost two years ago. I am happy to make some form of payment but not this inflated price, what is my best option at this point or is a small claim's court the most sensible scenario?

Thanks in advance.

AndyMc.....

What price did you agree on before he started?

Cotta

He was to get back to me with a quote but said labour would be around £50 per days and then whatever the materials were. Quote/price never materialised until nearly two years later.

DoaM

£50 per day? Are you sure? (For an 8 hour day that would be £6.25 per hour - minimum wage territory or less).

Cotta

DoaM wrote: »

£50 per day? Are you sure? (For an 8 hour day that would be £6.25 per hour - minimum wage territory or less).

But he only worked 11-3 each day, confirmed by my housemate at the time.

DoaM

OK, so that's £12.50 per hour ... still very cheap so I'm surprised at the rate "agreed".

Cotta

DoaM wrote: »

OK, so that's £12.50 per hour ... still very cheap so I'm surprised at the rate "agreed".

Also cash in hand was a request.

pinkshoes

Pay him what you think he is owed, but certainly not for the jobs he has not completed.

Send a cheque alongside what you think should be the correct version of the invoice.

Or, write back stating you need a proper invoice stating his daily rate and material costs.

LilElvis

I would pay him the 5 days he attended at the rate he gave you as an indication. Send the cheque with a letter stating you will pay him for the materials when he provides you with a receipted breakdown of the materials used. After all, he must have the receipts as part of his proof ready for his court claim against you - or, more likely, he's trying it on.

Cotta

I've mentioned that due to the price quoted being larger than expected and with the discrepancies in the bill a small claims would be the best process, he has just sent the following and denying any request for a quote had been made:

Hi Cotta. Hope u r well?.......... In relation to the cost of work done, this is my normal cost per hour anywher i work. Remember u did nt ask for a quote on any of this work so it is just priced by hr. The extra cost is due to travel costs over my normal allowed time of 30 mins from home.......Could u please send me a list of the jobs that wer left incomplete as i wud nt charge 4 unfinished jobs....... Please remember Cotta anything that has been used wil nt b as i left it over a yr ago....... I wil meet with u wen u down as its difficult sorting this out via phone..... Im sure u r aware of the implications of loosing a small claims is a poor credit rating. If u borrow any money Cotta this is nt gd..... I dont think u want this on ur back aswell as i dont want 2 sit in a courthouse wen im so busy....... Send me that list and wen ur 4 meeting up asap. Thanks 4 now. handyman

LilElvis

He's bluffing. Your credit rating is only affected if he achieves a judgment and you fail to pay it. Ask for a properly documented invoice with supporting invoices.