Contractor price issue

Jay_K

Hi

I recently got a contractor to fix the drainage in my garden. since the work began i now have no trust left




When quoting i did get three others to quote and felt that since my soil was quiet clay based and there is a retaining wall at end of garden the water wasnt getting away so i felt i may need to excavate all soil and "refill" maybe even go for artifical grass or other non grass alternative. However the contract i went with had +35yrs landscape experience and advised a drainage system was all required and he had done this before. Even asked if i did not like the grass so wanted rid of it.


As i had done other work and enjoy the real grass i went with him, however on the day he started he began digging and advised the soil is pure clay so water would not drain. He advised i would be better digging out all clay soil and replacing with topsoil and turf. so he carried out verbal quote and i advised to continue (despite being double the original but was in line other quotes i had before - for now same work). Next day he gave me written quote but did not provide break down of topsoil/turf/excavtion (but agreed to his total figure from day before when he gave me the verbal breakdown)





After excavating left soil to dry then came back to carried out drainage system intallation and the next day build garden back up. At this point he called me to advise he had not quoted to soil to replace ... I didnt have his quote to hand but my workings said 45 ton @ £15 i advised him this and he insisted that the price is £30 for soil and £37 to lay with my needing anything 25-30 tonnes and the lorry was on way to deliver 25 ton. I couldnt understand why i needed more soil as he used less skips to clear garden than he originally quoted and therefore surely needed less. I know it was only £15 per ton as i when given the price i goggled an found bulk bags to be £30 and loose £15-£20 and he said he could get good price for best topsoil (like dust) so i thought this reasonable. when challenged again he told me he would just cancel soil and i could get someone else ... at this stage my garden was a building site so told him to proceed. I felt he had make error on his quote by not quoting cost to lay and didnt mind paying the £37 but the cost for soil already quoted seemed extortionate. but as he started work i didnt think i could stop and leave garden as was. he done this and then we settled to this stage he wanted to leave soil for 4-6 wks to let soil sink then apply another ton which is excess sitting on my drive.



He refused to give me receipts or even tell me where turf came from.



I advised i would need to hold the turf as i couldnt afford due to soil and would need to look at alternatives. during this time i realised i could buy turf for 1/4 of price and all other quotes to fit would work out 1/2. i was prepared to go else where but my soil began to show waterlogging and when walking on soil you would sink. Additionally as the soil lay stones became visable.





i got in touch with contractor who advised this normal an there was still exess soil which he planned to put on top when doing turf but this needed tighten in and that the stone should be 3/4 inch as this was the screened soil - pointed out most are 1.5 to 2 and was then told this would help drainage.





I decided to trust him and to avoid any issue i instructed him to do the turf.


It has now been last week he called to say he was out to check and all looks ok but weeds growing needs sprayed and asked if i could do he advised me what to get and i done as instructed (he advised spraying would save me when turf down) so we agreed he would come 1 wk after this but he never showed. When contacted he blamed first wet wether (i pointed out he had said wet day best to turf soil) he then blamed the weeds saying they still wouldnt be dead as he had sprayed some same day i had to test and it would take 14days to work (depite advising previously that 7 would be enough)


Over the weekend he visited my house when i was out to see weed growth as i advised new weeds growing since i sprayed. At this time he asked if i wanted me to spray as weeds still growing he said this was needed. Most weeds i sprayed are brown but there is scatter of new green weeds growing (product used as advised states doesnt act as preventative but kills weeds on contact within few hours to up to 3 months and that it becomes inactive on soil contact so as not to damage soil)




I have found out were soil was purchased from as they damaged my roof and the sell soil £256 less than i was charged by the contractor. Additionally he is now looking to charge me almost £100 for spraying weeks (product he recomended cost £25 for 5 l and needed 3l) took hour to spray




I feel he is adding cost at each opportunity and job now will cost double his revised quote (more that £8k)


I only have proof on the soil so am i able to refuse to pay this until he proofs otherwise and still side on right side of law??
Apologies for long post appreciate advise.

Jay_K

A further update ...


the contractor is now asking for an additional payment to cover the soil as he is telling me the company he ordered from subsequently charged him more. I believe what the lorry holds is what i have been charged so am very suspicious and dubious!


Any advice welcome as i dont know where to go from here!

Doozergirl

I'm sorry, The OP was really long and didn't entirely make sense to me.

A bit of proof reading and editing wouldn't go amiss.

Jay_K

Hi

Summary of main issues

Contractor excavated garden but on day refill soil to be arrive he advised he hadn’t quoted soil (from a verbal discussion before work price changed to more than quadruple, soil cost double and same for laying in garden)

Now advised garden needed sprayed with weedkiller and advised me to do so, but didn’t show up to lay turf as weedkiller not on long enough – despite being within the timeframe he advised
Showed up next day saying would need sprayed again – there was fresh weeds growing within the week.

Advised he should spray weeds at a cost of 5 times what I paid for the product he recommended

Now charging for an additional ton of topsoil nearly 8 weeks after we signed a completion contract for his work which he has been paid in full for as he advises the supplier delivered more than he billed me for and has charged him. Note I now know I can buy the topsoil from the supplier at 50% of what he has charged me.

Wondering what case I have or how I rectify this issue (I have prepaid £300 for the turf)