VAT not included in quote

Sare71

Hi,
I recently asked a company to provide me with a quote for fencing. They said they'd have a look and provide me with one, but they would need to include 20% VAT as they were registered. They rang me back later that day quoting £1450 - I received no paperwork for this. I agreed and they completed the job (which was a very stressful experience as they got the size of the fence wrong twice). During the work, they messaged and said they'd forgotten to add the price for gate fittings and would need to buy additional wood posts that they hadn't quoted me for - I didn't reply to this, but they went ahead and bought them anyway. The work done was shoddy to say the least and the quality of the wood was poor. They have just sent me an invoice for £1950, saying that the quote didn't include vat. I have paid them the original quote, but they want the remaining £500. Could someone please advise me on where i stand legally?

Doozergirl

How were either of you ever going to prove what the quote was without anything written down? People always come here after the event and ask what to do, but people who know what to do do it beforehand so this stuff doesn't happen. Even a text message with a price on it would be more use than nothing. I don't know what you do afterwards. Feel uncomfortable?

You'll have to negotiate, I guess. No one has any proof of anything.

smallblueplanet

Sare71 wrote: »

... but they would need to include 20% VAT as they were registered...They have just sent me an invoice for £1950, saying that the quote didn't include vat.

No idea on the quote and how much to pay. But does the invoice have a VAT number ie are they actually registered?

Sare71

This is a first for me - I've never had builders complete work for me before and didn't know what to expect. Massive lesson learnt though!!

Sare71

Yes, there's a vat number on there. I suppose I'll have to put it down to total lack of experience in these matters and pay up, although the thought of doing so makes me feel ill!

smallblueplanet

Sare71 wrote: »

Yes, there's a vat number on there. I suppose I'll have to put it down to total lack of experience in these matters and pay up, although the thought of doing so makes me feel ill!

As there was no written quote how do you know whether the extra posts were included - just their word they weren't. So I'd try for paying £1450 + VAT.

This link checks a company's VAT number validity...

http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies/vieshome.do?selectedLanguage=EN