How long do I have to pay builder's invoice?

SarahMcA

Hi, I posted some time ago regarding some, what I felt to be, shoddy work from the person doing my bathroom, who then disappeared for a few weeks.

https://postimg.cc/gallery/27apoils2/

I asked for an invoice which was emailed to me on Wednesday. Since then they have been texting and ringing demanding instant payment. I am wanting to get a couple of quotes to see if work needs 're-doing. I am however so stressed and anxious that I feel like paying the original builder just to leave me alone. I've had conflicting advice re what to do as I've told the builder to not come back and haven't given him an opportunity to complete work. I physically can't stand the thought of seeing his face! No terms of payment were given on the invoice. Thank you

Doozergirl

If there are no terms on there, then there are no terms.

If you're not going to pay (which is fair enough, IMO) then you'll have to wait for him to take you to court.

I'm not sure you even need a quote to make changes. It needs to come off. If he is worth anything at all then it was the cost of ripping out. But now someone has to rip out again!

I think you have to write to him, send him your photos and just say 'see you in court'. And then see if he does.

If you want a builder to write and tell you that the work has no value, it wouldn't be hard.

jk0

I would write to the builder (with paper & envelopes) to explain that you won't be paying, and if he has a problem with that he is welcome to issue a claim in the county court. You could say that any further phonecalls or texts will be reported to the police as harassment.

chiny

You can't have work done, refuse to pay and expect to get away with it. You must give the builder a reasonable opportunity to fix the problems.

Goading a creditor with "see you in court"; can you take the stress and financial risk if he bites ?

If this is too stressful and you really can't face meeting the builder again, pay up and learn from the experience. Or cajole a hardened friend into the fray although this may still be stressful. Or employ a professional negotiator. It all depends on your financial position with this contract and your valuation of stress reduction.

All the best for an equitable resolution.

jk0

Chiny, I think you need to search out o/p's orginal post. The 'work' is a joke.

Robby1988

Just looked at the original thread: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6039029

The £750 he is asking for the job so far strikes me as a figure plucked from thin air, is the invoice he has presented itemised?

That said, in the grand scheme of having a professional job done on your bathroom I would probably consider £750 as a figure low enough to consider writing off & just pay. Give the cowboy his money, get him out of your life, learn from experience and do proper due diligence to get someone better in.

SarahMcA

chiny wrote: »

You can't have work done, refuse to pay and expect to get away with it. You must give the builder a reasonable opportunity to fix the problems.

Goading a creditor with "see you in court"; can you take the stress and financial risk if he bites ?

If this is too stressful and you really can't face meeting the builder again, pay up and learn from the experience. Or cajole a hardened friend into the fray although this may still be stressful. Or employ a professional negotiator. It all depends on your financial position with this contract and your valuation of stress reduction.

All the best for an equitable resolution.

Thank you for your response and yes I agree paying nothing would be unfair as he and his mate spent a few hours smashing my bathroom up before whacking some plasterboard up. This is the work they did

https://postimg.cc/gallery/27apoils2/

I shall try to enlist a confident grown up to help me negotiate!

CakeCrusader

I would repost this on the Consumer Rights board.

snowcat75

SarahMcA wrote: »

Hi, I posted some time ago regarding some, what I felt to be, shoddy work from the person doing my bathroom, who then disappeared for a few weeks.

https://postimg.cc/gallery/27apoils2/

I asked for an invoice which was emailed to me on Wednesday. Since then they have been texting and ringing demanding instant payment. I am wanting to get a couple of quotes to see if work needs 're-doing. I am however so stressed and anxious that I feel like paying the original builder just to leave me alone. I've had conflicting advice re what to do as I've told the builder to not come back and haven't given him an opportunity to complete work. I physically can't stand the thought of seeing his face! No terms of payment were given on the invoice. Thank you

I wouldn't rush to pay a penny, in this situation id ask him to take you to court over it if he thinks this is a justifiable amount, I would send him an old fashioned letter explaining why, stating that you will get the work appraised and the cost will be charged against the work.

State the next step will be to consult a solicitor and any further correspondence will be dealt by them, and you will have no further communications, other than through them.


Don't be bullied into paying for that mess.

baldelectrician

Contact trading standards

Did he come and see the job?
Did you agree the work whilst in your home, via the mobile, email etc?

If so he should have given you cooling off paperwork, he cannot enforce an invoice without a court order if he did not do this

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

SarahMcA

baldelectrician wrote: »

Contact trading standards

Did he come and see the job?
Did you agree the work whilst in your home, via the mobile, email etc?

If so he should have given you cooling off paperwork, he cannot enforce an invoice without a court order if he did not do this

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

Thank you. I have been really naive as my partner arranged for his cousin to do the work which was all conducted by text. I have no direct communication outlining the job and costs. He did come and look to cost the job. I don't know where being dim and trusting leaves me legally!