Constant demands for payment from builder

CakeCrusader

Did you get a repair quote from the builder who came and checked the work? "I thought it looked a bit dodgy but alarm bells rang when I had another builder/plumber around who almost had a coronary when he saw it!" Is the itemised bill that you received whilst on holiday correct (does it match up to the work they've already done)? There's images that you've posted above which are cosmetic and would have been resolved by the end of the build (like the marks on the plaster above your loo), and a couple of pics of shoddy work, like plaster board that hasn't been measured and cut correctly. The builder/plumber who came to see you after should have given you a list with costs?

mjm3346

If you are going to pay and their demands bother you then just pay it now.

If you are going to pay and their demands do not bother you then pay it when you want (within reason).

If you are not going to pay then tell them that, advise them to take you to court and stop contacting you.

unholyangel

They should have given you certain information before you were bound by the contract. Assuming you either contracted over the phone, internet or in your home, then they need to provide that information in a durable medium. Part of that information is that you have the right to cancel, what circumstances you lose the right to cancel, that if you request they start work before the end of the cancellation period then you will be liable for the cost of that work up until you cancel, the total price (or if the total price cannot be calculated, how it will be calculated), the arrangements/time for performance etc.

What was the total price you agreed? Personally, I'd get quotes from elsewhere to finish the work, deduct that from the agreed price with the original contractor and then pay the difference to them.

SarahMcA

CakeCrusader wrote: »

Did you get a repair quote from the builder who came and checked the work? "I thought it looked a bit dodgy but alarm bells rang when I had another builder/plumber around who almost had a coronary when he saw it!" Is the itemised bill that you received whilst on holiday correct (does it match up to the work they've already done)? There's images that you've posted above which are cosmetic and would have been resolved by the end of the build (like the marks on the plaster above your loo), and a couple of pics of shoddy work, like plaster board that hasn't been measured and cut correctly. The builder/plumber who came to see you after should have given you a list with costs?

He said all the boarding will need taking off and replacing and as the board is currently several cms proud of the wall he's not sure if it's all been stripped back as there's big bits of plaster on the wall he hasn't done, plus there's boards over boards. I have the cost of materials itemised as approx £200 on my invoice. The stripping out is £450. Forget what the other £100 is for!

SarahMcA

unholyangel wrote: »

They should have given you certain information before you were bound by the contract. Assuming you either contracted over the phone, internet or in your home, then they need to provide that information in a durable medium. Part of that information is that you have the right to cancel, what circumstances you lose the right to cancel, that if you request they start work before the end of the cancellation period then you will be liable for the cost of that work up until you cancel, the total price (or if the total price cannot be calculated, how it will be calculated), the arrangements/time for performance etc.

What was the total price you agreed? Personally, I'd get quotes from elsewhere to finish the work, deduct that from the agreed price with the original contractor and then pay the difference to them.

Thank you. This is the tricky bit, it's my partner's cousin so it was all informal and he'd done his bathroom and was happy so I didn't consider anything going wrong! My partner got the quote via text for £2200. I tried to solve it diplomatically but now everybody hates everybody else! Lesson learned!

CakeCrusader

£200 for materials? How big's your bathroom, Taj mahal size? I'd ask to see receipts given the cost of plasterboard is approx £2.60 per SQM; https://www.wickes.co.uk/Products/Building-Materials/Plaster+Plasterboard/Plasterboard/c/1000220 How long did it take for them to strip the bathroom out?

SarahMcA

CakeCrusader wrote: »

£200 for materials? How big's your bathroom, Taj mahal size? I'd ask to see receipts given the cost of plasterboard is approx £2.60 per SQM; https://www.wickes.co.uk/Products/Building-Materials/Plaster+Plasterboard/Plasterboard/c/1000220 How long did it take for them to strip the bathroom out?

2 blokes did approximately 4-5 hours work each to rip out and plasterboard. I'm not sure their heart was in it!

CakeCrusader

They've charged you £450. Divide it by 2 (2 people), so £225. Divide by 5 (assuming they did the max 5 hours) to give them an hourly rate of £45 an hour EACH. I'm in the wrong job!!



I'd get in touch with some different bathroom fitters to ask how much they would charge for replacing plasterboard and go from there. Use the average, and say this is all you're willing to pay on account that the whole thing will need ripping out and replacing. They are having a joke, aren't they! If you've lost the will to argue and you want them to stop calling you tell them that you're going to seek legal advice, and that they are to discuss this with your solicitor. You'll forward them the details. The first appointment's usually free, they charge about £100 to send a letter (it varies from firm to firm).

baldelectrician

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