Tradesmen charging extra
5 replies
1.8K views
thescot82
Forumite 15 posts
Hi all
I recently agreed for a satellite engineer to undertake some work to run some coaxial cable to a second room. We agreed a modest price, maybe slightly over the odds, but agreed in good faith as he was doing another job for me.
I paid in cash and he promised to come back and finish the job once I had some other work complete that would enable him to finish the job. It was only final touch up, 15mins max.
He’s since come back, and told my wife (whilst I was at work), that there’s an additional cost (1/3rd of original cost) to cover extras (which I don’t think there is any) and for his time to come back out and finish the job.
I had a heated conversation with him, and argued that this was not made clear. He countered by saying he has to charge for his time etc He has no website so no where I would have been able to validate standard call out charges etc. He says he works on word of mouth.
Not really sure what to do. I sent him a message saying I would pay, but the more I think about it I’m so angry that maybe I shouldnt. The original cost was a fair cost to doing the job.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Sorry to rant.
I recently agreed for a satellite engineer to undertake some work to run some coaxial cable to a second room. We agreed a modest price, maybe slightly over the odds, but agreed in good faith as he was doing another job for me.
I paid in cash and he promised to come back and finish the job once I had some other work complete that would enable him to finish the job. It was only final touch up, 15mins max.
He’s since come back, and told my wife (whilst I was at work), that there’s an additional cost (1/3rd of original cost) to cover extras (which I don’t think there is any) and for his time to come back out and finish the job.
I had a heated conversation with him, and argued that this was not made clear. He countered by saying he has to charge for his time etc He has no website so no where I would have been able to validate standard call out charges etc. He says he works on word of mouth.
Not really sure what to do. I sent him a message saying I would pay, but the more I think about it I’m so angry that maybe I shouldnt. The original cost was a fair cost to doing the job.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Sorry to rant.
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Replies
I don't believe any engineer was involved - just a TV/aerial installer.
NICEIC Approved Contractor
ECA Registered Member
Not my terminology
TBH the affair reads as very poor communication (both sides/ all three parties). Nothing was "made clear": that is the nature of entirely verbal transactions.
IMO the original price was a verbal estimate, so is subject to change. You can absolutely hold a tradesman to a fixed price quote - usually some written record even if casual electronic - they have time to price up the job, and the customer has time to consider it before accepting.
You say you "agreed", he "spoke" to your wife and had a "conversation" with you yet you still have no idea what the "extras" are, no idea what exactly you were arguing about! :undecided How can you settle on paying in full or in part, when you have no idea what the figure represents?
Instead of becoming angry you should calmly ask for a breakdown of the charges/ extras and scribble down his reply. Or, as the professional, as soon as he realised you were at cross purposes, the engineer should have offered to send you a detailed invoice.
HTH.