Scaffolder Problem

DrDub

Hi
Another reminder of how cash in hand can ultimately cost more than you might save.
We recently hired a scaffolder who quoted me a price for the job, via a WhatsApp message, based on cash. In order to ‘save’ money I agreed. The scaffolder just quoted me a one-off price and we paid on installation; he actually sub-contracted the job to another firm and I paid them. Because it rained virtually every day whilst our house exterior was being painted, the job took longer than expected. Even though the original scaffolder never mentioned a time limit or any over-run charges, he’s now asking for extra money without giving me any notice. Ironically, 20 minutes before I got the text from the scaffolder saying I now owe him more money, the decorator finished his work and I was about to call the scaffolder to arrange removal.
Obviously there is no paperwork and I don’t know how best to proceed. The guy is not returning my calls and I just wonder if I have a leg to stand on if I refuse to pay what he’s asking? Should I just pay him the extra £150 and put it down to experience?
Thanks

JHW1942

DrDub said:

Hi
Another reminder of how cash in hand can ultimately cost more than you might save.
We recently hired a scaffolder who quoted me a price for the job, via a WhatsApp message, based on cash. In order to ‘save’ money I agreed. The scaffolder just quoted me a one-off price and we paid on installation; he actually sub-contracted the job to another firm and I paid them. Because it rained virtually every day whilst our house exterior was being painted, the job took longer than expected. Even though the original scaffolder never mentioned a time limit or any over-run charges, he’s now asking for extra money without giving me any notice. Ironically, 20 minutes before I got the text from the scaffolder saying I now owe him more money, the decorator finished his work and I was about to call the scaffolder to arrange removal.
Obviously there is no paperwork and I don’t know how best to proceed. The guy is not returning my calls and I just wonder if I have a leg to stand on if I refuse to pay what he’s asking? Should I just pay him the extra £150 and put it down to experience?
Thanks

Having willingly played your part in a tax dodge, it's a bit late to be worrying about consumer rights.   You want the benefits of an off-the-books service but now want consumer rights protection.  It's your choice.  Pay up to make the problem go away, or refuse to pay and deal with any consequences.  The scaffolder is as dodgy as you are, so he won't be able to lawfully obtain the extra payment, anyway.

red_boots2

No, if you have the quote via WhatsApp hold them to it. Unless you think paying him will avoid lots of extra hassle? You agreed a price with him, it's his problem that he didn't agree a similar deal when subcontracting the work out.

Undervalued

Irrespective of the "cash in hand" aspect, it is surely obvious that you are hiring the scaffolding so if it is needed for longer than agreed there will be a extra charge? 

The work involved in putting it up and taking it down remains the same but while the scaffolding is up at you house it can't be used for another job!

Whether £150 is reasonable I have no idea but some extra fee certainly is.

es5595

If you didn’t ask for a specific time frame “can I have scaffolding for a week” and he didn’t mention it in the quote either, I wouldn’t say he’s got a leg to stand on! 

If you’re all done with the scaffolding I’d reply something along the lines of “sorry, I assumed you were coming to collect imminently anyway and didn’t want to hassle you, it’s all finished and done with so please collect whenever is convenient for you”

Mickey666

Undervalued said:

Irrespective of the "cash in hand" aspect, it is surely obvious that you are hiring the scaffolding so if it is needed for longer than agreed there will be a extra charge? 

The work involved in putting it up and taking it down remains the same but while the scaffolding is up at you house it can't be used for another job!

Whether £150 is reasonable I have no idea but some extra fee certainly is.

Not obvious at all.  I've had various bits of scaffolding over the years and it has always been a fixed price with no rental element.  One '3 month' project ended up taking about nine months and although the scaffold company moaned about it they didn't charge me any additional fee.  In the end, I negotiated a purchase of the erected scaffolding, which saved them the costs of striking it and eventually took it down myself.  I've subsequently used it quite a few times over the years, which has saved me a lot more than the cash I paid for it.

user1977

Undervalued said:

Irrespective of the "cash in hand" aspect, it is surely obvious that you are hiring the scaffolding so if it is needed for longer than agreed there will be a extra charge? 

The work involved in putting it up and taking it down remains the same but while the scaffolding is up at you house it can't be used for another job!

Whether £150 is reasonable I have no idea but some extra fee certainly is.

My experience is that the timescales aren't all that important (and often the scaffolding stays there until the scaffolders can be bothered coming to dismantle it). They certainly can't just impose an arbitrary additional fee on a date of their choosing - I can't see it being pursued to court anyway.

m0bov

Unless the fee was disclosed, you don't owe anything extra.

DrDub

Hi.
Many thanks to those people who made constructive comments; most people are thinking along similar lines to me. I’ll contact both the contractor and/or subcontractor tomorrow and hopefully I’ll manage to negotiate something to get this resolved.

DrDub

In case anyone’s interested in the outcome, it appears the original contractor was trying to pull a fast one on both me and the sub-contractor. (Who knew?!). I’m now dealing directly with the sub-contractor and the problem has ‘gone away’.