Tradesman dispute next steps

steveinhants

Hi. I recently employed a plumber to carry out a bathroom installation. As part of it he recommended I bring in his joiner as well which I did. 

Around 14 days ago the joiner sent me his invoice for £1000 labour and £500 materials (both of which seemed extremely high). I immediately wrote back to him to re-confirm his day rate. I received no response so wrote again a few days later this time asking for times on site and copies of the invoices for materials. Being on a time and materials agreement I believe this was in my rights. He replied by stating he had employed labourer for two days and himself. To put this in to context, all he was doing was pinning some plasterboard to the ceiling. 

He has quoted four days in total which just doesn’t make sense for the size of the job. Also, his materials bill doesn’t add up - again the list is very small. 

I set him a reasonable time (7 days) to supply me with invoices but he has not come back again. 

Just wondering what my next steps should be. 

ssparks2003

How did the invoice stack up against the quote or estimate that you asked for?

NSG666

steveinhants said:

Hi. I recently employed a plumber to carry out a bathroom installation. As part of it he recommended I bring in his joiner as well which I did. 

Around 14 days ago the joiner sent me his invoice for £1000 labour and £500 materials (both of which seemed extremely high). I immediately wrote back to him to re-confirm his day rate. I received no response so wrote again a few days later this time asking for times on site and copies of the invoices for materials. Being on a time and materials agreement I believe this was in my rights. He replied by stating he had employed labourer for two days and himself. To put this in to context, all he was doing was pinning some plasterboard to the ceiling. 

He has quoted four days in total which just doesn’t make sense for the size of the job. Also, his materials bill doesn’t add up - again the list is very small. 

I set him a reasonable time (7 days) to supply me with invoices but he has not come back again. 

Just wondering what my next steps should be. 

I think you need to elaborate on this a bit.
Did you get a quote form the plumber?
What day rate did you agree with him? 
What agreement did you have up front regarding the materials?
Exactly what did he do - you said pinning some plasterboard to the ceiling which has presumably been skimmed so why couldn't the plasterer just do the whole lot using handi-boards that can be fitted by one person? How big is the bathroom, have any niches or other features been created?

It doesn't stack up that two of them pinned some plasterboard to the ceiling, sat around for an extra day and a half then billed you £1500 at an unknown labour rate.

comeandgo

You have no right to see what he paid for any of the materials.  The price to you is what you agreed on.