Fair price for the job?

daveburton

We’ve had some work carried out at our home by a local company. The job was quoted to us at £6,700 and we were told that it would be complex and take the team a week to conclude. 

The work was completed satisfactorily and I have no issue with the standard of the job. 

My concern is that the job took one person just 18 hours to complete (over four half-days). The materials were totalled around £750 having looked on various websites. And the work comes with no warranty. 

I feel as though we’ve been duped. Yes, we agreed to the quote but the job was made to seem more complicated, more involved and more labour-intensive than it actually was. I know the company need to make a profit, but this really doesn’t seem to be a fair price for the job completed. 

I’ve contacted the company who have offered to knock £200 off the invoice. But in my gut that still doesn’t sit comfortably with me and leaves a bitter taste. 

Any thoughts on how to approach this. I know that I probably don’t have much of a leg to stand on given the business delivered in the quote that was originally given. 

It just doesn’t feel fair. 

Aylesbury_Duck

What was the nature and scale of the job?  You should start by gathering evidence that the price was unreasonable.  Speak to a couple of other firms to see if they'd be good enough to provide a retrospective estimate.  They might not want to, which is fair enough, but unless you can get evidence that what you were charged was grossly excessive, you can't take it further.

daveburton

Thanks Aylesbury_Duck; I’ll reach out to a couple of firms to get rough estimates. Good idea, as you’re right, evidence is going to be important. 

I received the invoice on Friday, spoke to the company yesterday (Monday) and the invoice is due on Friday. I don’t want to be difficult with them by not paying an invoice (I understand as a business unpaid invoices must be a nightmare!) but not sure whether I’ll be able to get the evidence by then. 

ssparks2003

How did you define that £6700 was a fair cost for the job and one you were willing to pay from the outset? Did you get 2-3 quotes the judge the market? Did you look at the job and consider the costs of materials and time before agreeing to the work? Or do you expect that because you have had second thoughts now you want to pay less?