Contractor Bill

Are there any consumer rights when asking a trader for an itemised bill? I am querying a bill and am being refused a itemised invoice. Is there a consumer right on this one to request this?

Comments

  • DRP
    DRP Posts: 4,287 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Not that I know of. Might come under subject access request (SAR) legislation?

    If a customer agrees to a price beforehand, it wouldn't usually be an issue what the trader paid for individual items within that....
  • fenwick458
    fenwick458 Posts: 1,522 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    how much did you agree on beforehand, did you get a written quote?
  • Mistral001
    Mistral001 Posts: 5,403 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper I've been Money Tipped!
    edited 11 May 2022 at 4:09PM
    An invoice should include a clear description of what the builder is charging for.   A breakdown is not a requirement.  See following:
    Invoicing and taking payment from customers: Invoices - what they must include - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)


     

  • badger09
    badger09 Posts: 11,566 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    An invoice should include a clear description of what the builder is charging for.   A breakdown is not a requirement.  See following:
    Invoicing and taking payment from customers: Invoices - what they must include - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)


     

    If only contractors read this forum. 

    I’ve just received and paid a recent invoice for work done last month as follows:

    “Invoice 522

    The cost of all work done for new WC & wash basin in garage, inclusive of labour and materials:
    £914.94
    VAT ££182.98 
    £1097.92”

    My experience is that is not unusual here (Shropshire) when using small local contractors. 
  • greensalad
    greensalad Posts: 2,530 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    badger09 said:
    An invoice should include a clear description of what the builder is charging for.   A breakdown is not a requirement.  See following:
    Invoicing and taking payment from customers: Invoices - what they must include - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)


     

    If only contractors read this forum. 

    I’ve just received and paid a recent invoice for work done last month as follows:

    “Invoice 522

    The cost of all work done for new WC & wash basin in garage, inclusive of labour and materials:
    £914.94
    VAT ££182.98 
    £1097.92”

    My experience is that is not unusual here (Shropshire) when using small local contractors. 
    That seems like a perfectly clear description of the work?
  • Mistral001
    Mistral001 Posts: 5,403 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper I've been Money Tipped!
    Builders will not give a breakdown in an invoice, for various reasons. The main reason is that they do not want to let competitors see their rates. Would you expect Currys to give you a breakdown of how much the TV cost them to buy from the manufacturer, how much it cost them to transport it from their warehouse and how much it cost them to pay their sales person to demonstrate the TV to you in their shop?   That is effectively what you want the builder to do when asking for a breakdown.  BTW I am not a builder. 
  • badger09
    badger09 Posts: 11,566 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    badger09 said:
    An invoice should include a clear description of what the builder is charging for.   A breakdown is not a requirement.  See following:
    Invoicing and taking payment from customers: Invoices - what they must include - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)


     

    If only contractors read this forum. 

    I’ve just received and paid a recent invoice for work done last month as follows:

    “Invoice 522

    The cost of all work done for new WC & wash basin in garage, inclusive of labour and materials:
    £914.94
    VAT ££182.98 
    £1097.92”

    My experience is that is not unusual here (Shropshire) when using small local contractors. 
    That seems like a perfectly clear description of the work?
    I don’t expect an itemised list of every pipe, screw & tube of sealant used, but a split between materials & labour would have been appreciated. 
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