Builders inaccurate invoice

Goosey21

Please can I have some advice please? A construction company completed some renovation. They invoiced us before the job was complete. They are pressuring us to pay. We walked the job and noted we had been charged for work not done ie carpet removal/supply and installation of 6 led light panels - they are saying they did other work which accounts for this - no details provided. We estimate cost of 6 panels and install based on their pricing summary including vat  to be around £1000 so nearly 10% of total invoice for electrics. They also have added waste disposal which wasn’t on the original build quote. We are happy to pay for work done but should we pay for the work not done ie carpet removal and lights? Thank you. 

MikeJXE

Don’t pay till you are satisfied as that is the only leverage you have 

Aylesbury_Duck

Time to refer to the contract. 

Pay for work that was contracted and has been completed satisfactorily.

Don't pay for any work scheduled that has yet to be done or completed.

If anything has been done that's beyond the scope of the contract, it's time to negotiate if you want to keep what's been done.  Otherwise, the work has been done at their risk.

For all of the above, you need to weigh up sticking to the letter of the contract versus keeping a working relationship because there'll almost certainly be snags that need addressing in the short term. 

Hoenir

Then reject the invoice. Tell the builder you'll pay for what has been done and that they need to submit an amended invoice.  

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

Hello OP

If you have a quote then technically any changes should be expressly agreed and ideally be in writing to prevent this kind of situation.

If work was on the quote but not done then obviously you don't have to pay it.

If other work was carried out without a price given then the regs say you can only be charged what is is reasonable (and what is reasonable is matter of fact, whatever that may mean).

Ultimately it's probably best to pay what you think is due for the work done (after double checking it's all up to scratch) whilst highlighting to them in writing what wasn't done and asking for details of what extra work was done beyond the quote. 

If you act reasonably this will be in your favour