Hi - new here and after a bit of advice.
Builder recently did some repair work to a garden wall. He gave us a verbal estimate of £200, which seemed 'reasonable' after he explained what was involved in order to complete the job.
He told us that he would have to buy some new blocks and that the job probably wouldn't take much more than a day's work. In the end, he used no blocks and the job took three and a half hours, he still charged us £200. His bill said labour only so we asked for it to be itemised.
The new bill said £100 for labour and £100 for materials, his mark up for sand was about 150%! He has charged us £20 for getting rid of the rubbish (one small bag) and charged us for diesel on top of that (for getting rid of the rubbish). We spoke to the guy and asked why the bill was the same as his original estimate, even though it took less time and less materials than he said he would. He just kept fobbing us off with excuses and wouldn't give a direct answer.
We appreciate that builders will often charge for a full day's work if a job goes over into an afternoon. This guy didn't start work until 9.30am and after he had done the wall, he set about fixing a gate (to kill time?). We have since undone what he did to the gate because what he did meant we had difficulty shutting it.
We have asked other builders what they would have charged for the job and they reckon about £130. We know we should have got other quotes, but he was recommended and, as we said, the £200 seemed 'reasonable'. We feel that we were slightly misled into thinking that the job was bigger than it was.
We are considering sending him £180, which we feel is more than reasonable. Would we be in breach of contract if we did this?
Builder recently did some repair work to a garden wall. He gave us a verbal estimate of £200, which seemed 'reasonable' after he explained what was involved in order to complete the job.
He told us that he would have to buy some new blocks and that the job probably wouldn't take much more than a day's work. In the end, he used no blocks and the job took three and a half hours, he still charged us £200. His bill said labour only so we asked for it to be itemised.
The new bill said £100 for labour and £100 for materials, his mark up for sand was about 150%! He has charged us £20 for getting rid of the rubbish (one small bag) and charged us for diesel on top of that (for getting rid of the rubbish). We spoke to the guy and asked why the bill was the same as his original estimate, even though it took less time and less materials than he said he would. He just kept fobbing us off with excuses and wouldn't give a direct answer.
We appreciate that builders will often charge for a full day's work if a job goes over into an afternoon. This guy didn't start work until 9.30am and after he had done the wall, he set about fixing a gate (to kill time?). We have since undone what he did to the gate because what he did meant we had difficulty shutting it.
We have asked other builders what they would have charged for the job and they reckon about £130. We know we should have got other quotes, but he was recommended and, as we said, the £200 seemed 'reasonable'. We feel that we were slightly misled into thinking that the job was bigger than it was.
We are considering sending him £180, which we feel is more than reasonable. Would we be in breach of contract if we did this?
