overcharged on a plastering job

lindyloo · 4 Aug 2007

I recently had a large amount of plastering done, but since agreeing the quote (got the guy from checkatrade and he had good refs) and havibg the job done, I've realised (through talking to friends and from this website) that he's significantly overcharged me. He seems like a reasonable guy, but I'm a single mum, and maybe seem like a soft touch. What should I do - just pay up and forget about it, after all, I agreed the price, or haggle, or pay up but tell him I'm going to complain to trading standards.
Help- feeling very stupid!

breezer · 4 Aug 2007

lindyloo said:
pay up but tell him I'm going to complain to trading standards.

on what grounds?

lindyloo said:
...........after all, I agreed the price..........

Sorry says it all really, chalk it up to experiance

Next job needs doing get several quotes (or come here first and ask how to do it

joe-90 · 4 Aug 2007

What sort of price did he charge?

darren7 · 4 Aug 2007

what was the price?

What was the room size in metres example 3x3

was it just skim over the old walls?

was there artex?

was there lots of corners, new metal edges?

Darren

lindyloo · 4 Aug 2007

He charged over 2 grand, plus mats of about 500. The room is a thru lounge, about 6x4 meteres, and yes there are quite a lot of edges and corners, windows, chimney breasts, arch, etc., and he had to take tiles off the chimney breasts. Did ceilings too (these alone were 600.) Spent a couple of weeks on the job. Initially I was only getting the chimney breasts done but he talked me into all the rest, and I needed to get it done quickly.
Really hope I've not been ripped off, but....

Only paid half so far though.... ?

joe-90 · 5 Aug 2007

Materials are about £50. Labour should have been around £600 to £700.

What on earth was he doing for a fortnight?

Should have taken a maximum of 3 days.

Did he give you are written quote? Is it a 'cash' job? You've already paid him well over what he deserves.

Tell him to clear off and take you to court.

Growler · 5 Aug 2007

Tell him to clear off and take you to court.

Dangerous talk that joe-90.

He might just win.

breezer · 5 Aug 2007

agree with growler, joe 90 the costs may be your ideal but you do not know have not seen the job, and as the OP said she agreed the price, sorry but the OP has not a leg to stand on

lindyloo · 5 Aug 2007

It was only a verbal agreement, though.

breezer · 5 Aug 2007

still legal in court

you agreed the price before work started.

It would be different if at the end he said more £ than at first.

sorry, chalk it up to experiance and always get several quotes

Growler · 5 Aug 2007

I've had similar experiences where customers "friends" are shocked by the price and one even said he could do it cheaper, when I told him to go ahead then, he nearly shat his self.

Being a decorator, I know not whether this price is high/low or medium,but what I do know is that there's nothing worse than having an agreement with someone (verbal or otherwise) and then at the end they query the price because....my word is my bond and I stick to it.

I don't want more and I don't want less... I want what's agreed at the outset.

noseall · 5 Aug 2007

lindyloo said:
It was only a verbal agreement, though.

a verbal agreement ain't worth the paper it's written on.

joe-90 · 5 Aug 2007

The courts are very harsh on rogue traders. Just as they protect little old ladies from the likes of this crook - so will they protect other vulnerable members of society. He is charging £500 for materials that cost £50.

That is neither fair nor reasonable. Just as £2000 is a rip-off for a bit of tarmac.

Last case I heard like this, the person contacted the Police for advice. The police told the rogue trader that they would investigate his business finances - he dropped it like a hot potato.

It was a verbal agreement that the customer entered into after being misled over the going rate for the job and of cost of materials. He's already had more than any decent tradesman would charge already. Tell him to get lost.

joe-90 · 5 Aug 2007

Growler said:
I've had similar experiences where customers "friends" are shocked by the price and one even said he could do it cheaper, when I told him to go ahead then, he nearly shat his self.

Being a decorator, I know not whether this price is high/low or medium,but what I do know is that there's nothing worse than having an agreement with someone (verbal or otherwise) and then at the end they query the price because....my word is my bond and I stick to it.

I don't want more and I don't want less... I want what's agreed at the outset.

Would you charge an unknowing single Mum £500 for £50 worth of materials?

No? Then why are you sticking up for this crook.

Growler · 5 Aug 2007

Would you charge an unknowing single Mum £500 for £50 worth of materials?

No? Then why are you sticking up for this crook.

a/ no.
b/ I'm not.

There are 2 sides to every story joe-90

I've had mine.

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overcharged on a plastering job

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