How Much To Pay ?

[CW1]

Hi,

Had some gardening work done, ie. a shed replaced (they dismantled & transported my old one, then reassembled it about 20 miles away - this was s'posed to be cheaper than buying a new one), garden gate & 3 fence panels replaced.

We agreed a price before they started, £180 (basically ¾ of a days work) plus £140 for the gate & panels. They had no probs dismantling & reassembling the shed (which I thought they might have) but the gate they bought was much too wide & it took them ages to fit it (using my electricity), much longer than expected, so much so they were on the verge of "walking away from the job". But he didn't want to let me down (he's done bit of work for me before, & we get on well). Panels were no prob but £18 more than quoted (I've had no receipts though), and they said a post had to be replaced (which they haven't charged for). They've did "bodge" one panel slightly which means I'll have to finish it off, & the gate rattled like crazy so again, I've had to fix that. And I'll need to repair a hole at the back of the shed. They had a bonfire in the parking area where the fire brigade were called out (!) as they had too much stuff to dump (mainly the old shed), said after it might've needed a mini skip (!) & were trying to save me money.

I've had the "bill" today saying it worked out 2 days work (£480) which with the extra for panels actually doubles the original quote of £320 to £638. They've said they'll leave it to me to decide how much over the original amount agreed I should pay. I'm reasonably pleased overall, and have half "promised" them the biggie of sorting my own garden next year (probably around £2000 *gulp*) but I'm not sure what'd be "fair" to pay now. The extra time was, I s'pose, sorting the gate out and having the fire, neither really my fault.

Would appreciate opinions please.

[sinderella]

Give them £500 cash
and get a written estimate next time
.i wont be asking for their number

[losgigs]

The over-sized gate was the workmen's fault. If they measured incorrectly, they are to blame so if the fitting took longer than estimated, it's down to them. Did you get the estimate in writing? A verbal quote means nothing. I would be loatheh to pay double the original quote - maybe £100 extra tops. If they caused a fire which needed the fire engine that sounds completely incompetent. The word 'cowboys' springs to mind!

[woofgang]

I agree 500 quid more or less splits the difference and I would not be having them again no matter how well I got on with them. I have employed quite a few different workmen over the years and ALL of them have walked round with me at the end and sorted any snags which I discovered. I would not have expected to find bodged panels or a rattly gate! I would be very annoyed if they had had a bonfire instead of disposing of rubbish properly and they should have foreseen the need for refuse disposal however it was done, and factored that into the quote.

[The Builder]

Yes, 500 quid cash, and they'll be pleased to have got away with it, CW.

Not exactly a difficult job. One where it's pretty easy to foresee the problems, and allow for them in the quote. These people have behaved like amateurs. The original estimate is a nonsense. Even from here, I can see the possible work involved to do a decent job.

Under-quoting is always a sure sign of amateurism. They're simply afraid to offer the real price, thinking they won't get the job because of it. Then all the nonsense starts.

Possibly perfectly decent guys... not bandits. Just totally un-businesslike. These people just invite hassle. Don't have them back for the bigger job.