arghhh....

**makka619** · 9th January 2007, 06:03 PM

A friend gave us a contact she knows to get a good deal on kitchen cupboards and a new bathroom vanity.

We called this guy, he came around, called later and said that he found a vanity he could install right away for $400 and he could install a second hand kitchen later for $200.

In all honesty he seemed in a rush, like it was now or never to get it done. I asked him if I should be getting the tiling and plasterboard done before the vanity is installed. He said no, that stuff can be done after it. Stupidly I didn't check this out with actual tilers before, because when I did they all told me the vanity needs to come out.

Anyway, I called him and asked him if he could take it out, because the tiler we hired can't do the job while it's there. He said okay and one of the guys came around and pulled it out.

I called him later that day to say thanks, and ask about when he can do the kitchen. He seemed a bit iffy, saying he can't do it anymore. It was just so strange. I gather he didn't want to. He says about the vanity " ohh I forgot to add $50 for GST, so it will actually cost $450. "

Instantly, I thought this isn't right, he is just taking me for a ride. I called him back and told him, I am not comfortable with the sudden price increase, which is given weeks after the agreement. I said I was willing to only pay the $400 we initially agreed on. He said in a quiet huff "okay, just pay the $400".

He still hasn't sent out the bill with the correct amount, and I just received a 14 day notice for payment. And this letter states the cost is $450 plus $45 GST, so the total is $495.

I called the Financial Controller who sent the letter and explained the situation and that the total should be $400. He said he would call the guy and discuss it with him.

So the guy who installed the vanity calls me back just now and asks I have a problem. I tell him "Yes, I do. The total we agreed on before you installed the vanity was $400." He started going on about that was before the plumbing and we made a mistake with the actual cost of the vanity (something like that).

I ask him what he is talking about. I tell him "I am only prepared to pay $400 as we agreed before you started the job. If there were any extras for any other jobs then you should have let me know before going ahead and doing them. If I had known all of this before hand, I would have not have hired you"

He starts huffing and cuts me off "well fine, we'll leave it at $400. You try to do a favour for someone..." Hangs up.

I really don't get it. I do believe he was trying to take advantage of me.

From now on, any job I get done, I will get a very detailed signed quote written before hand.

rant over.

**Cliff Rogers** · 9th January 2007, 06:10 PM

People that say one thing & the write the bill out for something more bug me too.

3 times now my wife has had a verbal quote for printing that has been more when the bill arrived.... twice it was just that they didn't mention the GST when they quoted & once they added another 25% & GST.

**ozwinner** · 9th January 2007, 06:28 PM

Ive had the opposite happen.
I told the builder it would be $3500 plus gst, yep no problem he said.

After doing the job and ringing for my money he told me that maybe I was a little dear and will only pay $3500 including gst.

The whole world is full of shonks.

Al

**Cliff Rogers** · 9th January 2007, 06:45 PM

Yeap, had something similar to that happen too...

When I was living in Townsville, I got a call to do a job on Maggie Island.
This involves catching a ferry & then a taxi or having the customer pick you up.
1 hr travel time to get there, fixed the problem in less than an hour, get back to the jetty to find out that the ferry stops for lunch & I can't get back to the mainland for another hour & a half so total time away from the office almost 3.5 hours & this 'brick' informs me that he will pay for the ferry ticket but he won't pay for the travel time.

His argument was that we were penalising him for living on the island.

My argument was that if he lived out at Charters Towers he'd have to pay for the travel time but nope, he wouldn't pay.

I got my revenge 2 weeks later, the device that I had fixed had a paper jam & they couldn't get the paper out so they rang me, I told them to bring it in to the workshop & we'd fix it there 'cos I wasn't going back to site again.

**makka619** · 9th January 2007, 07:43 PM

Originally Posted by Cliff Rogers

Yeap, had something similar to that happen too...

When I was living in Townsville, I got a call to do a job on Maggie Island.
This involves catching a ferry & then a taxi or having the customer pick you up.
1 hr travel time to get there, fixed the problem in less than an hour, get back to the jetty to find out that the ferry stops for lunch & I can't get back to the mainland for another hour & a half so total time away from the office almost 3.5 hours & this 'brick' informs me that he will pay for the ferry ticket but he won't pay for the travel time.

His argument was that we were penalising him for living on the island.

My argument was that if he lived out at Charters Towers he'd have to pay for the travel time but nope, he wouldn't pay.

I got my revenge 2 weeks later, the device that I had fixed had a paper jam & they couldn't get the paper out so they rang me, I told them to bring it in to the workshop & we'd fix it there 'cos I wasn't going back to site again.

lol Glad you got your revenge.

It just sucks. I feel like what started out to be a quick remodel of the granny flat turned into such a problematic experience. First time I have hired trades people, but I have learnt a lot of lessons. From a plasterer who took well over 3 months to do a quoted ‘3 week’ job, to a tiler who followed in his footsteps but also did some rather dodgy work and didn’t finish the job completely. Then there’s the above mentioned guy.
<o></o>
Don’t trust someone by the cover; they appear to be enthusiastic, trusting people, but looks can be deceiving.
<o></o>
In the end, taking that extra time to research trades people and getting references will actually save you time, not to mention distress. Getting quotes written and signed before they start will help solve monetary, time-frame and job specific agreements.
<o></o>
That said, I don’t know if I ever want to hire another tradie again.
<o>
</o>

**ozwinner** · 9th January 2007, 07:46 PM

Originally Posted by makka619

<o></o>
That said, I don’t know if I ever want to hire another tradie again.
<o>
</o>

Want some brickwork doing, well Im your man........trust me....

Al

**makka619** · 9th January 2007, 10:04 PM

Originally Posted by ozwinner

Want some brickwork doing, well Im your man........trust me....

Al

lol

I know I am a sucker.

Live and learn right.

**Shedhand** · 9th January 2007, 10:28 PM

My SIL is a plumber/gasfitter. He hasn't yet got insurance to do gas installations but he knows the cost of such jobs. I wanted a gas hob connected in our new kitchen so I asked him how much it would cost. (easy access etc.) He reckoned something around 250 bucks maybe 300 if the guy was greedy. Anyway I rang the first name I found in the yellow pages. Yep, sounds good be around tomorrow at about 9am he says. Duly arrives, starts work - puts half inch drill bit through his hand, passes out, blood all over the new oak floor and appliances. I administer first aid to the serious injury. He comes to, drives himself to hospital. Returns 3 hours later with 20 stitches in hand. Completes the job. I grab cheque book, how much I ask. Will send an account says he. 2 days later I get the account.

$595.00 bloody bucks. I think he charged me for his surgery costs. I email him questioning the account. Heard nothing so far. I expect he'll put me into the collection agency. frekkin ingrate.

**ozwinner** · 10th January 2007, 02:54 PM

Send him a bill for cleaning up the blood.

Al

**makka619** · 11th January 2007, 09:29 PM

Originally Posted by Shedhand

My SIL is a plumber/gasfitter. He hasn't yet got insurance to do gas installations but he knows the cost of such jobs. I wanted a gas hob connected in our new kitchen so I asked him how much it would cost. (easy access etc.) He reckoned something around 250 bucks maybe 300 if the guy was greedy. Anyway I rang the first name I found in the yellow pages. Yep, sounds good be around tomorrow at about 9am he says. Duly arrives, starts work - puts half inch drill bit through his hand, passes out, blood all over the new oak floor and appliances. I administer first aid to the serious injury. He comes to, drives himself to hospital. Returns 3 hours later with 20 stitches in hand. Completes the job. I grab cheque book, how much I ask. Will send an account says he. 2 days later I get the account.

$595.00 bloody bucks. I think he charged me for his surgery costs. I email him questioning the account. Heard nothing so far. I expect he'll put me into the collection agency. frekkin ingrate.

Wow.
<o></o>

That is crazy.

Good on you for helping the bloke out. You would think he would be a bit more grateful to you.

I have no idea about the laws… but you shouldn’t have to foot the doctor bill for his carelessness. You would think he is covered for this type of thing.

**Master Splinter** · 12th January 2007, 03:56 PM

Sometimes, when contorted inside a cupboard, on a pile of wet chipboard dust with water from the (disconnected) tap dripping down my neck, I wonder why I do things myself.

Then I read these stories and remember just why it is that I'm happy to lie in a cupboard (etc) and do all these tradie things.

At least my pricing is honest - I know ahead of time that there's a 'buy a new tool for this job' allowance in my estimates! [IMG]file:///D:/DOCUME%7E1/ADMINI%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg[/IMG]

**Deanom** · 29th January 2007, 05:47 PM

In response to the original post, Yes plasterboard has to be in before the vanity, but usually the vanity is in before the tiling. I'm no tradsperson, but with my current renovation involving taking out the existing vanity, I noticed that the floor tiling stopped at the vanity and naturally the vanity is best being in before the wall tiling is in place.
$400 for a vanity with installation is really not that expensive.
Cheers.

**Cabbie** · 29th January 2007, 06:01 PM

Originally Posted by Deanom

In response to the original post, Yes plasterboard has to be in before the vanity, but usually the vanity is in before the tiling. I'm no tradsperson, but with my current renovation involving taking out the existing vanity, I noticed that the floor tiling stopped at the vanity and naturally the vanity is best being in before the wall tiling is in place.
$400 for a vanity with installation is really not that expensive.
Cheers.

You are right about the tiling going in after the installation. Being a cabinetmaker I know first hand that you always fit cabinetmwork before tiling otherwise it is way too much hassle and yes that is quite cheap for a vanity, although I can see that is beside the point as the cabinetmaker hasn't kept to the agreed terms. I have had to deal with all sorts from builders that have gone bankrupt to people that are so fussy they are impossible and end up costing you more than what you set out. I am yet to start a business but when I do I am always going to make sure that I cover myself in all the ways I can think of while trying to meet the needs of the client to the best of my ability. I hope ya get it sorted mate.

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