Tradesman charging excessively

[Blue123]

I did something stupid!!! I got some tradesmen around mainly to find someone I could trust in my home and if my daughter was there (adult) *I knew how long the work would take and what it entailed completing one room and finishing another. *I was assured he had someone to help him else being an older chap knew he would struggle. He completed the first room it took much longer, he kept disappearing home.... *I paid him , *them after so much faffing and delays he completed the 2nd room *- I was going away so left some cash for him and said I would pay balance when he let me know what it was. *I was not told at the onset how much it would be but had and idea ..... he was a messy man, but doing more work than necessary as it to prolong it- and I was desperate to get him out- *he even left his tools in the room another evening just to delay us putting everything back and no doubt claim another day though I moved his tools to the front door ready for him to collect. Can he ask an ott amount because we didn’t discuss figures? *I just trusted him being older and he took so much longer struggling and not haa as bing help. *Can I deduct an amount for my lovely blossom tree his incompetent driving caused ? Damaging it badly - I was a fool
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[R0b]

So all of these issues you are now raising, do you have evidence that they were raised at the time? If the answer is no, then you might struggle because one would ask, if the work was so long and bad why didn't you say at the time it was happening?

If you didn't discuss figures for the work (which I agree is quite naive) then the tradesmen will be entitled to charge on a "quantum meruit" basis. It is Latin for the amount of costs he deserves. In other words, he should be expected to be paid based on reasonable costs and in line with what other tradesmen would charge for the work.

So you need to get some quotes on what it would have cost others to do, get an average and then use that as a base for what he might charge. However, there is no hard and fast rule because it is just a reasonable sum and that can have a broad coverage.

Next time make sure to get it in writing, the cost of the work, timescale and materials if necessary.

[Blue123]

Thank you - I was an utter fool I know - I'm embarrassed to even ask but hope my stupidity will help others if they read this.... I did get quotes from at least four other tradesmen, they told me how long the work would take and what it entailed and quoted all on the same hymn sheet* but either they could not start in the time slot i needed , travelling distance with one turned out to be nearly 25 miles ( he advertised closer) or i felt they were not experienced/suitable enough from what they said etc etc... so I knew ball park where fees should be and the chap I had was not a limited company or from a large business - a self employed mature chap with a small van and no business premises - had I allowed him to collect his tools himself and not have them waiting for him at the door* and rebuild the bed he took apart with a screw driver for most of a day ( of which could have easily been pushed to one side) and he dismantled into more pieces than it originally came in he would've added another couple of days! ) he even agreed that would not be required at the time -
He wrecked my tree crashing into it twice in his little van breaking branches off -* yet another tradesman parked in my driveway with a much larger van (height and width) with no trouble at all.* *Guess he took me for a mug!!* - big lesson - and Big mistake on his part as I could've given him other work....**
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