Limits on contract work without pre-agreed price/contract (UK)
Say you hire someone, such as an electrician or plumber, without price even being mentioned by either party. The contractor later bills you: you're taken aback by the price. Maybe the expected rate is £100 and you get charged £1000. More fool you, right? Fair enough.
But is there any practical limit in English law? £1,000,000, your house? Is there any reasonableness limit in law?
contract england-and-wales
asked Mar 29 at 19:48
DannieDannie
1163
add a comment |
Say you hire someone, such as an electrician or plumber, without price even being mentioned by either party. The contractor later bills you: you're taken aback by the price. Maybe the expected rate is £100 and you get charged £1000. More fool you, right? Fair enough.
But is there any practical limit in English law? £1,000,000, your house? Is there any reasonableness limit in law?
contract england-and-wales
asked Mar 29 at 19:48
DannieDannie
1163
No, this isn't a pickle I find myself in personally!
– Dannie
Mar 29 at 19:56
add a comment |
Say you hire someone, such as an electrician or plumber, without price even being mentioned by either party. The contractor later bills you: you're taken aback by the price. Maybe the expected rate is £100 and you get charged £1000. More fool you, right? Fair enough.
But is there any practical limit in English law? £1,000,000, your house? Is there any reasonableness limit in law?
contract england-and-wales
asked Mar 29 at 19:48
DannieDannie
1163
Say you hire someone, such as an electrician or plumber, without price even being mentioned by either party. The contractor later bills you: you're taken aback by the price. Maybe the expected rate is £100 and you get charged £1000. More fool you, right? Fair enough.
But is there any practical limit in English law? £1,000,000, your house? Is there any reasonableness limit in law?
contract england-and-wales
contract england-and-wales
asked Mar 29 at 19:48
DannieDannie
1163
asked Mar 29 at 19:48
DannieDannie
1163
edited Mar 29 at 19:57
Dannie
asked Mar 29 at 19:48
DannieDannie
1163
asked Mar 29 at 19:48
DannieDannie
1163
asked Mar 29 at 19:48
DannieDannie
1163
1163
No, this isn't a pickle I find myself in personally!
– Dannie
Mar 29 at 19:56
add a comment |
No, this isn't a pickle I find myself in personally!
– Dannie
Mar 29 at 19:56
No, this isn't a pickle I find myself in personally!
– Dannie
Mar 29 at 19:56
No, this isn't a pickle I find myself in personally!
– Dannie
Mar 29 at 19:56
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
Yes, there is a reasonableness limit, and this is especially true in consumer transactions.
If you were given an estimate and the final bill is a lot more than
what you were expecting, you can dispute it.
The final price should be ‘reasonable’. The law doesn’t say what
counts as reasonable, so you’ll have to agree it between you. You
should consider:
- the estimate you agreed to [if there was one]
- any changes, and why they happened
- anything that happened that was beyond the control of the trader,
like bad weather or the cost of materials going up
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/getting-home-improvements-done/problem-with-home-improvements/
When it comes to work itself, the act states that a tradesman or
professional has a 'duty of care' towards you and your property. Any
standard or price you agree must be honoured. But if it isn't agreed
in advance the work must be done to a reasonable standard, at a
reasonable cost, and within a reasonable time.
So if you haven't fixed a price, you don't have to pay a ridiculously
high bill. All you have to pay is what you consider 'reasonable' and
invite them to sue you for the rest. Be careful though, in some
circumstances when you are withholding payment you may have a claim
made against you by a supplier if you are in breach of contract.
What's a reasonable amount would be what similar tradesmen would have
charged for the job. So get a few quotations.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1fdlwC9xzyxjCpWMlsCGG3j/supply-of-services
NB that article refers to The Supply of Goods & Services Act 1982, which was partially superseded by the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
answered Mar 29 at 21:04
OwainOwain
24513
add a comment |
The contractor can charge what he wants, but if you are worried about it you can ask him to only preform services costing under million pound amount or whatever.
answered Mar 29 at 19:57
PutviPutvi
70718
1
What happens when the contractor goes: "I have done a million points worth of work. I hope you enjoy that one door I installed."
– Gregory Currie
Mar 30 at 2:16
You talk to them before hand.
– Putvi
Mar 30 at 21:52
add a comment |
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
Yes, there is a reasonableness limit, and this is especially true in consumer transactions.
If you were given an estimate and the final bill is a lot more than
what you were expecting, you can dispute it.
The final price should be ‘reasonable’. The law doesn’t say what
counts as reasonable, so you’ll have to agree it between you. You
should consider:
- the estimate you agreed to [if there was one]
- any changes, and why they happened
- anything that happened that was beyond the control of the trader,
like bad weather or the cost of materials going up
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/getting-home-improvements-done/problem-with-home-improvements/
When it comes to work itself, the act states that a tradesman or
professional has a 'duty of care' towards you and your property. Any
standard or price you agree must be honoured. But if it isn't agreed
in advance the work must be done to a reasonable standard, at a
reasonable cost, and within a reasonable time.
So if you haven't fixed a price, you don't have to pay a ridiculously
high bill. All you have to pay is what you consider 'reasonable' and
invite them to sue you for the rest. Be careful though, in some
circumstances when you are withholding payment you may have a claim
made against you by a supplier if you are in breach of contract.
What's a reasonable amount would be what similar tradesmen would have
charged for the job. So get a few quotations.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1fdlwC9xzyxjCpWMlsCGG3j/supply-of-services
NB that article refers to The Supply of Goods & Services Act 1982, which was partially superseded by the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
answered Mar 29 at 21:04
OwainOwain
24513
add a comment |
Yes, there is a reasonableness limit, and this is especially true in consumer transactions.
If you were given an estimate and the final bill is a lot more than
what you were expecting, you can dispute it.
The final price should be ‘reasonable’. The law doesn’t say what
counts as reasonable, so you’ll have to agree it between you. You
should consider:
- the estimate you agreed to [if there was one]
- any changes, and why they happened
- anything that happened that was beyond the control of the trader,
like bad weather or the cost of materials going up
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/getting-home-improvements-done/problem-with-home-improvements/
When it comes to work itself, the act states that a tradesman or
professional has a 'duty of care' towards you and your property. Any
standard or price you agree must be honoured. But if it isn't agreed
in advance the work must be done to a reasonable standard, at a
reasonable cost, and within a reasonable time.
So if you haven't fixed a price, you don't have to pay a ridiculously
high bill. All you have to pay is what you consider 'reasonable' and
invite them to sue you for the rest. Be careful though, in some
circumstances when you are withholding payment you may have a claim
made against you by a supplier if you are in breach of contract.
What's a reasonable amount would be what similar tradesmen would have
charged for the job. So get a few quotations.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1fdlwC9xzyxjCpWMlsCGG3j/supply-of-services
NB that article refers to The Supply of Goods & Services Act 1982, which was partially superseded by the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
answered Mar 29 at 21:04
OwainOwain
24513
add a comment |
Yes, there is a reasonableness limit, and this is especially true in consumer transactions.
If you were given an estimate and the final bill is a lot more than
what you were expecting, you can dispute it.
The final price should be ‘reasonable’. The law doesn’t say what
counts as reasonable, so you’ll have to agree it between you. You
should consider:
- the estimate you agreed to [if there was one]
- any changes, and why they happened
- anything that happened that was beyond the control of the trader,
like bad weather or the cost of materials going up
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/getting-home-improvements-done/problem-with-home-improvements/
When it comes to work itself, the act states that a tradesman or
professional has a 'duty of care' towards you and your property. Any
standard or price you agree must be honoured. But if it isn't agreed
in advance the work must be done to a reasonable standard, at a
reasonable cost, and within a reasonable time.
So if you haven't fixed a price, you don't have to pay a ridiculously
high bill. All you have to pay is what you consider 'reasonable' and
invite them to sue you for the rest. Be careful though, in some
circumstances when you are withholding payment you may have a claim
made against you by a supplier if you are in breach of contract.
What's a reasonable amount would be what similar tradesmen would have
charged for the job. So get a few quotations.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1fdlwC9xzyxjCpWMlsCGG3j/supply-of-services
NB that article refers to The Supply of Goods & Services Act 1982, which was partially superseded by the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
answered Mar 29 at 21:04
OwainOwain
24513
Yes, there is a reasonableness limit, and this is especially true in consumer transactions.
If you were given an estimate and the final bill is a lot more than
what you were expecting, you can dispute it.
The final price should be ‘reasonable’. The law doesn’t say what
counts as reasonable, so you’ll have to agree it between you. You
should consider:
- the estimate you agreed to [if there was one]
- any changes, and why they happened
- anything that happened that was beyond the control of the trader,
like bad weather or the cost of materials going up
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/getting-home-improvements-done/problem-with-home-improvements/
When it comes to work itself, the act states that a tradesman or
professional has a 'duty of care' towards you and your property. Any
standard or price you agree must be honoured. But if it isn't agreed
in advance the work must be done to a reasonable standard, at a
reasonable cost, and within a reasonable time.
So if you haven't fixed a price, you don't have to pay a ridiculously
high bill. All you have to pay is what you consider 'reasonable' and
invite them to sue you for the rest. Be careful though, in some
circumstances when you are withholding payment you may have a claim
made against you by a supplier if you are in breach of contract.
What's a reasonable amount would be what similar tradesmen would have
charged for the job. So get a few quotations.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1fdlwC9xzyxjCpWMlsCGG3j/supply-of-services
NB that article refers to The Supply of Goods & Services Act 1982, which was partially superseded by the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
answered Mar 29 at 21:04
OwainOwain
24513
answered Mar 29 at 21:04
OwainOwain
24513
answered Mar 29 at 21:04
OwainOwain
24513
answered Mar 29 at 21:04
OwainOwain
24513
24513
add a comment |
add a comment |
The contractor can charge what he wants, but if you are worried about it you can ask him to only preform services costing under million pound amount or whatever.
answered Mar 29 at 19:57
PutviPutvi
70718
1
What happens when the contractor goes: "I have done a million points worth of work. I hope you enjoy that one door I installed."
– Gregory Currie
Mar 30 at 2:16
You talk to them before hand.
– Putvi
Mar 30 at 21:52
add a comment |
The contractor can charge what he wants, but if you are worried about it you can ask him to only preform services costing under million pound amount or whatever.
answered Mar 29 at 19:57
PutviPutvi
70718
1
What happens when the contractor goes: "I have done a million points worth of work. I hope you enjoy that one door I installed."
– Gregory Currie
Mar 30 at 2:16
You talk to them before hand.
– Putvi
Mar 30 at 21:52
add a comment |
The contractor can charge what he wants, but if you are worried about it you can ask him to only preform services costing under million pound amount or whatever.
answered Mar 29 at 19:57
PutviPutvi
70718
The contractor can charge what he wants, but if you are worried about it you can ask him to only preform services costing under million pound amount or whatever.
answered Mar 29 at 19:57
PutviPutvi
70718
answered Mar 29 at 19:57
PutviPutvi
70718
answered Mar 29 at 19:57
PutviPutvi
70718
answered Mar 29 at 19:57
PutviPutvi
70718
70718
1
What happens when the contractor goes: "I have done a million points worth of work. I hope you enjoy that one door I installed."
– Gregory Currie
Mar 30 at 2:16
You talk to them before hand.
– Putvi
Mar 30 at 21:52
add a comment |
1
What happens when the contractor goes: "I have done a million points worth of work. I hope you enjoy that one door I installed."
– Gregory Currie
Mar 30 at 2:16
You talk to them before hand.
– Putvi
Mar 30 at 21:52
1
1
What happens when the contractor goes: "I have done a million points worth of work. I hope you enjoy that one door I installed."
– Gregory Currie
Mar 30 at 2:16
What happens when the contractor goes: "I have done a million points worth of work. I hope you enjoy that one door I installed."
– Gregory Currie
Mar 30 at 2:16
You talk to them before hand.
– Putvi
Mar 30 at 21:52
You talk to them before hand.
– Putvi
Mar 30 at 21:52
add a comment |
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No, this isn't a pickle I find myself in personally!
– Dannie
Mar 29 at 19:56