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Message |
    
jab
Citizen
Username: Jab
Post Number: 140
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 21, 2003 - 4:55 pm: |     |
In a letter to a local contractor contesting the contractor's bill, based on being charged more than the price quoted for work that was also very poorly done (i.e., we now need to hire a second contractor to repair big problems caused by the first contractor), would it be useful to send a copy (cc) of the letter to Bob Mittermaier? Thanks for any advice.
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1-2many
Citizen
Username: Wbg69
Post Number: 463
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 21, 2003 - 5:52 pm: | |
might be more helpful to cc the News Record.
Mittermeier has no authority to compel satisfaction from your contractor (btw, who was it?). I don't think it helps your cause at all, and may slightly hurt the possibility of a consensual resolution. |
shoshannah
Citizen
Username: Shoshannah
Post Number: 279
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 11:17 am: | |
I'd start out not cc'ing anyone. Just send the letter to the contractor with a return receipt requested to make sure he receives it. If you don't get any satisfaction as a result of the letter, then use increasingly more muscle with each step you take until the matter is resolved. |
1-2many
Citizen
Username: Wbg69
Post Number: 468
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 11:59 am: | |
document as much as possible. keep copies of everything. take photos where possible. for all communications, use trackable delivery and retain confirmation of delivery. keep in mind that if he offers a settlement, the first offer is never the best he'll do. don't be insulted by it, just view it as a business negotiation. |
algebra2
Citizen
Username: Algebra2
Post Number: 1337
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 12:12 pm: | |
can I ask which local contractor? |
pmart
Citizen
Username: Pmart
Post Number: 103
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 12:41 pm: | |
If, after doing all of the above, you are not satsified with the contractor's response (or lack thereof), perhaps you could send a copy of your correspondences to the professional trade organization(s) to which he may belong. Also, does the BBB track contractors? If so, include them in your mail. |
grw
Citizen
Username: Grw
Post Number: 180
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 12:50 pm: | |
Didn't you have a contract?? |
1-2many
Citizen
Username: Wbg69
Post Number: 469
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 1:08 pm: | |
you had at least an oral contract, if the contractor quoted a price. don't let anyone tell you there ISN'T a contract. the problem is one of proof of what the contract includes, if it's not in writing. then it's a swearing contest.
if you got a written proposal and paid on that, that's your contract. |
jab
Citizen
Username: Jab
Post Number: 141
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 11:26 pm: | |
We had a contract for a few large projects and the contractor both screwed things up and failed to finish the job. We told him countless times to fix the mistakes and finish the job. Now, the job remains unfinished, many things are still screwed up, and he is billing us for labor/materials associated with fixing his mistakes. After the original contract was signed, but while we still thought he was competent, we asked him to quote a price on two much smaller projects. He gave a price, promised to put it in writing, then quickly started the work before we could object, but then was sloppy and also did not finish this work. So, he should not have billed for most of what is on the new bill (fixing his own mistakes), plus should not be paid for incomplete work, plus should not be paid any amount that we will have to pay to somebody else to fix problems he never fixed (i.e., where his worker painted window panes instead of painting around -- that alone will likely cost more than $1,000).
I don't want to post his name at this point, but am happy to tell anybody by privateline. |
jab
Citizen
Username: Jab
Post Number: 142
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, October 23, 2003 - 12:00 am: | |
BTW, before anybody thinks we are cheating the contractor, we already paid for the larger jobs under the contract, which was before we realized the extent of the problems that they had caused. |
billt
Citizen
Username: Billt
Post Number: 2
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Monday, November 3, 2003 - 9:23 am: | |
Anyone who wants to avoid this kind of thing might want to check out the contractor we have just used for our attic renovation. He's great, reasonably priced and very skilled. His name is Rafal Ebertowski and his company is Rafal Restoration. You can call him at 862-686-2630. And you can call me for a recommendation. Bill Tally 973-763-5448. |
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