Looking for some thoughts from you all. While we were on vacation to NY, my basement flooded due to a float rod coming off the sump pump. When someone checked on my house and found it they called a flood clean up company for us to get it cleaned up while we came home. Family friends got the sump pump working, and told the flood clean up owner that when he showed up that evening. At some point, the owner of the company called a licensed plumber, who's business was an hour and 20 min away, to come and see if I needed a new sump pump or repair the old one. He came, took the old sump out, and took it down to the local lumber yard-they repaired it for the plumber, and then he put the old one back in. While he (the plumber) was there the owner of the clean up company told me that he called a plumber friend to ensure my sump was okay and that I would be billed for it, but it saved me money compared to buying a new sump pump. I was told by the owner of the company and the family friends that were helping clean up while I was on my way that he was at my house for less than an hour.
I got the bill today for 5 hours of work @ $65/hr, because he said I had to pay for his driving time to and from his house, and I had to pay for his trip to H##e D###t an additional 1/2 hr away, so that he could pick up some parts just in case I needed them. I'm outraged at this and have been told not to pay him by other contractors and family members. I think I owe him something b/c he did do some work at my house. I'm not a scammer. But I'm not about to look the other way-especially since the insurance isn't covering this completely, and we def. aren't flush with money. When I called him today, he flat out told me that I'm more or less paying $230 for him to drive in a work van.
Now a couple of things to note, #1-I didn't call him, nor did I request that he be called #2-I had not been told that he would be called and that I would be responsible for the bill, till after he was already there and had done work. #3-I never signed a work order agreeing to the labor/work terms. #4-If I had known that plumber needed to be called, I would have had the neighbor 3 doors down called who owns one of the largest plumbing businesses in Northeastern Michigan, rather than someone that was an hour and 20 min away.
So, do I have a leg to stand on to send him some money but not the whole bill. if it came to it, with the facts involved, how is this going to be viewed in Small claims court? Is he able to put a lien on my house for the work he did w/ out a work order? and without my knowledge?
thanks
I got the bill today for 5 hours of work @ $65/hr, because he said I had to pay for his driving time to and from his house, and I had to pay for his trip to H##e D###t an additional 1/2 hr away, so that he could pick up some parts just in case I needed them. I'm outraged at this and have been told not to pay him by other contractors and family members. I think I owe him something b/c he did do some work at my house. I'm not a scammer. But I'm not about to look the other way-especially since the insurance isn't covering this completely, and we def. aren't flush with money. When I called him today, he flat out told me that I'm more or less paying $230 for him to drive in a work van.
Now a couple of things to note, #1-I didn't call him, nor did I request that he be called #2-I had not been told that he would be called and that I would be responsible for the bill, till after he was already there and had done work. #3-I never signed a work order agreeing to the labor/work terms. #4-If I had known that plumber needed to be called, I would have had the neighbor 3 doors down called who owns one of the largest plumbing businesses in Northeastern Michigan, rather than someone that was an hour and 20 min away.
So, do I have a leg to stand on to send him some money but not the whole bill. if it came to it, with the facts involved, how is this going to be viewed in Small claims court? Is he able to put a lien on my house for the work he did w/ out a work order? and without my knowledge?
thanks