Do I have to pay the balance for an unfinished job?
11/16/2017 at 5:47:28 PM
We hired a kitchen painting company to paint our oak kitchen, we were clear that we wanted new soft close hinges on the inside of the doors. The carpenter was off with a sore shoulder and the company owner recommended that we find another carpenter to drill the holes for new hinges. The company owner assured me that her installers would be able to install the doors with new hinges. The company was finished with the spraying of the doors and was pushing to install the cabinets but we did not have the hinges in hand. Once we had them we were again assured that her 2 employees would be able to install the hinges on site and hang the doors.
The 2 employees had hard time with the 1st hinge then said they didn't remove the doors or drill the holes for the hinges so they would not install the doors. The 2 employees installed the drawers with hardware packed up and left.
We asked the owner of the company to take the doors back to her shop have the hinges installed and touch up the paint, that we wanted things done properly and were concerned with the doors being damaged if this was done in our home.
We were told to find someone else to install the hinges and hang the doors. Our kitchen was left half done with doors leaning again the cabinets.
We had paid half of the agreed on price but I am not comfortable now paying someone else to finish the job and giving this company the full price of the job.
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
11/17/2017 at 8:39:18 AM
They can not get paid unless the work is completed as agreed? Otherwise, you can hire another company to finish the job and discount this from their balance as long as they are not able to finish the job on their own
11/17/2017 at 8:57:08 AM
Did you have a contract that was written with clear details stating what you are claiming? Sadly in todays world, peoples word (contractor or customer) is not as valued as it once was. Not every company is out to provide customers with 100% satisfaction, but there are also a lot of customers that try and just add "one more thing to the list", but that list continually grows away from the original contract incurring extra costs. Small claims court can go both ways, for the contractor and the customer. Is it worth the hassle to do that? Depending on the amount, it could just be for either party. Holding out $1000 for installing a few hinges would not be correct, $200 may be the price the contractor will just walk away and drop it.
Contracts are absolutely necessary no matter what size the job.
11/17/2017 at 3:47:15 PM
Hi,
Its unfortunate that you are in such a position.
1. Do you have a specified contract what the company is supposed to do in the given price? Given time?
2. Do you have the receipts of the payment made?
3. Have you given enough time to the original company to finish the job?
4. Do you know that the type of the hinge you want can be installed on that cabinet and doors? May be they realised that the hinges that you want may be they cant install it due to door thickness etc...
Now looking to the answerers of the above situation , you can proceed accordingly.
Give them a legal notice that if you do not perform the duty as specified in the contract in given time frame (Be realistic) you will be forced to employ out side agency and will be getting it done on their behalf from the money that is on hold and balance + or - will be adjusted.
Hope that helps.
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