Here's the situation. I have a long-time relationship with an electrical shop that's handled any such work that I get. On the last job they did for me, a plastic face replacement was required. I went to the site, carefully measured the existing retainer frame, and did a scale layout which the customer approved. I then took this to the other shop and requested a quotation for the necessary work. They provided a written quotation which I approved. Two weeks later, the work was done and installed, and I made a trip to the jobsite to check with my customer that everything was satisfactory...it was. I invoiced my customer based upon the written estimate that I was given. The customer paid in full.
Then, I get an invoice from the electrical shop that's some $300 over their written estimate for other work that they did at the site...(lamp replacement etc.) Included in their extra charges was another trip to do the lamp replacement. When I inquired as to who had authorized this extra work, it turns out that they had dealt directly with my customer, without so much as a phone call to myself, indicating that extra work had been requested. Since my customer had already issued me a cheque, that made it kind of difficult to go back to her for the extra charges that had been incurred.
How would you handle such a situation?
Posted by Checkers (Member # 63) on :
Hiya Ken, I would have the electrician send the bill for the additional charges directly to the client. Since you didn't authorize the work, it's not your responsibility. Cheers, Checkers
Posted by Neil D. Butler (Member # 661) on :
Hi Kem Thanks for the Advice on the Maroon,
But Don't you feel Marooned by your supplier... Just ask the people who did the electrical work to Bill seperately, and Directly to the customer for any extra work that you were'nt involved in. I'm sure that they will undterstand.
Posted by Bill&Jane Diaz (Member # 2549) on :
This IDENTICAL thing just happen to us! We had the electrician bill the customer direct for the additional. The customer paid it, no problem. He knew he owed the electrician, not us. You should just pay the electrician for what he did for YOU. They both should understand the logic of this (or at least you would hope!)
