Just wondered what you all think of this scenario and what I should do

Just before Christmas, I dug out a section in front of our static to fill with gravel to install a metal deck. The base measures 10ft x 15ft and 6'' deep. We shuttered it off with wood and I ordered what I thought was enough gravel.
I managed to move a ton into the hole but the bad weather over Christmas kept putting a halt to things so I contacted a guy who asked me over the phone what needed doing. I told him the size, how much gravel I had etc and he said it was a mornings work and wouldn't cost a lot. I asked how much is not a lot as I didn't want any nasty surprises. He said "about £60". I thought that was cheap so I said ok.
He went down last week to have a look at the job and rang me to say he'd do it today.
He's now finished the job and sent me a text saying it will cost £250 as he had 3 blokes on the job and hired a tipper.
I phoned him but he didn't answer so I texted him and said it was 5 times more than he'd quoted. He replied saying the job was bigger than he thought.
Now, why didn't he say this last week when he went to site to see it? That was a perfect opportunity to say "sorry Andy, but it's going to be a bit more than £60".
I don't expect anyone to work for nothing and it was a big job, which is why I was a little surprised when he said £60 in the beginning. I don't mind paying, but it would've been nice to be told.

technically, a quote is a quote, and an estimate is an estimate.
had the guy turned up on site, and then texted you to say its likely to be much more than the original 'quote' it could have ended on a better note. you probably have no proof he used more than one guy, or indeed a tipper. (assuming a truck, and not a bookmaker...) he will probably only want cash, and you will only get some invoice off his home printer.
to be fair, it was never going to be £60, as a builder type guy wouldn't be using up a day, for £60.

where I live, it's a typical Irish traveller's doorstep type work trick, to get you to agree to works, at a favourable price, (as in the same area doing a job), and 'need to train some young-uns' etc. then the threats start when you disagree etc.
very awkward..

sounds like he only had to have a builders yard, supply about 10 bags of gravel, and whilst delivery driver is hanging bags on the arm, he might have sliced open each bag, at a handy pour point, and repeated, all bags, and raked it out.

I hope he didn't do the old, 'well my truck has a problem now, but i'll get my brother come by, and clear all the rubbish for ya....'

He sent me photos of all three guys working and I could see a small tipper parked next to the base so I don't doubt what he said. He's asked for a cheque as well not cash.
Like I said- had he have told me up front, I wouldn't have minded.

did he notice you had cctv and the extra's are not on the film for long.....

I feel for you, but the guy is probably very well versed in what to say, when you challenge the bill.
technically, he should be paying the extra's from the original 'quote'
can you agree a slightly less total....you'd like to recommend him, but this is too much.... etc.

shame it sounds like you did the hard work digging it all out! I dug out a garage base, and filled a drop sided skip, in a day, and spent the next two flat out!

He said circa £60 without seeing the job, then went to see it and didn't say anything to the contrary - he must have gone ahead knowing full well it would be more that he had quoted.

It strikes me that if you are happy to fall out with him you could simply send him what he quoted and tell him to 'whistle' for any more, although this route may see some damage mysteriously appear on your static

Perhaps the best way forward would be to seek a compromise that works for both of you and helps him to recognise that you can't go about things in the way he has

He was recommended by the park owner so I'm happy to fall out with him as I don't know him. He can't get onto site without permission so if he damages the van, we'll know about it. Plus, he may well by now know what I do for a living!

TBH I don't think that "about £60" can be considered in any way a "quote". What does "about" mean. He was wrong not to contact you when he had seen what was involved and you should tell him so, although it might have been better for you to ask him for a firm quote once he had seen the job.

Does £250 reflect a reasonable price for the amount and quality of work done? If so I think you would have to bite the bullet and pay. If not, then dispute it with him.

As has been said, a proper builder isn't going to turn out for £120 a day. Especially if equipment hire is involved. MO John
2008 Stornoway Grey 3.6 Tdv8 Vogue
2005 TD6 Java Black Vogue - Written off!!
GAP iiD BT
2003 Discovery TD5 Auto, Nanocom Evolution - gone to a new home!
MasseyFerguson 152 - No electronics!! - Sold

When he said it would be 'about £60' my initial thoughts were "that's a bit cheap". I then said to my wife that once he'd been down to look at it I fully expect the price to go up.
He went out and had a look at it and we had two telephone conversations after but at no point did he say he was going to be any more than what he originally quoted. He could have said "I'm going to need to put 3 blokes and Extra equipment on this job so it will be more". I wouldn't have an issue then as I could've made an informed decision. If he'd said "it's going to be about £250" I would've probably agreed after trying to haggle down a little
He's trying to say the job was bigger than he thought but I did give him the dimensions up front.
The sticking point is that the base took more hardcore than I'd ordered (blame Travis Perkins for that bad calculation). The original order of two tons of gravel turned into 6 tons. There is a supply of gravel on site for other jobs on the park, so the site owner said I could help myself and I could settle up later. Again, no mention of this when he went down. He's a landscaper by trade so he should've spotted straight away that it would take more than two tons.

I'm speaking to him today so we'll have to reach a compromise I suppose.

thats a typical builders con where they estimate cheap and then carry on with the work knowing that its going to be much more expensive....law of averages states that most customers will pay the increased charge without to much hassle ...

what job do you do Andy? ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
.

I'm a bit confused by this.
You dug it out to install a metal deck - what is that (not knowing anything about the caravanning world)? Presumably the gravelled area is for drainage?
Let's presume it is 10mm gravel. A cubic metre will give coverage in the order of 15-20m2. You have an area of 14.85m2. So two bulk bags would have done the job at a depth of 50mm (2"). Therefore 6 ton bags would have done a 150mm depth (6") necessitating no type 1/scalpings for the depth in question.
Type 1/scalps doesn't go anywhere near as far - I would say you'd have needed around 3 m3 of it, and it is a hell of a lot more expensive than the approx £40/m3 for shingle.

Your costs/figures don't stack up at all.

Did he compact it with a wacker?

Did he actually supply the materials at all?

Did he use loose-tipped materials (what I would have done as so much cheaper and even easier than splitting craned-off bags)?



Some more explanation would help. It sounds like less than (so therefore) a days work for one guy. £150 ish labour plus a bit of fuel. 2007 Vogue TDV8 with 255/55/20's fitted

The grassed area in front of the van slopes back to front and side to side. I could have had a deck made to suit, but it would've have different leg lengths and we didn't want that. I wanted a flat base.
To acheive this, we had to dig out the slope one side, and build up on the other using boards. To get it the right height, it ended up being six inches deep.
The deck is probably a ton or more in weight so it needed a sturdy base. I've seen some sink over time on thin bases.

This is what it will look like when it's done

I understand a bit better now.
So what you actually needed is about 125mm of compacted type 1/scalps, then dressed with gravel.
6 tons of gravel is complete pal, sorry. Not stable at all.
You haven't answered about who supplied what? 2007 Vogue TDV8 with 255/55/20's fitted

^ i think that is all academic...

the problem is that an estimate was £60 and the final bill was £250 and at no time was the price increase mentioned... ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
.

The gravel is 40mm roadstone which has been compacted. I managed to get nearly a ton in to be honest and it isn't even fill one corner so I can believe it's took 6 ton.

He's just phoned and we've agreed £150 so I'm a bit happier now. I don't think he was but he did apologise for not calling me.