Carpenter's Mistake - Partial Refund
Quoted £180 for 2 alcove shelves to be built - timber board on batons, nothing fancy.
Carpenter pulled up, did the job, got paid and was driving away within 50 mins.
The job was not to the specification agreed as the shelves have been placed 2cm higher than requested. I messaged him within 10 mins of him leaving to confirm it was wrong.
Carpenter has messed me around when I've tried to get him to come back and fix it. We agreed on a partial refund. He has sent me £30 refund.
I don't believe this is fair and have asked for a minimum of £60 refund as he has done the job incorrectly - even if it is 'only' 2cm out.
He said that most tradesmen wouldn't even offer a partial refund for 2cm of error. Is this correct?
My current feeling is that he has made £150 to do a job in 50 mins, that is wrong and not what I asked for.
Is his statement true? Would most tradespeople not fix a job if they did it incorrectly?
Advice from 8 local tradespeople
It's understandable to feel frustrated. Here are the key points regarding your situation:
1. Common Practice: Many tradespeople aim to meet specifications and will address mistakes, even minor ones like a 2 cm discrepancy.
2. Partial Refund Standards: Requesting a £60 refund for the incorrect job is reasonable, especially since you notified him promptly.
3. Quality Expectation: Clients expect work to match agreed specifications, and most reputable tradespeople will want to fix errors or offer a refund to maintain customer satisfaction.
4. Communication: If the carpenter is unwilling to provide a fair resolution, consider discussing the issue further or exploring consumer protection options.
In summary, while some tradespeople might not offer refunds for small errors, many do prioritize customer satisfaction and will try to rectify mistakes. Your request for a fair refund is justified.
It is the tradesman responsibility to make sure the job is fully complete, and would be reasonable to go back and fix it.
No this statement isn’t true any good tradesman would take pride in his work and would rectify the mistake
Absolutely he should have returned and rectified it to meet your requirements . You are the customer!
The normal thing would be to go back and correct the work because it wouldn't take long to correct and we would all be happy. And also because each job well done is worth asking for new and better tasks.
It's my opinion, that's what I would do.
Thanks
Any carpenter that takes pride in his work would correct this problem without hesitation, once a final plan has been put together with a client, there should be no deviation from that plan. You absolutely should be entitled to a partial refund at the very minimum, if you have paid for something that is any way different to what you’ve asked for.
Hi there ,
If the job was not done to the specified agreement then I understand why you aren't happy . If my customers aren't happy with the work or would like to change or amend something then j would always cater to their needs . It's your house at the end of the day you should have it how you like so I agree that if you aren't happy then some sort of arrangement would need to be made to either rectify the issue or repay the money.
Is not corect the builder he have to come back to rectify the work, and about money when you make a price with the Client is not his problem how long is take to be done just to be good job in the end .
The most important thing is to leave the Client happy
