Mechanic Billing Question

[churchmouse]

Let me give you a scenario that actually happened to me. I'm curious to know how you would have handled it.

I needed gutters for my house, so I called a local company to get a quote. The owner arrived and saw that I was building a trailer. He told me he really needed a new trailer and he needed his old trailer fixed. He told me that my gutters were going to cost $1,500, but he was willing to work out a deal. I would build him a new trailer, fix his old trailer, and put those items against the cost of the gutters. So, I built him a trailer to his exact specifications. Before I started on it, I made sure he knew that the trailer he wanted wasn't going to be cheap, and he said it wasn't an issue. He installed the gutters and two weeks later, I gave him a detailed bill for the materials I used to build the trailer exactly how he wanted and to repair his old trailer. The bill was right at $3,000 which did not include labor. He said it was too much, he only wanted to pay $500. He suggested I keep the $3,000 trailer that I didn't want and I should pay $1,500 for the gutters he installed.

What would have been the ethical thing to do?

In case you're wondering, this was all done on a hand shake and verbal agreement. There was no written contract.

I would only ask if he had set a budget stipulation before you started. To even consider a custom 1 off trailer would be $500 is a real push.

 

[Rookie]

I did tell him the trailer was going to be well over $2,500. $2,500-$1,500=$1,000 so he already knew it was going to be over $500

 

[churchmouse]

I did tell him the trailer was going to be well over $2,500. $2,500-$1,500=$1,000 so he already knew it was going to be over $500

OK.
Not having been in on the original conversation I would have to say I do not know how I would handle this.
Was he aware of the over run on materials. Fair question as to the conversation.

 

[Rookie]

Yes. The "over $2,500" was before he added things like a removable rear gate and storage boxes on the sides. I told him those options would obviously add more in materials. I also made sure to let him know that I was taking time off work to drive to Michigan to get materials (axle, wheels, etc) in order to save him money. Gas, labor, and time off work wasn't included in the materials list I gave him.

 

[churchmouse]

Yes. The "over $2,500" was before he added things like a removable rear gate and storage boxes on the sides. I told him those options would obviously add more in materials. I also made sure to let him know that I was taking time off work to drive to Michigan to get materials (axle, wheels, etc) in order to save him money. Gas, labor, and time off work wasn't included in the materials list I gave him.

I would have been seriously PO'd

Did he pay you...???

 

[Rookie]

Nope. He expected me to pay him for the gutters and keep the trailer I built for him.

 

[churchmouse]

Nope. He expected me to pay him for the gutters and keep the trailer I built for him.

That sucks.

 

[Expat]

And that is why we are forced into written contracts, lawyers, courts...

 

[bwframe]

People make fun of me because I have little trust in others that I don't already know.

 

[Nazgul]

Yes. The "over $2,500" was before he added things like a removable rear gate and storage boxes on the sides. I told him those options would obviously add more in materials. I also made sure to let him know that I was taking time off work to drive to Michigan to get materials (axle, wheels, etc) in order to save him money. Gas, labor, and time off work wasn't included in the materials list I gave him.

I would tell him that I would sell the trailer, settle his bill and he was liable for the difference if any. No money until it sells.

Our written quotes always stated we had a 10% variance.

Don

 

[Thegeek]

Let me give you a scenario that actually happened to me. I'm curious to know how you would have handled it.

I needed gutters for my house, so I called a local company to get a quote. The owner arrived and saw that I was building a trailer. He told me he really needed a new trailer and he needed his old trailer fixed. He told me that my gutters were going to cost $1,500, but he was willing to work out a deal. I would build him a new trailer, fix his old trailer, and put those items against the cost of the gutters. So, I built him a trailer to his exact specifications. Before I started on it, I made sure he knew that the trailer he wanted wasn't going to be cheap, and he said it wasn't an issue. He installed the gutters and two weeks later, I gave him a detailed bill for the materials I used to build the trailer exactly how he wanted and to repair his old trailer. The bill was right at $3,000 which did not include labor. He said it was too much, he only wanted to pay $500. He suggested I keep the $3,000 trailer that I didn't want and I should pay $1,500 for the gutters he installed.

What would have been the ethical thing to do?

In case you're wondering, this was all done on a hand shake and verbal agreement. There was no written contract.

You should have gotten the deal in writing. Essentially, that's what a quote is. It is a good faith estimate for the work. You should have worked up an estimate for him on the trailer. Slightly different scenario. You made sure he knew it wasn't going to be cheap? Did you two agree on the definition of that?

Here's what I personally went through. Hired a fence company to put up a fence. I wanted 3/4" thick boards. It was written in the contract 3/4" actual thickness (as apposed to nominal). Told the estimator personally, this is actual thickness, not nominal. He said he understood. Got home from work 2 days later and the new fence was up. Boards were 1/2" thick. I called them and said they needed to fix it or I wasn't going to pay. They told me that's how lumber is measured and if I don' pay they'll sue and hung up. Called an atty friend of mine. He looked over the contract and the first words out of his mouth was "pay it". He explained that as long as they weren't wronged, there would be no counter suit. I then sued, won, got the fence done right, and basically got paid $50 to put up a new fence.

 

[voidsherpa]

So between the call yesterday when it was simple , Father -"Oh? This seems high, why'd it cost quite a bit more than originally estimated", font desk lady - "rata rata rata, machine shop, rata rata rata, valves", they managed to knock off $300 from the bill that wasn't reflected as a discount or a line item adjustment. I'm assuming they either pulled it from the now $400 machine shop or off of labor costs. To me, if that was an honest $300 in there it wouldn't just come off. I'd expect an explanation or a run through on why they thought it was justified, and if push came to shove maybe they'd lower (customer service). Anyways, that's how I read the situation. Bill paid, is what it is.

Also to all the mechanic people in here, I'm not trying to give people the shaft and get free work. But a 50%+ price increase without any communication is an issue. I don't pull that **** on my clients, nor do I know where that would be acceptable.

 

[Rookie]

Well, here's how it ended...

I told him I wasn't paying a penny for the gutters until he paid for the trailer. He threatened to sue me. I told him I'd be happy to see him in court. Seven years later, I have a trailer sitting in my yard...

 

[darkkevin]

So between the call yesterday when it was simple , Father -"Oh? This seems high, why'd it cost quite a bit more than originally estimated", font desk lady - "rata rata rata, machine shop, rata rata rata, valves", they managed to knock off $300 from the bill that wasn't reflected as a discount or a line item adjustment. I'm assuming they either pulled it from the now $400 machine shop or off of labor costs. To me, if that was an honest $300 in there it wouldn't just come off. I'd expect an explanation or a run through on why they thought it was justified, and if push came to shove maybe they'd lower (customer service). Anyways, that's how I read the situation. Bill paid, is what it is.

Also to all the mechanic people in here, I'm not trying to give people the shaft and get free work. But a 50%+ price increase without any communication is an issue. I don't pull that **** on my clients, nor do I know where that would be acceptable.

I believe the biggest issue here was lack of communication on their part, did they find additional things that needed repaired when the heads were removed?? probably, it probably legit needed the additional valve job etc that they did, however doing that without his permission is just ridiculous, i'd be pissed just like you.

 

[bacon#1]

Let me give you a scenario that actually happened to me. I'm curious to know how you would have handled it.

I needed gutters for my house, so I called a local company to get a quote. The owner arrived and saw that I was building a trailer. He told me he really needed a new trailer and he needed his old trailer fixed. He told me that my gutters were going to cost $1,500, but he was willing to work out a deal. I would build him a new trailer, fix his old trailer, and put those items against the cost of the gutters. So, I built him a trailer to his exact specifications. Before I started on it, I made sure he knew that the trailer he wanted wasn't going to be cheap, and he said it wasn't an issue. He installed the gutters and two weeks later, I gave him a detailed bill for the materials I used to build the trailer exactly how he wanted and to repair his old trailer. The bill was right at $3,000 which did not include labor. He said it was too much, he only wanted to pay $500. He suggested I keep the $3,000 trailer that I didn't want and I should pay $1,500 for the gutters he installed.

What would have been the ethical thing to do?

In case you're wondering, this was all done on a hand shake and verbal agreement. There was no written contract.

It's unfortunate these days a hand shake and a man's word is worth less than a square of toilet paper to wipe you crack with. Not to most, but enough.

 

[Dead Duck]

Well, here's how it ended...

I told him I wasn't paying a penny for the gutters until he paid for the trailer. He threatened to sue me. I told him I'd be happy to see him in court. Seven years later, I have a trailer sitting in my yard...

Hey -
I'll give ya 500 dollars for that old used trailer sittin in your yard.

 

[Thegeek]

Well, here's how it ended...

I told him I wasn't paying a penny for the gutters until he paid for the trailer. He threatened to sue me. I told him I'd be happy to see him in court. Seven years later, I have a trailer sitting in my yard...

Well, what's the skinny on the trailer? Enclosed? Dimensions?

 

[Rookie]

6x14 with 2 foot rails. Sides have expanded steel. 5,500 pound single axle. Frame is 3x3x1/4 angle iron. It's over built for a single axle, but that's what he wanted. The only thing that sucks is he wanted to put a job box on the front so I balanced the axle with that in mind. Without a box, it's light on the tongue if it's empty. I'd have to move the axle or buy a box for it.