So, I recently had a contractor for a $13,500 project that included paving a new asphalt driveway, repairing/painting my porch, and putting up a new fence with a gate. On the last day, the contractor informed me that their office had miscalculated the square footage for the driveway, and they expected me to pay an extra $1,350. Since I had already paid a 50% deposit, I was understandably upset. We settled on $1,000 instead. The crew was great throughout the project, even coming back to fix things afterward. However, I'm wondering—should I have refused the extra charge? Is this a common issue? Did I handle this correctly, or was I taken advantage of? I know to double-check the math on contracts now, but it seems too minor to be intentional.
6 Answers
As a business owner myself, I always take responsibility for errors on my end. If a homeowner makes a mistake, sure, that’s on them, but it’s different when it’s my fault. Just be cautious because not everyone operates ethically. You did the right thing by questioning it!
By the way, do you think disputing the charge on your credit card would be a good move? You have proof it wasn’t in the original contract, right? Might be worth considering if you feel strongly about it.
Interesting point about materials! Usually, contractors order materials based on what’s needed for the job, so it does make you wonder if they anticipated this mistake. Honestly, this feels like a bit of a scam.
Honestly, it sounds like a mistake on their part, not yours. You're not responsible for their math errors. I’ve faced similar situations before and let the client handle it themselves. It's part of running a business. Plus, if the contractor said that the office planned to deduct from his pay, that doesn’t sit right. It seems a bit wrong to put the blame on you for their mistake.
In hindsight, you could’ve just gone along and pretended to be out of cash for extra charges. It’s their blunder! But it’s tricky to balance being honest and sticking to your guns. Just remember to double-check any contracts next time!
I’d have just told them that it’s their mistake and I’m not covering for it. If they made a mistake, it’s on them. What if the tables were turned? If they had underestimated, would they still expect you to pay up? Stick to your ground!