I hired a plumber for a project that was supposed to take a day with two plumbers, planned well in advance. However, on the day of the job, the plumber didn't show up because he was fishing in Mexico and mentioned that he had staff quit and forgot to reschedule. Another guy came in the next day and finished the job, but it was done incorrectly, and now the owner is back from Mexico to fix it. It's taken two extra days longer than planned. I'm considering writing a check for $500 less than the original quote. Has anyone else dealt with similar issues?
4 Answers
Did the delays actually cost you $500? If you can prove that, it might strengthen your case. Otherwise, you could be on shaky ground if you just feel the work wasn't up to par. It's like this: unless the delays caused real financial harm, you might not have much ground to stand on.
If you decide to write the check for less than what was agreed, be cautious. The plumber could file a mechanic's lien against you. It's usually a better idea to negotiate a solution that works for both of you and get any agreement in writing. That way, you're covered in case things get messy down the line.
A couple of days isn’t the end of the world in any kind of home project. This happens for all sorts of reasons – weather, personnel issues, etc. Just remember, these jobs can’t always be strictly timed like a babysitting gig. It might be worthwhile to focus on whether you’re satisfied with the final work instead of just the delays.
I totally get your frustration, but you need to keep in mind that these kinds of things happen. You can’t really just decide to pay less because things went off schedule. It’s best to talk it over with him about the delays and see if any discounts are possible. But be prepared that he may want the full amount because the work got done, even if late.