I recently had a landscape company out to my house to repair my sprinkler system. The owner said they could come out in 3 days to repair it as they would be in my neighborhood then for regular mowing. They used a locating device to find the valve and replaced it and it worked, the repair took about one hour. I received a bill the next day for $364.23 for the repair. $235 was to locate and replace the valve, $29.23 for the valve and $100 for the rental of the locating device to find the valve. Prior to them coming out I never asked the cost for them to come out to do the repair ( I know, my mistake). The owner said part of the $235 was owed for consulting services over the phone when we tried to diagnose the problem. She also said they rushed out to handle the repair. I find this whole bill a bit absurd. Consulting services and rental on the locator!!!! I sent a check for $179 and said I would pay no more. I live in Texas, what are my rights in this situation? Thanks.
2007-11-25 10:24:55 · 7 answers · asked by westfield4202 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
I am from Central Texas... Temple to be exact...A phone cunsultation cannot legally be charged unless discussed before hand..or if in thier ads(if they have any) it is stated for this... They cannot charge you for the machine rental.. A contractor should own thier tools already, unless otherwise stated on a written contract..# days is not "rushing right out to do repairs" nor was it discussed to be an additional cost, like after hours, holidays etc..it wasn't an emergency..They stated they would>>here is a keyword>>>'would be in the neighborhood" that day..so there was no 'RUSHING OUT"..they did this at thier conveinence...I would call them back..and do not tell them what you have learned here...Act real nice and willing to pay this..but do not verbally state you will pay in full.. Tell them I want this broken down to each exact cost...consultation fees... A copy of the rental receipt on the rental(which as stated it is really thier responsibility to own)..would they come mow your yard being a landscaper..then send you a receipt for a lawn mower rental? NOT!!!..I would get all of this broke down..and how much per hour per man on the job..Just ask..please e mail me( i dont care about the 10 points)..give me the name of the company..the location they operate out of etc..for I know alot of people throught the state of Texas..as I was a contractor there and contracted for some very serious people, to mention Lockhead, Motorolla, Michael Dell(yes owner of dell computers)..on and on..I can do some research for you that will make them landscapers tremble under thier piles of sod they need to hide under when they receive a few corporate lawyer phone calls..Yes I hate RIPOFFS.. What I can do is all Totally free.. I jsut like to put thieves in thier place..e mail me some info from my profile...
2007-11-26 03:30:39 · answer #1 · answered by pcbeachrat 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If I were the contractor you would pay the whole bill or end up in Small Claims Court. You did not get an estimate in writing, and hire" Schlockmeisters", to do your work then you should pay. Let the buyer beware!! T here is no doubt that you were overcharged. Question; Does your system now work properly? Learned a good lesson for a reasonable price.. Next time you will be more careful. You can always bad mouth the firm.( even on the internet )
2007-11-25 11:08:42 · answer #2 · answered by googie 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Here's some good, sound advice - pay the man and count it as a lesson learned. You didn't have a contract. Always ask for an estimate up front, especially when using a contractor you don't know. I think he overcharged you by $100. Pay it and don't call him again.
2007-11-25 10:53:52 · answer #3 · answered by DR_NC 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have the right to be sued!! As a contractor, he should have given you a written estimate and had you sign it up front.
As for the price..... it sounds right to me. Was he supposed to come out and work for you for free?
Ask yourself this. What do you or the company you work for charge for time spent or equipment used?
2007-11-25 10:32:22 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
if you have a landscaping company mow your grass, and you have a sprinkler system in your yard, then you can afford that repair.Any further action is just going to cost you more money in the long run.Pay the man ,price seems fair to me,and obviously others too.
2007-11-25 12:18:36 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
i comprehend that if i might desire to discover them i could make their lives depressing, i don't comprehend why they should mess with solid, worrying people who have not completed something to them!! i could elect to shove a existence down their throat so as that they could have one!!
2016-12-10 05:58:15 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
call a texas lawer,
2007-11-25 10:29:14 · answer #7 · answered by William B 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋