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Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2013 10:17 am
by Tony McC
I'm refereeing a dispute between client and contractor where the contractor has walked off the job on the grounds that the client is "an arsehole" and has submitted a bill for the excavation works they didn't quite finish but left in a right muddy mess for the homeowner.
The client is contesting the invoice amount so I've been appointed to adjudicate a fair price.
So: what would be a fair and reasonable price to excavate and cart away a 40m² driveway to a depth of 300mm?
Part of the problem is that the contractor is claiming that they were 300mm at the garage and 300mm at the threshold, just not 300mm in the centre and that is, apparently, standard practice. I must have been mistaken all these years!
Edited By Tony McC on 1382606300
Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2013 1:38 pm
by bobbi o
JCB 3CX inc op/fuel/travel - £300
6 wheeler - 7hrs @ £40 = £280
Tipping charges - £100
Sub Total - £680.00
inc profit @ 20% - £136
Total - £816.00 + vat = £979.20
That would be a top end price,with scope to reduce depending on location,dig out material etc etc.
Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2013 4:27 pm
by ambient
would have said £800 + vat around Manchester area
but that would have been 300mm all over
Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2013 5:29 pm
by Nigel Walker
£900 plus VAT would be my price based on 300mm all over
Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2013 5:35 pm
by lutonlagerlout
2 grabs a 3 tonne digger + driver and a banksman
£1000 +vat in the dirty south
LLL
Posted: Fri Oct 25, 2013 8:59 pm
by DNgroundworks
Same as Ambient here.
Posted: Fri Oct 25, 2013 9:00 pm
by DNgroundworks
lol @ 'on the grounds the customer is an ''arsehole'':D
Posted: Sat Oct 26, 2013 8:06 am
by Tony McC
More or less as I thought. Thanks everyone.
I've been seriously unimpressed by the contractor. His attitude is lousy; he's rude and abusive to the client; his story changes with each telling; and his understanding of pavement construction is appalling.
Why didn't he dig to 300mm when that was the spec he was given and what he priced? Because there's 100mm sub-base, then 100mm bed of concrete with 100mm deep granite cubes, but the cubes are embedded into the concrete to 75mm, aren't they, so that means it's only a 225mm construction depth, which means he's dug off to the correct depth. The man is a Grade A tool!
And besides, there's no retainer for the sub-base, so the whole pavement will fail, in his experience. There should be a full depth edging kerb to keep the sub-base in position, apparently. I'm learning so much from this clown!
Worryingly, he's on two of the more respected 'Approved Contractor' lists. My 4yo granddaughter knows more about pavement construction than this eejit!
Posted: Sat Oct 26, 2013 9:14 am
by mickg
f you can't name and shame on the forum then you could at least inform the said companies who he is an approved contractor with to make them aware of his work not being installed the correct way ?
Posted: Sat Oct 26, 2013 12:26 pm
by DNgroundworks
It annoys me when idiots get decent projects and make a mess, its a waste of good work.
Posted: Sun Oct 27, 2013 7:35 am
by lemoncurd1702
Hey Tony, out of interest can you reveal what the said contractors quote/invoice was for the works.
Posted: Sun Oct 27, 2013 8:23 pm
by Tony McC
Because the client is threatening to sue for breach of contract, I don't want to reveal anything that might prejudice the case by identifying the contractor or the project at this stage.
Mick - Apparently, there will be a complaint going to the administrators of the two 'approved' schemes to which the contractor claims membership, but I have little faith that anything will be done. After all, he's paid his subs, so why should they kick him out? (Yes, I know I have a highly sceptical and possibly controversial view of approved schemes, but then I get to hear and see so many horror stories that it's impossible for me to have any faith in any of them)
Posted: Sun Oct 27, 2013 9:55 pm
by mickg
>>>but I have little faith that anything will be done
I cant speak for all of them but I know from reading the Marshalls newsletters that contractors are removed for various reasons all the time, always a few each edition being removed if my memory serves me correctly
Posted: Mon Oct 28, 2013 6:48 am
by lemoncurd1702
Agree with mickg on the Marshalls Register. Plus they are the only one who guarantee the contractors work I.E. they will carry out the repairs if the offending contractor has left the country/died/out of business or just plain refuses.
Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2013 7:37 pm
by GB_Groundworks
job isn't it romiley is it? i priced a dig out for setts and the client went with the cheaper option