Browse Forums General Discussion Re: Builders bills 7Jul 19, 2016 12:55 pm Tell the builder that you are going to the ATO to ask their advice over why you're being charged GST when you have paid him and some of the tradies cash. Watch him backtrack real quick! First mistake Quote: We never signed a contract with this builder... Second mistake Quote: we were not working to a set of plans Guessing all round by both you and him will end in tears... When we were on site, a full 8 hr day started at 7 ( usually on site at 6:45 ) Sit down for a cuppa and a bite for half an hour at 10. Lunch at 1 for another 1/2 an hour Finish after 4 We certainly wouldn't expect to be paid for sitting on our ar$es on a do and charge job and I was always surprised by the number of trades who rocked up at 7:30 and tried to finish at 3:30 or earlier as well as having the same breaks as us who wanted to be paid for a full 8 hrs. Brickies were the worst. Stewie Re: Builders bills 8Jul 20, 2016 5:56 pm Hi again and thanks for all the replies. We're in Tassie... Yes, in hindsight a contract should have been signed. Unfortunately the builder was a friend of a friend who "was very happy with his work". We saw the previous job he did and it was fine, finish was good and the price was reasonable. Our job seems to have been thrown together. The house is circa 1950 and we have remodelled a lot of the interior with new walls, new bathrooms, etc. The invoices have us being charged for "straightening" walls and ceilings but none of the new walls or ceilings are straight! This has caused havoc with the tilers and the builders excuse for everything being out of square is "well, it's an old house". I'm seriously disappointed with his attention to detail and his finish. I spoke to the Master Builders Association and they said we should not be paying for breaks either, but also said we shouldn't have started without a contract. I wrote to the builder outlining some of the issues mentioned above and he has not made contact for over a week. We want the job done properly and are giving him the chance to make things right but I have a feeling it will not end that way. Re: Builders bills 9Jul 21, 2016 11:33 am If it was me I wouldn't be giving him a cent more. I've worked on lots of old houses doing renos, add-ons, second storeys etc and you can nearly always come up with a good result even if the existing house isn't straight, plumb, square or a combo of all three. I'd also be looking at getting someone else in to repair what he has stuffed up and completing the work. I don't know how big the town is where you live but I'd be letting it known locally that he has done a $hit job. In small towns reputation is everything and if he has any brains he'd be correcting things quickly lest all his work dry up. I'd also let your mate know and say how disappointed you are with the guy he recommended and how much it is costing you. Stewie Re: Builders bills 10Jul 21, 2016 1:15 pm I agree with Stewie, I wouldn't be paying him anything else until he rectifies any issues, or at least makes an effort to and his future work is of a standard you're happy with. The excuse for old house is rubbish, there's ways around things and solutions to problems and most of the time it can done correctly. That could be packing studs and top plates with Masonite packers square with the room or planing the frame and chiseling sections that are hard to reach to get square, plumb, level and straight. For someone who is on an hourly rate I am confused why you wouldn't take your time with it or get it right anyway, when if it's a fixed price and the builder has underestimated the works that's when cutting corners or slack work can occur more often. I would never build with Fowler homes. I built with them in 2021 and till date maintenance issues are pending. All their existing trades and businesses don't work with… 14 109958 Thank you so much. This has been very helpful. We definitely wish to settle and get these people out of our life. They are trying to charge us interest on late… 7 15065 1 2942 |