Builder charging us for something we didn’t ask for

skinny90

Hi all

lm buying a new build and due to close this week / next week

one of our requests the builder said he’d do was to add an extra socket in the utility

that wasn’t done and instead they installed an external plug outside.

they are now charging us for the external plug.

we never asked for this…it came up and the neighbours had requested it but we hadn’t.

can I insist on not paying?

it’s only 120€ but it’s the principal especially when they didn’t do what we’d asked

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skinny90

Read the post.

The 120 isn’t the issue..

its the fact that where being charged for something we never asked for.

what we did ask for wasn’t done.

Rows Grower

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121102662#Comment_121102662

I read the post and it looks like the 120 is a fairly key issue.

awec

Have you told the builder you won't pay for something you didn't ask for?

I can't imagine they'd be too bothered over 120.

skinny90

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121102668#Comment_121102668

are you a builder ? Troll on

Rows Grower

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121102685#Comment_121102685

Mistakes happen and if they were all only as mickey mouse as this one wouldn't every builder and house buyer be happy.

Dublinandy3

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058313419/builder-charging-us-for-something-we-didn-t-ask-for

You can insist on not paying. I don't think they'd put up much of a fight.

It's hard enough getting the snag items that only crop up after you've moved in fixed, so I'd suggest whomever you're dealing with, the point of contact, don't alienate them as this short term win could lead to long term stress.

Ezeoul

Within the last fortnight I was quoted €175 + VAT to install a new internal double socket in my hall approx 8 feet away from my fuse box.

€120 for an external socket sounds cheap, and while you may not have asked for it, you might be glad of it at a later stage, even though its annoying you now.

I'd ask for the internal socket you wanted to be added now, and see what price they give you for both. Haggle a bit.

elperello

Sounds like a simple mistake installing in the wrong house.

Just ask the builder to put it right.

Op, if the internal socket is important to you, get him to do it before you close. Having an external socket is very handy indeed for pressure washers, DIY etc, but if you didn’t ask for it, I’m not sure why they are charging you.

Homer

maybe he will come back and remove the external socket and not bother with the one in the utility and deduct the €120 from the bill.

It seems some aren’t comprehending the fact that the builder neglected to do what was asked for, did something that wasn’t asked for, and is invoicing the customer for their mistake. In what other circumstances would this be acceptable?

Explosive_Cornflake

OMG, have you spoken to the builder yet. Hanlon's razor applies in these situations.

sydthebeat

Sounds like a genuine error on the builders part.

If you don't want to pay for it, tell him to take it out.

dazed+confused

Don't have a hole in the wall of your house where you could have had a socket. Every time you go to plug your powerhose in you'll kick yourself.

Was he wrong, yes. Is it frustrating, sure, but look at the bigger picture. Pay the 120 and maybe suggesr that he put the socket in in the utility too.

That's a real victory, not just a moral one.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121103618#Comment_121103618

The builder can’t leave a hole in the wall, he would have to return it to the condition it was before work which wasn’t requested, was done on it.

I agree with you, I have an outside socket myself which is great for car washer, car charging before I got a charger, and DIY power tools. But you don’t seem to be getting what the op’s issue is, they did something which wasn’t asked , didn’t do what was asked for, and charged him €120. If you ordered something in a shop, and something completely different arrived which you didn’t want, what would you say to the shop if they still demanded payment for the item you didn’t order?

timmyntc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121103663#Comment_121103663

The OP is entitled to his principles - however in the real world you'll find being pragmatic about things makes life easier for everyone.

So you got an extra outside socket, as others said, 120 is a steal. Ask for the utility sockets to be fitted also.

Paying 120 more for something you probably will find useful in future is not a big deal. Its about 0.01% more ontop of your house purchase.

The time you will spend chasing up trying to get out of paying is likely worth more than 120 euro

Del2005

I can't wait for the neighbour to come here complaining that they ordered an outside socket and got one installed in their utility.

This is a simple mistake and the OP got billed for it, there's no conspiracy here the sparks got the jobs mixed up and billed accordingly. They don't even appear to have talked to the builder about the mistake.

The simple solution is to do a deal for both plugs. The nuclear option is to insist on the outside plug being removed, the wall put back to new and getting the utility plug installed but as @Dublinandy3 said you won't be a priority for fixing your snags.

waterwelly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058313419/builder-charging-us-for-something-we-didn-t-ask-for

I'd imagine if you don't want to pay they will just take it out.

An outdoor socket is a no brainer. Everything from kids bouncy castles to charging a car.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121103813#Comment_121103813

Real or imaginary, the op didn’t get what he asked for, and was charged for something they didn’t. Whether what he got will be useful doesn’t alter the fact that he doesn’t have a socket inside, and has a bill for outside.

Smee_Again

OP check with the neighbour and see if they have the internal socket, if they do just swap houses. Problem solved.

Pawwed Rig

strange responses here. why would anyone pay for something they didn't as for. If I ask for coffee and get tea should I pay?

OP - is the outdoor socket of any value to you? As others have said they are useful for a whole range of things.

Is the guy doing your indoor one aswell? Personally I would try to come to an agreement on a reduced price for the indoor one so that at least the guy isn't too much out of pocket but it depends if it is any value to you. You are quite entitled to refuse.

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mickdw

An outdoor socket at 120 is not bad value and certainly alot less that you would pay if you wanted it done later.

Just tell them it was a utility room socket you wanted and back it up.with any documentation you have to.prove that is what you requested.

You should end up with both the outdoor and utility socket for the 120 quid.

magicbastarder

Offer them 80 for it. That's cheap, and you'll probably be glad to have it.

Buffman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058313419/builder-charging-us-for-something-we-didn-t-ask-for

So it's a new build. Have you done a snag list yet? Have you even raised this issue with the builder? Is that socket literally the only issue in the whole build? If so, that's a miracle.

witchgirl26

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121105440#Comment_121105440

This! Get your snag list done & include the missed out utility socket on it. I'd say they probably just mixed up the houses as to who wanted what. If you really don't want the external socket, stick that on the snag too. Although you will kick yourself if you get it removed as they are very handy to have.

Do you have any written communication of the requested extra socket? An email or anything? Just in case they argue with the snag & you can show them that. If it was just a conversation, they may sort it or they might not.

screamer

Yep haggle over 120 euro and a socket. I bet he’ll charge you double that for your internal socket. What a first world problem.

daheff

OP - i understand your frustration.

If I were you I'd also be asking about an outdoor tap too. Very handy to have.

get the utility socket put in as well. Ignore the outdoor socket issue for the moment until the socket you want is installed. I do think you'll appreciate having it afterwards.

As others have said, there is a snag list to go through. Things will invariably need to be fixed later on afterwards. Its probably in your longer term best interest to be the nice buyer. They're more likely to fix stuff for you quickly then. 120eur for a socket may be a good investment.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121105880#Comment_121105880

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121105945#Comment_121105945

People seem to have missed/ignored the op, the sale hasn’t closed yet, the op is still in a very good position to hold up the closure until both the socket, and the snag list are complete.

enricoh

Fitted a double outdoor socket recently behind an existing socket, 30-40 minutes tops. I'd expect a spark to be a lot faster. Double socket E16, 50c of cable.

Tell him you still want socket in utility room n outdoor socket unwanted but I'll give you e50 for it. There's enough stuff to be shelling out on in a new gaff.

mickdw

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121106078#Comment_121106078

Not guaranteed to be as easy as your case.

Jimjay

We moved in to a new build 7 years ago

. From paying the booking deposit to moving in took about 5 months. When we moved in there was a pile of final demands, addressed to my name, from an electric company.

the developer had signed up to the electric company, in my name, soon after we booked the house. Well before we actually signed contracts (and owned the house) and moved in.

i dont know if this is normal but we eventually got the developer to pay after threatening legal proceedings..

skinny90

Hi

Thanks for the replies, was surprised with some of your responses tbh but its nice to see there are still folks with some common sense here too.

So I created the post as soon as my solicitor sent me the bill.

This forum has been helpful in the past during earlier stages of the build so that's why I asked.

the purpose was to seek advise on how to approach this out of principal

Like many lurkers here, this is my first rodeo buying a house, dealing with builders/tradesmen and to be fair we have heard horror stories about being overcharged and dealing with cowboys etc

Since then Iv spoke to the builder who was sound about everything and admitted the error.

We are paying 105€ for the external plug and he is not charging for other things we had requested...

We are happy with that, thanks all

skinny90

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121105602#Comment_121105602

Thanks the snag list was completed before we received the bill.. we had raised the concern about the utility plug well before the snagging with the builder. we were only aware of the external plug when we received the bill this week

alan partridge aha

All well that ends well.

Ezeoul

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121108168#Comment_121108168

That's a great result. Good luck with your new home.

Bass Reeves

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121106102#Comment_121106102

It the way virtually all external sockets are fitted. You pick a suitable internal socket on an external wall. Drill a hole through it to the outside and fit the external socket. Virtually no other way of doing it