Revising A Builder Invoice - Am I being Unreasonable
Discussion
When you say:-
"The builder reduced the invoice by the amount I requested called it "customer reduction", "
what do you actually mean?
Did the builder re-issue his invoice with the reduction on it, which you have paid in full, or did the builder issue an invoice for the full amount and you deducted the £1,000 to which they verbally agreed would be a 'customer reduction'. If you have a reduced invoice you can tell him to jog-on, if it was verbal only then what paperwork have you got to support the reduction if it went small-claims?
"The builder reduced the invoice by the amount I requested called it "customer reduction", "
what do you actually mean?
Did the builder re-issue his invoice with the reduction on it, which you have paid in full, or did the builder issue an invoice for the full amount and you deducted the £1,000 to which they verbally agreed would be a 'customer reduction'. If you have a reduced invoice you can tell him to jog-on, if it was verbal only then what paperwork have you got to support the reduction if it went small-claims?
blindswelledrat said:
Even if he didn't have the paperwork to show that the reduction was agreed, I think he would have a pretty good chance in small claims anyway. Whatever the original contract was I doubt it very much that the builder has completed it.
Having paperwork to support the agreement will make his defence stronger than a "pretty good chance", whereas having nothing but a he-said-this-he-said-that defence would make things less certain would it not? The builder has completed the build which is why the OP paid the invoice, the dispute here is whether it was agreed that a deduction of £1,000 would be accepted as the OP stepped in to help out on site. The Surveyor said:
When you say:-
"The builder reduced the invoice by the amount I requested called it "customer reduction", "
what do you actually mean?
Did the builder re-issue his invoice with the reduction on it, which you have paid in full, or did the builder issue an invoice for the full amount and you deducted the £1,000 to which they verbally agreed would be a 'customer reduction'. If you have a reduced invoice you can tell him to jog-on, if it was verbal only then what paperwork have you got to support the reduction if it went small-claims?
This is exactly what I was wondering."The builder reduced the invoice by the amount I requested called it "customer reduction", "
what do you actually mean?
Did the builder re-issue his invoice with the reduction on it, which you have paid in full, or did the builder issue an invoice for the full amount and you deducted the £1,000 to which they verbally agreed would be a 'customer reduction'. If you have a reduced invoice you can tell him to jog-on, if it was verbal only then what paperwork have you got to support the reduction if it went small-claims?
The Surveyor said:
When you say:-
"The builder reduced the invoice by the amount I requested called it "customer reduction", "
what do you actually mean?
Did the builder re-issue his invoice with the reduction on it, which you have paid in full, or did the builder issue an invoice for the full amount and you deducted the £1,000 to which they verbally agreed would be a 'customer reduction'. If you have a reduced invoice you can tell him to jog-on, if it was verbal only then what paperwork have you got to support the reduction if it went small-claims?
He issue an invoice with the deduction on."The builder reduced the invoice by the amount I requested called it "customer reduction", "
what do you actually mean?
Did the builder re-issue his invoice with the reduction on it, which you have paid in full, or did the builder issue an invoice for the full amount and you deducted the £1,000 to which they verbally agreed would be a 'customer reduction'. If you have a reduced invoice you can tell him to jog-on, if it was verbal only then what paperwork have you got to support the reduction if it went small-claims?
Jasandjules said:
Can you please confirm exactly what the invoice stated....
If there were no caveats attached, then you have been invoiced for the work done and you have paid it.
It was a simple invoice stating an amount due, the "customer deduction" then at the bottom the new amount with the deduction applied.If there were no caveats attached, then you have been invoiced for the work done and you have paid it.
No caveats whatsoever.
To me it sounds like he always knew he was going to chase you for this money, and has worded the revised invoice, what he thinks is cleverly, by putting "customer reduction". He will argue that you deducted this amount. The wording of it is vague enough for you not to question it at the time, but enough that, to the court, it looks like you deducted it. That's what I think is going on here!
IN51GHT said:
Jasandjules said:
Can you please confirm exactly what the invoice stated....
If there were no caveats attached, then you have been invoiced for the work done and you have paid it.
It was a simple invoice stating an amount due, the "customer deduction" then at the bottom the new amount with the deduction applied.If there were no caveats attached, then you have been invoiced for the work done and you have paid it.
No caveats whatsoever.
If it's got "paid in full" or similar I'd just refer him back to it
nick s said:
To me it sounds like he always knew he was going to chase you for this money, and has worded the revised invoice, what he thinks is cleverly, by putting "customer reduction". He will argue that you deducted this amount. The wording of it is vague enough for you not to question it at the time, but enough that, to the court, it looks like you deducted it. That's what I think is going on here!
Good point.nick s said:
To me it sounds like he always knew he was going to chase you for this money, and has worded the revised invoice, what he thinks is cleverly, by putting "customer reduction". He will argue that you deducted this amount. The wording of it is vague enough for you not to question it at the time, but enough that, to the court, it looks like you deducted it. That's what I think is going on here!
I think this could be possible, he got the bulk of the cash paid and now he will make a simple small claim that there was a over site on his part and he's entitled to the rest. Might seem unreasonable but he probably thinks he's being treated the same way being charged £50 an hour.If he's bright enough he could have a case but I doubt he could be bothered. If there's a doubt in the Op's mind I'd offer him £500 to put it to bed.
IN51GHT said:
It was a simple invoice stating an amount due, the "customer deduction" then at the bottom the new amount with the deduction applied.
No caveats whatsoever.
Is it definitely an invoice and not a receipt?No caveats whatsoever.
Is it hand written or printed? i.e. is there any way he could claim that you've amended it yourself?
Is he VAT registered?
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