Payment dispute, opinions needed

I assume "Settle by Award" is not actually related to anything he produces and some sort of legal way of making me pay?

Party Wall Surveyors are a bunch of cowboys, apparently you can do some short course and are then eligible to do these surveys.

I have asked him to give me a breakdown of any work he has done and proof of it.
His last reply was I'll get back to you.

He didnt get access to the property, so he hasnt done any surveying.
All he has done is make a couple calls and send a few emails chasing.
 
It really depends on the terms of the appointment, if the fees agreed were as a lump sum payment and not based on hours I would guess it wouldn't be in his interest to give a breakdown of the hours even if he had completed the work... On the other hand, as someone that was self employed, taking on a new client/job eats up a fair amount of time before starting the actual work so he may feel half of the fee is justified.
Can't see this going any other way than small claims...
Write a cheque and letter stating your are willing to pay this amount, then you have some proof that you have attempted to settle with a fair offer should it go to the small claims
 
Haggisman said:
Ask him for a breakdown of how exactly he's come to that amount?

As you say, he should be compensated for the missed appointment, but I can't see that coming to half the total quote when he hasn't actually done any work?!

Edit: how did he "tell" you to "go ahead with it anyway"? If it's in a provable format, e.g. a letter or email etc., then I wonder if that would contravene the code of conduct of any professional body the surveyor is a member of. Would be shame for him to lose his professional status... ;)
Click to expand...

That was in the last email along with his invoice. I don't think there is anything professional about these surveyors let alone a governing body.
 
Pestilence said:
To be honest I'd generally take a 50% deposit on any contract before work begins, which means I still recuperate funds for wasted time if something outside of my control forces the work to not go ahead. I'm not a surveyor, though, so I don't know how he has come to that figure.

Did you sign a contract with him when taking him on board for the work? He should really be providing that, with the stipulation of a percentage or minimum fee regardless of whether the work goes ahead. Without that, he can huff and puff all he likes but he can't enforce anything without providing you with a breakdown of his incurred costs so far.
Click to expand...

Only thing I signed was a letter appointing him as a surveyor to act on my behalf. He seems to have gone AWOL, probably fabricating some extensive cost breakdown, that will probably total in the thousands if he actually completed the job.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom