Home Improvement Contractor - Licensed Contractors

Payment Dispute between Sub-Contractor and Roofing Contractor?

How do i get payment from a roofing contractor if they dispute the the invoice? The problems is that i received an order for an item of works on the Wednesday in which the value would of meant that i lost money. So i quoted a new rate and discussed this with the roofers CM and agreed to carry out the works. I didn't receive a new order because the roofing contractors were at a conference on the Thursday, was hungover on the Friday and the job started on the Saturday. The CM now has no recollection of any coversation and says he never received a revised quotation and will only pay the original order. The value is nothing spectacluar but the principle of the matter is eating away at me. Is there anything i can do? such as adjudication or arbitration? A valuable lesson has been learnt. Thanks for your time.

Public Comments

1. Verbal agreement is legal but proving it leaves a lot of unanswered questions! Your best course of action is move on and let it be a lesson! NEVER perform work regarding a work order change until you have it in writing and signed by someone within the comapny who has authority to do so! Pursuing litigation is not the answer unless you are incurring substantial losses and even then, not highly recommended without a written contract! Litigation is not cheap and there are no guarantees of a recovery! Actually two lessons should be recognized here! One, everything in WRITING, secondly, never trust anyone when it comes to business!
2. In hindsight, always best to get it in writing. Either they genuinely didnt recall the conversation, in which case try and reason with them that what you want for the job is fair, or accept that they are trying to con you and try and get the money back on another job, where their backs are up against the wall and need your services. Failing that youre going to have learn by your mistake and forget about it. Hard going I know, but sometimes in business you have to learn the hard way. Good luck whatever.
3. Ensure that you work for them again having made your peace with them first. Then you can increase your price on a subsequent contract and get your money back that way. Be sure to get written approval of any variations and agreement to pay add on work. You have obviously learnt from this so carry on and revise you pricing systems now and the problem should not happen again. I have run my own home improvements business for a few years and by sticking to the guideline of everything in writing I have never had a bad payment situation. Best of luck.
4. You will almost certinly piss off the business by chasing this up. A legal route would cost you more than the difference. I would keep the CM and business happy then when you get more work charge a 'secret' premium as they are untrustworthy. Charge this premium for the remainder of the time that you deal with them.