Kitchen Fitting

Would my Gas Fitter have charged me VAT in his price?

Anonymous user 03/03/2024 - 3.04 PM

Firstly I am not doubting he has charged me VAT and the question actually isnt relating to the Gas fitters ethics. He is on holiday and I need to ask him the question. The reason I am asking it is, we had a quote for a kitchen fit from an ex employer of a family member. He wanted payment in cash, which to be fair is exactly how I would have paid him. What he does with it is his concern as I realise that businesses sometimes need cashflow and it is very hard to prove someone isn't declaring work correctly. However there was a terrible fallout after the first day and it was actually over the gas fitter as he came out, on spec, to fit my new cooker, was very good and courteous, explaining how my cooker worked to me etc. My fitter had worked the grand sum of 4 hours, or should I say his son had and then left for the day at 2pm, he arrived after 10am and actually took a break in his van! Although the job was payment on completion, he asked me if I could get the gas mans money upfront and I did. The gas man quoted £75 and I gave the fitter £80 and told him to give the gasman the £80 inclusive of a tip. The fitter left at 2pm, the gas fitter was there until 3pm and wasnt paid. I advised the gas fitter I had paid the extra to the kitchen fitter and it was arranged that he would come to collect the money the next morning. The kitchen fitter rang in sick the next morning and made the gas fitter travel to him, some 8 miles away to get his money and yes you have guessed it, never gave him the tip, even though he told the kitchen fitter that he knew I had given him tip!! on confrontation the Kitchen fitter told me 'yes he had asked for it, but the agreement was for £75 and he would take the extra £5 off my bill!! I ended the verbal contract there and then. low and behold, he sent me an invoice for £420 for 4 hours work! this is broken down as 2 people at £130 labour. £75 gas fitter and £15 to source the gas fitter, ring gas safe to check current status and ring gas safe to ensure the gas safe engineer has completed the certificate!!!! on top of this is a total VAT cost which on working out, he has charged me VAT on the gas fitters VAT, is this right? Any advise would be great and sorry for the long question.