Restoration & Refurbishment

Builder asking for more money 6 weeks after paying final bill

Anonymous user 23/02/2024 - 2.52 PM

I need advice regarding a builder that I recently employed. I recently bought a house that needed a refurb - new bathroom suite, plastering, electrical work, joinery, wood burner fitted etc. A builder was recommended to me and we employed him because he, and his 'team', could do everything we needed. I didn't get a written quote - only a verbal estimate (yes, stupid, I know). I paid over what was originally verbally quoted as we had extra work done along the way (but even then ended up paying more for the extra work than what was originally quoted). At the end of every week (when he wanted paying for that week), he would show me his book with the costs to date and I would transfer the money into his account by direct bank transfer. For the majority of materials, we paid the suppliers directly as and when they were needed - the builder would say 'you need to ring / visit XXX company to pay for XXX' which I did or ‘I need XYZ’ and I would go out and buy it. When all the work was finished, we stood in the kitchen with his 'little book' and went through all the costs outstanding (labour and materials) and I paid this final bill the same day. Now, 7 weeks after paying this final bill he has turned up with a bill from one of his suppliers and is asking for £225 for electrical wire etc that he says he didn't originally charge us for or tell us about. I am refusing to pay this as 1) how do I know that this additional material has even been used in my house and 2) I assumed that, when paying the final bill 7 weeks ago, that it was that - final and that any other materials used were included in the final payment. Surely, it is his fault if he has missed this bill? When I explained this to him he said that he would go home and get his ‘little book’ – but how do I know that he hasn’t added any additional entries in his ‘little book’? I know it is only £225 but I feel like he took advantage with the costs along the way and this is just the icing on the cake. Can anyone advise if I am within my rights not to pay? Thanks in anticipation!