Lost estimate + Me=Tgals avatar

[packrat]

If you misplace an estimate and the bill comes in higher than you know the estimate was for, you''re pretty much screwed right?

We had gutters put on, with the leaf guard stuff..the bill came and it was $400 more than what the estimate was. I''ve torn the house apart, looking for the estimate. I either threw it away w/the brochure last week or it''s in a bag of papers to burn at my parents. I called mom and told her not to burn any of it yet so I can go thru it.

I know how it happened too-I had a bunch of paperwork to file and dad was over last week to install a new scanner/printer. He raised such a ruckus about the paperwork (even tho it was a big pile, I knew where everything was-I keep an organized mess haha) I thought I''d go ahead and file it later that day so he''d shut the bloody heck up. I remember seeing the brochure for the gutters, but I thought the estimate was already out of it-didn''t look, just put in either the throw away pile or the burn pile w/other things that have our name/address/account numbers and such on them. ARGH.

I thought for a second I put it in a *safe spot* so I wouldn''t lose it, but I can''t find that stupid safe spot.

We''re SOL aren''t we?

 

[Steel]

Don''t feel too bad an estimate is not a final invoice and even if you could lay your hot little hands on it unless it stated it was a fixed contract price to which both parties had contracted then it would still not be worth the paper it was printed on.

Have you tried to negotiate with the handyman/contractor. Most bills are negotiable for easy and stress free early settlement (on their part, I mean). Don''t forget to pay with a crossed cheque and or get a receipt.

 

[meresal]

I lost the estimate for our wedding bands, and when we got the final price it was over $600 more than our quote. I just knew it... but I spent 2 weeks trying to find that stupid paper that DH had written the amounts on.

I had gotten the false "final price" email from a different associate, so I wrote another one to our personal sales associate and she assured me, that the other lady had not factored in our discount, and everything was made everything right. I stressed for almost 2 full weeks about losing the quote, and ended up working out in the end anyway.

I know housing is a bit different than jewelry, but have you thought about just calling and telling them that you were quoted less, and asking for proof of why it came out higher? You never know, they may be honest.

 

[packrat]

Thanks guys! I''m going to have JD call him and ask him about it. He''s the one who has been dealing w/him, calling to have him come, etc. Mom is bringing the papers in today for me to go thru and then we''ll just have to go from there. The final bill doesn''t have anything itemized, just our name and a final cost. Dad said maybe he sent us the wrong bill, since that''s all that''s on it. Who knows. I guess we''ll find out in the next couple days! What I''m starting to wonder, is if even tho JD told him we wanted the gutter guard stuff, if the estimate didn''t include it.

 

[Steel]

Perhaps it is the wrong bill, or perhaps he will reduce it upon your queries.

If you don''t ask you will never know and you certainly won''t get so well done for asking the question. Good luck.