Who is responsible to pay the extra?

Question

My partner and his brother have just done a job for someone through insurance. There was a lot of burnt conifers and gardening work to be done.

He gave them an estimate for ex amount of pounds and then was told by the owner of the house that there was extra work to be done which so called was advised by the insurance company. Now that means the original estimate is higher but she is now saying that the insurance company will only pay out the original cost which was estimated what does anyone think about this?

Answer 1

the house holder should pay any excess

Answer 2

Agreed, the homeowner should pay the excess.

Answer 3

Seems fairly straightforward that there are two seperate contracts here.

1) The contract between the homeowner and your folks

2) The contract between the homeowner and her insurer.

There is no direct link between the two. If the homeowner asked your folks to do (say) £ 100 worth of work, then she must pay them 100. If the insurer only pays her 50.... tough, she shouldn't have authorised the work until she had confirmation in writing from the insurer.

The insurer may have 'recommended' that she get the extra done (this is often a helpful tip as it is cheaper to get additional work done while the guys are already on-site), but it's down to her to pay it.

If she feels that she was mislead by the insurer then that's between her and the insurer and nothing to do with your partner and brother.

She's either misinformed or trying it on.

Answer 4

Then the homeowner or the person who hired them is responsible for the difference.  

Answer 5

The owner is pulling a fast one.

Answer 6

you probably should have approved it through the insurance first, but since they didn't, i would say the customer is responsible. Make sure you made them sign the estimate in the beginning.

Answer 7

The extra work wages will come from the owner..don't do any work until you see the money up front....This is how Insurance Companys scam people....the contractor does the work and then they don't pay...get paid from the owner and let them squabble with their Ins.Co.....