What would you do?

[herzy]

Really? What is that?

I'm damned if in principle I should pay him for three hours for something that should have taken one hour, not been completed to acceptable standard, damaged my furniture, and then pay someone else to fix it all.

Reasonable, opinionated, able to justify your opinions, and self-assured.

 

[herzy]

I understand your point here and think Fair Trading probably suggests the tradesperson be given the opportunity to put it right, but I don't think he's up to it and I am not prepared to go through more mess and stress.
Let's say he manages to neatly remove what's on the floor: then he has to sand it all, dust it off, then apply two coats of the correct colour. Why would he then be able to do a neat job when he hasn't in the first place?
I can only see that being the source of considerably more mess and stress. I'd much rather just get someone competent to fix it up.

Yeah, understood - I'd still perhaps explain that to him. Better yet, if he works for a company, explain that to his boss. Or just do as Mr Burns suggests, and cop it... An understandable option, but one I don't think I could take.

 

[Julia]

Yes but hang on, its not just the painting, he has wrecked a piece of her furniture, thats not professional. She is lucky she knew the guy otherwise more expense.
He should take it as a learning experience, not Julia.

Now she has to pay someone to sand that all back to repaint - who is going to pay for that?

Exactly, Tink. Springhill alluded to this earlier when he said if he had done any other sort of damage, eg broken a window he would without question have been expected to rectify that at his own expense, so I think fixing his crappy job is very similar.

Julia, I agree that if someone doesn't have the skills to get the job right the first time, they really don't have the skills to do the more complex repair work in my experience.

Thank you for getting my point, sails.

Have you thought about downloading the Office of Fair Trading complaint form as they have due processes to follow? Here's the link: http://www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au/make-a-complaint.htm

If you have followed their process, it makes it easier should you decide to submit a complaint to them. Not sure if that's any help, but trust you can find a satisfactory solution soon as these things can be rather stressful...

Thanks for the suggestion. For such a small matter, it shouldn't be necessary to involve Fair Trading, I'd hope.

I also take Burnsie's point about the potential for silly little things like this to turn nasty. A friend of mine whose dog was viciously attacked by an out of control, off lead dog, made a complaint to the council. They acted against that dog owner by fining him. My friend came home a few days later to find his dog had been poisoned.

The many constructive and helpful comments are really appreciated, folks. I have a couple of fractured ribs at present, so feeling less than terrific, and can just do without all this stuff.

 

[Julia]

Reasonable, opinionated, able to justify your opinions, and self-assured.

Not actually feeling all that self assured right now, more upset, hence my putting the question up on here

Yeah, understood - I'd still perhaps explain that to him. Better yet, if he works for a company, explain that to his boss. Or just do as Mr Burns suggests, and cop it... An understandable option, but one I don't think I could take.

Yep, that's just how I feel herzy. He works for himself, no company. Wish it were a company.

 

[MrBurns]

Really? What is that?


I understand your point here and think Fair Trading probably suggests the tradesperson be given the opportunity to put it right, but I don't think he's up to it and I am not prepared to go through more mess and stress.
Let's say he manages to neatly remove what's on the floor: then he has to sand it all, dust it off, then apply two coats of the correct colour. Why would he then be able to do a neat job when he hasn't in the first place?
I can only see that being the source of considerably more mess and stress. I'd much rather just get someone competent to fix it up.


Yes, as above. But I'm damned if in principle I should pay him for three hours for something that should have taken one hour, not been completed to acceptable standard, damaged my furniture, and then pay someone else to fix it all.

Fair enough then just tell him how much it's going to cost to fix and that's why you're not paying if he complains tell him your lawyer says you should claim the cost of repair if there are any claims for payment from him

 

[namrog]

You took the risk Julia, You knew this guy was a handyman, not a professional painter, so you shouldn't have expected a professional job.
You'll find that most professional painters have a minimum charge, I don't know what it is these days but wouldn't be surprised if it's over $200 .
Point is, you get what you pay for..

 

[MrBurns]

I don't agree with that, this guy held himself out as someone who was capable of doing the job and he wasn't but depending on the type of person he is for practical purposes it might be best to pay him off and move on
Either that or what I suggested above but I wouldn't make enemies for $165 it's just not worth it but in the end it's Julia's call she has dealt with him and has some idea of what he's like

 

[nev25]

He wont do the court thing for $165.
.

Dont bet on it
Ive issued Legal preceding to recover a lot less

Julia its a tricky one as Ive been on both sides of the fence

I would make a phone call to the person concened and explain you are not happy with the job
If you dont get any satifaction then take it to the next step (whatever you decide that is)

I can guarentee he has heard it all before and will just try to write you off as another wingeing customer

 

[namrog]

I don't agree with that, this guy held himself out as someone who was capable of doing the job and he wasn't but depending on the type of person he is for practical purposes it might be best to pay him off and move on
Either that or what I suggested above but I wouldn't make enemies for $165 it's just not worth it but in the end it's Julia's call she has dealt with him and has some idea of what he's like

Do agree that he may have held himself out as someone capable of doing the job, and he may actually believe that there's nothing wrong with the job, but his and julias standards obviously differ, have to say that what's in the picture doesn't look crash hot to me. Also agree that $165 is not worth the grief.

I'd offer him $100 just to go away...

 

[Julia]

You took the risk Julia, You knew this guy was a handyman, not a professional painter, so you shouldn't have expected a professional job.

On the contrary. The other work he has done for me has been quite OK. Apart from that he was recommended by a local organisation which checks out tradesmen for people who don't want to take the risk of just using someone out of the yellow pages or an advertisement. I was told he was "so good at everything he does he has a long waiting list".

I have now sent an email to this organisation describing the situation and asking what they suggest.

You'll find that most professional painters have a minimum charge, I don't know what it is these days but wouldn't be surprised if it's over $200 .
Point is, you get what you pay for..

You are missing the point. I am perfectly happy to pay for a job well done. I am not happy to pay for a mess, then have to pay again for someone else to fix it.

And you are wrong about the minimum charge. The two people I have had to look at fixing it have both said had they done it originally it would have taken about an hour if just one coat such as was done by the handyman, or more properly two hours if sanded, dusted off then apply two coats - $50 per hour - $100 total cost.

Quite obviously, I wish I'd contacted either of these two people in the first place.

 

[Tink]

Sadly, you can get a few tradies that are shonky, I am not saying he is one.

I was thankful I listened to my gut feeling at the start with a couple, not painting, and quickly said no worries, I will get back to you. They insisted, and that made it even more damning. A few weeks later, called someone else and had it fixed, completely different to what this other person had said, and I would have regretted the day if I had taken their advice on both occasions.

I now have these two peoples cards and often hand them out when someone says they are having problems - I tell them they are honest, go for it.

Good luck, Julia, and in hindsight, always go with your gut feeling. You were right from the start.

 

[stewiejp]

Ultimately it's up to you Julia. I think I'd be inclined to pay the bill IF he cleans up the mess. If he's as handy as the organisation states, he should be able to clean it up, ready for the real painter coming next time. Furniture, drips etc.
If the job was done properly I don't think $165 is outrageous, it's probably his minimum charge. (3 hours sounds quite reasonable for a minimum fee). The colour being wrong has nothing to do with the sloppy job either, but I think it's fair he fixes the mess, and gets paid then. OTOH, you could simply refuse to pay him, which could have negative retributions.

 

[MrBurns]

On the contrary. The other work he has done for me has been quite OK. Apart from that he was recommended by a local organisation which checks out tradesmen for people who don't want to take the risk of just using someone out of the yellow pages or an advertisement. I was told he was "so good at everything he does he has a long waiting list".
I have now sent an email to this organisation describing the situation and asking what they suggest.
.

You've used him before?
He was recommended by a local organisation?

That all makes a difference, throw it back at whoever recommended him for starters as you have done and see what happens.

I'm suprised he didn't require payment on the day for such a small job.

 

[moXJO]

Sometimes as a tradie you can have an off day and make a mess of a job, often happens round the holiday period and youre minds not on the job. Or his standards for painting might be a bit sloppy.
If you're not happy with the job then I would simply explain why to him and then tell him how you won't to rectify the problem (tradies egos are easily bruised in some cases, so keep that in mind). Keep any receipts, photos in the unlikely event it goes any further. If he works on the basis of his reputation he should be fine about it and know it wasn't up to standard. If the costs you incur to fix the problem are a bit steep you should be able to claim on his insurance. Any other problems and call dept of fair trading or whatever it was up there in Bris (been to long since I was last there).
As for payment I wouldn't if its not what I wanted or asked for and the fact he made a mess of the furniture.
Talk to him first though and you will get an idea of which direction it will go. If he didn't pay for any material then he will more than likely leave it as a loss.

Two questions though.
Did you supply the wrong color paint to the handyman to use?
Did he provide a written quote and did he specify what he was going to do?

 

[Calliope]

Sadly, you can get a few tradies that are shonky, I am not saying he is one.

I think he was just a handyman. Usually they have no more skills than your average unskilled DIYer. You can't expect that they will do a professional job. However I can't think of any simpler job than painting skirting boards with no carpet involved.

But after they have finished the job, and before they leave the premises, you point out to them any shoddy work and collateral damage.

 

[Julia]

I think he was just a handyman. Usually they have no more skills than your average unskilled DIYer. You can't expect that they will do a professional job. However I can't think of any simpler job than painting skirting boards with no carpet involved.

But after they have finished the job, and before they leave the premises, you point out to them any shoddy work and collateral damage.

That's a very fair point. Unfortunately, because he took so much longer than I'd anticipated, I had to go out and leave him to finish in my absence.

 

[Julia]

Two questions though.
Did you supply the wrong color paint to the handyman to use?

Yes. I thought I covered this above. I took the remains of the original paint in an old tin to the paint shop.
The bloke there suggested it hadn't been properly mixed before being applied the last time because there was a tiny streak of tint residual in the bottom and therefore the new one should have more colour than the actual 'recipe' for that label of colour suggested. I accepted his advice. It was incorrect. I have not blamed the handyman for the colour being wrong. I did, however, comment when I saw it going on at the beginning that it didn't look a good match. He assured me it would be fine when it was dry.

As Tink has said, the one constant throughout this silly saga is that I should have obeyed my own instincts rather than accept advice from those who are supposed to know more.

Did he provide a written quote and did he specify what he was going to do?

No. Again, I totally acknowledge I was remiss in not getting this. Had he said it was going to be three hours' work I'd have gone no further with it because that just isn't reasonable.

As I've said earlier, he has done other jobs where I have had written quote, the work has been OK and the charge quite reasonable. I made the mistake of thinking there was sufficient precedent established of adequate standard and cost to not feel obliged to continue being so formal over such a small and seemingly simple job.

 

[nev25]

That's a very fair point. Unfortunately, because he took so much longer than I'd anticipated, I had to go out and leave him to finish in my absence.

So you really dont know how long it took???

 

[Macquack]

So, what's the point of that comment. The job is unacceptable. What might be worse is irrelevant.

Fair enough.

The bleeding is throughout the whole job. That means the job is not reasonable at all.
If you think it's acceptable, macquack, then clearly you and I have somewhat different standards.

I did not say it was acceptable, I said "apart from" the bleeding of the paint into the grout, it looked reasonable.

On the evidence supplied (one photo), excepting the wrong colour, the only defect looks like the actual bleeding of the paint into the grout. The "cutting in" to the wall looks good, paint looks smooth with high gloss (must be oil based enamel).

Rectification would involve removing the paint from the grout.

Repainting of the skirting would only be needed because of the wrong colour (not the painters fault).

 

[Garpal Gumnut]

Julia,

It may be possible to have Buddha paintings along the skirting board, which may look nice, as the below article demonstrates. This would use up all the tape the handyman wasted.

The Buddha tape painting site is here.

http://www.lisatuchekart.com/1/post/2012/08/new-buddha-tape-painting-tutorial.html

gg