What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Iowa
In September we had a contractor mudjack (pump grout under our driveway because it had washed away) our driveway for fear it would collapse. The estimate was vague and only stated a minimum charge of $350 plus time ($115/hr) and materials ($65/ton) due to the unknown scope of the voids. We were verbally told it would probably be a 3-4 hour job. When I received the bill it was for $1,115 which included 8 hrs of labor and 3 tons of grout. My husband had taken the day off to "supervise" the work. They were on my property less than 6 hours. We telephoned the person who had done the estimate and we agreed that 6 hours and 3 tons of grout was fair. He then said he would go to the owner with this proposal. A few days later I received a letter with a revised bill. The charge had been lowered to $991.25 which included 6 hours of labor, 3.75 tons of grout (an additional .75 tons from the original bill) and .5 hr for travel time. I responded to their letter with one of my own disputing the additional .75 ton of grout and the .5 hr travel time (which was not on the estimate). I wrote a check for $885.00 which was their charge of $991.25 minus the additional grout and travel time. Next I received a letter which included a new bill for $1,500! I received a phone call from a representative of the company who said that we owed the full amount of the new bill. After arguing with him for half an hour, I offered to pay the travel time to settle the situation but that I would not pay for grout that was no on the original bill. He said he would take it to the owner for approval. I just received a phone call today saying my proposal was rejected and they want the original $1,115. My question is, am I legally obligated to pay the original bill when they had already sent me an adjusted bill for less? Thank you!
In September we had a contractor mudjack (pump grout under our driveway because it had washed away) our driveway for fear it would collapse. The estimate was vague and only stated a minimum charge of $350 plus time ($115/hr) and materials ($65/ton) due to the unknown scope of the voids. We were verbally told it would probably be a 3-4 hour job. When I received the bill it was for $1,115 which included 8 hrs of labor and 3 tons of grout. My husband had taken the day off to "supervise" the work. They were on my property less than 6 hours. We telephoned the person who had done the estimate and we agreed that 6 hours and 3 tons of grout was fair. He then said he would go to the owner with this proposal. A few days later I received a letter with a revised bill. The charge had been lowered to $991.25 which included 6 hours of labor, 3.75 tons of grout (an additional .75 tons from the original bill) and .5 hr for travel time. I responded to their letter with one of my own disputing the additional .75 ton of grout and the .5 hr travel time (which was not on the estimate). I wrote a check for $885.00 which was their charge of $991.25 minus the additional grout and travel time. Next I received a letter which included a new bill for $1,500! I received a phone call from a representative of the company who said that we owed the full amount of the new bill. After arguing with him for half an hour, I offered to pay the travel time to settle the situation but that I would not pay for grout that was no on the original bill. He said he would take it to the owner for approval. I just received a phone call today saying my proposal was rejected and they want the original $1,115. My question is, am I legally obligated to pay the original bill when they had already sent me an adjusted bill for less? Thank you!