Here's a question for any contractors out there. I'd like your perspective.

I just had a contractor replace my sewer lateral. The damage was to a pipe that ran under the street and turned downward about 17-18 feet below the street, where it connected with an undamaged sewer main. The county insisted that it was my responsibility.

After soliciting several bids, I got a bid for $5,600 to repair the lateral "at the main line." Several days into the job, the contractor said the damage extended deeper than he thought and asked me to sign a revised bid for $12,500, plus or minus 15 percent.

I reluctantly signed, since the hole was in the street and the county wanted me to finish the job now and haggle later. They completed the job several days later.

I just got a statement for $17,600 and I'm flabbergasted.

Can anyone tell me if I have cause to dispute this? I want to be fair about this, but I wonder what's the point of soliciting bids if the final cost can be more than 300 percent of the bid amount. Do you just write a blank check when you work with a contractor? Am I reasonable in thinking I should dispute this?

Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks.

I suggest that you consult an attorney. Anything said here would be meaningless. Its really strange that something in the county street would be you responsibility.

I know of one city that tried to get away with same thing . They said that the property owner was resp. for the sewer line out to the center of the street to the main,( wrong)( WRONG ) the city is respon. For the sewer to just inside the property line of the home owner. The one I know of the clay tile tap was not org. installed right and was full of roots all the time all down the same street, city ended up paying for it plus attor. And court costs . This contractor seems a little high. But when I had a signed contract for a certain amount ,I stayed with that amount ,UNLESS THERE WAS A CHANGE IN THE CONTRACT< I THINK if you figure it out ,WHEN you signed that 2nd contract for a greater amount it ( STATED THE NEW AMOUNT PLUS 15% + or - NO HOME OWNER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CITY SEWER LINE ALL THE WAY TO THE CENTER OF A STREET . AND CITY SHOULD BE RESP> FOR JUST INSIDE OF PERSONS PROPERTY LINE > ID go to next city fathers meeting and bring this up . What about the fees we pay and the taxes that is susposed to pay for things like this . GOOD LUCK AND GOD BLESS:: I HOPE I HAVE HELPED <IF I HAVE RATE MY ANSWER BELOW . F.B.E.

Yes, your line ends normally at your property line,

But if your contact was 12,500 with max of 15 percent you should pay them the max to the contract as paid in full, and if they want, let the courts figure it out.

But your real law suit is with the city or county, to sue them for damages to their water lines.

I'll repeat my first post. Consult an attorney

I agree with both FR. Chuck and Mr HKSTROUD.. you are certainly not obligated beyond the $12,500 plus 15%.. period.

And as HK said... consult an attorney... AND the manager of town/city affairs.. up to and including the mayor of city and/or town board of selectmen.. Please let us know how this goes... good luck.

Thanks for all the input; I welcome any more ideas on this that people have.

I agree; it's crazy that the homeowner has to pay for this. Nobody I've talked to can believe it, but we've been around and around with the city and county on this for a couple years. They have remained adamant that they have zero responsibility here, and that we must pay the full cost -- including repairing the road with premium fill. They required us to make the road better than it was, and they've offered absolutely no help. The sewer problem finally got so bad we had to do something.

I imagine the county has the right to set whatever rules it deems fit regarding this sort of thing, assuming they apply them consistently among all homeowners. But it's also hard to believe it's legitimate for a contractor to bid the job at $5,600, increase it to $12,500, and finally bill the customer $17,600. Don't contractors' bids mean anything at all? I accepted their bid thinking it was the lowest, while in fact they may have been the highest. I know that stuff happens during excavation, and I was prepared for maybe a 10-20 percent increase, but this seems way beyond reason.

It sounds like everyone's right about seeing an attorney; that'll be my next move. I'm not sure if my dispute is with the contractor or the county/city at this point. But I'll let everyone know how this comes out.

One last comment, well maybe two.

First, if you live in a small community you might consider going outside the community for legal representation.

Last comment is my first comment; Anything said here is going to be pretty much meaning less, including my comments.

Jonathano996 - O.k. here is some other places you can go . But first I want you to know that I fully agree with herold stroud, I was also going to recommend going out of town for a lawyer. Now what you just put in a more recent post . About the condition of the sewers, contact the ( E >P A> ) they have 1-800 numbers in every state , and they love things like this, because they ( the city ) not only makes money from sewer bills and tax money. What do they do with the money, how about the government ,grant money that is susposed to be used to keep the sewers in good upkeep . Id sure like to see what the city has turned in at end of year expendures for sewers over the last few years. GO and get a good lawyer and talk to the ( E.P.A.) But be ready to have a big can of wiorms opened up that the city is NOT GOING TO LIKE!! GOOD LUCK AND GOD BLESS , NOTE :: If you can get other citzens to get in on this with you ,it will be a lot better, most so ones that have came across this same thing with the city. DO KEEP US ALL INFORMED::: F.B.E.

Jonathan0996 - I do think that the contractor is a little out of line , The last contract he had you to sign was 12,500.00 plus 15% ,After job was complete he sent you a statement for ( 17,600.00 ) that would be about a 32 or33% increase no wher neer the + or - 15% , IF I missed a bid unless it was due to changes , I like other honest contractors would just eat it and use it as a learing tool. OF corse it could be just a accidental hitting of a kee , so what I would do is talk to him about this, and give him a chanch to explain,or correct the billing, there was only one perfect person on this earth, so I'm giving him the benefit of doubt, GOOD LUCK & GOD BLESS ::: f>b.E.

Dude if you have any money left you should get a lawyer cause you got robbed, my because works for the city in the water and sewer dep and this is bogus, you got robbed!!