I'll try to make this long story short:cool:

Once upon a time...
We needed to get our perimeter drains replaced. Our basement flooded two rainy seasons in a row.
So we asked around and on the advice of a friend we had a contractor come out to give us a quote.
His quote was between 7 and 8 thousand dollars.
My husband was doing all the talking with this fellow... so my husband says "which is it, 7 or 8?"
He looks around some more... job includes drainage on all 4 sides of the house which means they will have to rip up my garage, do the drains and then replace the concrete in the garage.
The guy finally says, around 8 thousand, but no more than 10 :eek:
Uhg. 10 thousand dollars!
So we talk over this quote and since he came with the recommendation from a friend we decide to go for it.
I called and asked this guy to put his quote in writing. He said he couldn't do that since problems could arise that may cost extra. I said that he could discuss those problems with us as they arise and we'll figure it out then.
He refuses to put a quote in writing.
Oh right... long story short... sorry.
My husband over rules and we get this guy to do the work. He was supposed to give us daily updates (he didn't)
My husband asked him at least 3 times if we were still "on budget". He kept saying "yes, still on budget".
The job ended up being at least half of what we thought it would be. He only had to do 2 sides of the house and NOT rip up our garage. Woohoo!
Once the job was done he came over with an envelope. The bill.
He actually said "I think you'll be happy with this" when he handed it to my husband.
We waited for him to leave saying we would contact him soon about payment before we opened the envelope.
Imagine our shock when the bill was for $13,000.00! :eek:
Yes. 13 thousand when the (verbal.. uhg) quote was for "no more than 10" and the job ended up being half of what the quote was for!

I'm rambling... again sorry.
We refused to pay the extra money. We gave him a cheque for 10 thousand, because that is what we agreed to.
We have never missed a bill payment and never disputed a bill before. Never.
Now this $3000.00 is showing up on our credit report as a debt owed.
The credit company (transunion) says we have to pay or sue.

Questions after all that are... can he even have this false debt applied to our credit report when there are no contracts saying we owed him anything?
We never signed anything.
And who can we contact, short of a lawyer (can't afford to sue) to make this go away?

Thanks for your time:)

p.s. I'm in B.C on the Wet Coast if that makes a difference... legally.
TIA:)

Let me see, no written estimate, no agreed to price in writing, you are going to have to sue him or pay him to get his off. You can try and dispute it, but it sounds like you already have written them and informed the credit agency this debt is not owed.

First he got a collection agency after us. I spoke to the lady and explained the situation... she said she would never call back.

Then another agency phoned us. He tried the threats of litigation and informed me how stressful it could be and how much it may cost.
Almost like he was worried about me:rolleyes:
I said "go ahead and sue", I'll not pay another penny to that guy.
We never heard from him again either.
Then two years later we went to renew our mortgage and low and behold there was an error on our credit report.
I have been told that nothing can be put on your credit report without a signed contract.
Seems it's supposed to work both ways.
I thought that was a little protection for us.
Seems I thought wrong:(

I won't pay, and yet I can't really afford a lawyer to sue.
So this is what the place between the rock and the hard place feels like. Uhg.

The bank renewed our mortgage for us because we have never missed a payment on anything... ever.
We have always been so proud of that little fact.
Now it's all for nothing.
Makes me sad that any azz can say you owe him money and hurt your credit even though he's never had to show proof of money owed.

Sorry, I seem to have a little pent up anger about this.
Thanks for the shoulder:)