How should I handle this attempted rip off? My house has a stainless steel
chimney. In one of the recent windstorms the cap that keeps out rain and critters was damaged and needed replacement. I had a company come out to inspect it for which I paid $99 simply for the inspection. I told him to go ahead and order the cap. Yesterday they called and said they had the cap and wanted to schedule installation. They also said that they accepted only credit cards and cash. I asked what the total would be and they quoted a ridiculous figure of $2300. I said no way. They said they had sent me a quote which I said I never received. I have offered to pay them their cost to purchase the cap if they showed me an invoice for their cost but that I would not do business with them.
One of the reasons I feel they were trying to rip me off initially was that when I protested the original price, they immediately dropped it to $1000 which tells me the original price was a very intentional rip off.
Should I reimburse them for their cost to purchase the cap or just tell them to take a walk?
22 Replies
J
jdkhokie
2y
anything I would tell them to kiss off and buy the cap from someone else. I believe the statute of frauds say it has to be in writing if more than $500. You should also not have to pay someone for an estimate either.
(In response to this post by Galenahokie)
If the estimate includes coming to your property and going up on the roof,
I can see there being some sort of minimum "Visit Fee". Plumbers do it all the time.
(In response to this post by jdkhokie)
H
HOKIERIT
2y
(In response to this post by Late 80s Hokie)
2y
you have a very high and steep roof, or there is some other damage (concrete/brick) repair in addition to the cap.
Either way, that price is no where close.
(In response to this post by Galenahokie)
E
EDGEMAN
2y
It's one thing to make a profit, but when they are massively trying to screw you, just say no!
Find another company. Frankly I would find a company that manufactures those caps and order it yourself. You can decide if you want to attempt to replace it, or find a different company to do the install.
(In response to this post by Galenahokie)
2y
rented scaffolding, heaved the sum***** up there, and precariously weaseled it in place. Our Mother stood in the window crying cause she thought we were both going to die. We made her go get us some lunch just to get her out of there. Damn thing weighed a ton.
(In response to this post by EDGEMAN)
2y
(In response to this post by Galenahokie)
2y
(In response to this post by Galenahokie)
2y
i am not on the roof alot- the tree trimmer guy put it up for me for some fee- but it wasn't 2000... he brought a bucket truck- and trimmed trees and did that- and it was like 800 maybe ?
** Edited by bigbadbird at 4/16/2024, 9:22:39 AM
(In response to this post by Galenahokie)
2y
....you told them to order the cap without asking the price at that time?
(In response to this post by Galenahokie)
2y
it needed to be tightened
(In response to this post by vthokieq)
2y
(In response to this post by Galenahokie)
