By Paul Bianchina
Q: I had a contractor give me a quote of $2,850 to remove an old oil tank. When they were done, they had ruined my back yard, and their bill was more than $11,000. I feel victimized, but don't know where to turn. Thanks. -Roger A., via e-mail.
A: Without knowing the specifics of your agreement with the contractor, it's difficult to imagine how they went from $2,800 to $11,000. However, generically here are my suggestions:
If you are disputing your bill, you should pay only those parts of it that you're certain are legitimate, and ask the contractor for a full accounting of all charges. Do not pay for anything you are not certain that you owe.
If the charges are incorrect and the contractor cannot or will not provide you with a breakdown, contact the Construction Contractor's board and file a complaint. They will assist you with arbitration and negotiating some type of resolution. The same holds true if you feel the charges are valid but the contractor damaged your property and won't reimburse you. The Department of Environmental Quality licenses tank removal companies, so you can also contact them for assistance with your complaints against this contractor.
Assuming you had a written contract with this contractor - you certainly should have, and you're in a much tougher position if you didn't - and the contractor is in clear and fraudulent violation of it, you probably have valid grounds for a lawsuit. If the above attempts at reaching an agreement don't work, contact your attorney as soon as possible.
Copyright 2004-2006 Inman News.
. Questions of a Do It Yourself nature should be submitted our "