Legal Question in Civil Litigation in California
building contractor's bill
The contractor who built my home (on a time and materials basis) was asked to come back and install two french doors for which he presented me with a bill for $4,500. In addition to being rediculously excessive for the amount of time billed, the bill includes $50.00 for a tank of gas, $50.00 for the contractor's cellular phone, and $50.00 for the bookkeeper to prepare the one page bill. He also gave himself and his crew rate hikes without prior notice to us. Are these charges allowable without a contract that allows for these charges. When the contractor built our house, he billed for his cellular phone and the bookkeeper (not gas) and rolled over and paid for it because he's our neighbor's best friend. Are there any statutory or case law prohibitions on any of these charges?
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: building contractor's bill
The best thing you can do is read your contract. If it allows for these charges, you may be stuck.