Legal Question in Consumer Law in Illinois

Written authorizations for service

If an authorization is not signed on a job proposal and the work is done anyway because the client said ''I THINK I MAY have the treatment and will PROBABLY pay in advance.'', is the client obligated to pay for the services? The owner of the company even said ''If you want to hire me for the job, just check the services you want, sign the authorization and mail back the signed white copy.'' This was never done. I am now being threatened with a lawsuit over $65 of unauthorized service PLUS the lawyer fees PLUS court fees PLUS the charges for the remainder of the all treatments quoted on proposal.


Asked on 5/06/08, 1:50 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Thomas Moens Moens Law Offices, Chartered

Re: Written authorizations for service

If you did not sign anything, you certainly are not liable for attorneys fees nor for any treatments which have not yet been done. There may be some circumstances wherein you would be responsible for treatments which were already done. For example, if you were standing there watching them do these treatments and you did nothing to stop them, you would probably be responsible for the treatment that was done.

The only way you would be liable for court costs is if this matter went to court and you lost, you MAY have to pay the contractor's court filing fees. In Rock Island County, this fee is $91 plus service fee to the Sheriff, which can vary, but is usually less than $50. Why someone would pay in excess of $100 to MAYBE get $65 back is beyond me, but it happens.

If you are in or near the Quad City area, I would be happy to assist you with this, just because it annoys me when people bully others like this.

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Answered on 5/06/08, 4:50 pm


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