Legal Question in Consumer Law in Texas

Additional Billing

Had a contained house fire, brought in a company for clean up, rewiring, repainting, etc, was given a figure for cost, agreed, 30 days out payed 1/2 up front & 1/2 at final, at which time I put final payment on memo line of check. Now I am being billed for additional wiring work that there was no change order signed on, the insurance company has sent me the money to pay it, but since there was no change order for this work I would rather send the money back to the insurance co than pay for work that I don't know was done. Do I have to pay this company for this work they are claiming was done, even though there was no change order written up or signed by me to approve additional work other than the original billing, except for 1 other work order I signed and approved for new flooring to be put in


Asked on 9/15/03, 8:14 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Peter Bradie Bradie, Bradie & Bradie

Re: Additional Billing

If you don't pay it, the contractor can put a lien on your property and force a sale. The work was done, and the property benefited from it. The insurance company isn't usually generous, so they can see the wisdom in paying the bill.

You are legally correct in that you shouldn't be charged for work that wasn't ordered. Of course you may be legally correct in insisting on the right of way from a speeding 18-wheeler that's about to T-bone you.

Your choice.

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Answered on 9/16/03, 10:29 am


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