What to do if we are building a house and needed estimates for a septic but are now being charged $600?

Get Legal Help Today

Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

What to do if we are building a house and needed estimates for a septic but are now being charged $600?

We got 3 estimates. However, 1 business decided to draw up plans and send them into the inspector. I in turn he billed us $600. He says that’s what he needed to do to get us an estimate. If we had known he was doing this we would have told him no. The other 2 buisnesses didn’t charge us a thing for an estimate and didn’t have to draw up anything. Do we have to pay the $600?

Asked on October 20, 2015 under Real Estate Law, Indiana

Answers:

SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 8 years ago | Contributor

Unless they told you that they would charge you for the estimate or that they had to draw up plans and send them to the inspector, you would not have to pay there was no enforceable contract or agreement for you to pay for the plans, estimate, etc. because there was no "meeting of the minds," or agreement between you as to what was to be done and charged. An enforceable contract or agreement requires that the two parties be basically on the same page. When they're not, and one party unilaterally on its own without authorization incurs expenses or does work without the authorization or consent of the other party, the first party has to absorb its own costs. 
That's the law. Practically, you may need to be comfortable dealing with a lawsuit and appearing in court if you're going to refuse to pay, because it is almost impossible to stop someone from filing a lawsuit if they think you owe them money therefore, that business may choose to try and sue you for the money, even though, based on what you write, they do not appear to have grounds to force you to pay.


IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.

Get Legal Help Today

Find the right lawyer for your legal issue.

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption