Charged More Than Agreed?

A question about : Charged More Than Agreed?

Can anyone give advice on this problem please?

2 month ago I went to a local funeral directors office to arrange to have an inscription added to a headstone. We agreed a price of Ј200.66, I paid a Ј50 deposit. Now I have received a bill for Ј467.96 less Ј50 deposit so I owe Ј417.96 according to them. I have my copy of the Order which clearly states Ј200.66.

Now this extra charge is for removal & refix of a headstone, I was not told about this charge, so I have not agreed to it. As far as I am concerned I owe Ј200.66 less Ј50 deposit so I owe Ј150.66.

Will I be in the right to refuse to pay the extra there claim I owe, and so just send them a cheque for Ј150.66 which I agreed and signed for? Can anyone give advice on whether I legally owe this extra amount?

Best answers:

• Unless there is anything on the order stating it will be subject to other charges then I don't think they have a leg to stand on.
  It'll be up to them to prove you owe the money and since you have a signed order without this cost on I don't think they stand any chance of getting it from you.
• Could they not class it as a debt if I dont pay it, and so send debt collectors to my house?
• No, civil dispute so they would need to go to small claims court if they want to enforce it.
  Your signed order for Ј200 would mean they have no chance of winning. Even if they do win then you have a number of weeks to pay before it has any negative consequences.
  They could sell the debt on but these have no more rights to take stuff from your house than the postie. They need court appointed bailiffs to enter your house and this only happens if they go to court.
• ok thanks for clearing that up. I'm thinking just send them a cheque for Ј150.66, and a letter stating that I do not accept that I owe any extra as they did not inform me about it. Had they informed me, I would of cancelled the Order.
• They may hound you to the grave....