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My contractor will not give me a breakdown of costs unless I meet with him

My swimming pool contractor presented me with a bill for $11,000 for swimming pool excavation (in addition to the contract that pegs $30,000 for excavation). I was very surprised so I asked him for billing details, like how many hours, how many employees, how many hours using breaker bar on bobcat, how many hours using bucket, etc. He said he would only answer these questions if I had a meeting with him (I can't tell if he really means that he will only answer these questions verbally and will not put answers in writing--maybe, I can't tell). Can he not detail cost categories when requested? Do I have a right to get an answer to my questions in writing? Thank you.

1 reply

Mar 5, 2020

It's unclear whether the bill for $11K for excavation was an extra in addition to the coverall contract price. By law, the contractor must have you sign a written change order for extra work BEFORE they do the extra work. If the $11K was part of the contract price, you don't have the right to require a contractor to give you these types of billing details on a fixed price contract. As long as the contractor is within the contract price they don't have to give you any additional information (unless you're in a lawsuit and your attorney makes a formal discovery request).

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