Consument, Verzekering, Schade
Particulier
Extra costs for travel in case of insulation project?
I took part in the Energieloket organized in the commune as part of house insulation. I decided to insulate the walls (spouwmuurisolatie) and insulate the R.(hereinafter ITB) was to deal with this project. Salesman came to my house and checked posibilities and after that sent me a proposal contract - separately for roof and wall insulation. I accepted the offer and then received an e-mail with a proposed date and time for the project. I agreed to the proposal and an appointment was scheduled for September 28, 2023 - arrival time 13:00 - 15:00 (roof insulation) - I will omit the wall insulation here because it happened on a different day and everything went well. A team of ITB specialists arrived around 12:15 and after the "inspection", they concluded that I was not ready enough for them to start work - I agreed with them because we agreed that they should arrive at least at 13:00 - so I knew that I had time to prepare the windows and the floor (covering them from the splashing foam) - I said that I need about 30 - 45 minutes to finish the preparations and they can start work (as previously agreed). ITB specialists said that they had another project to complete on the same day, so they would go there and return in about 2 up to 4 hours. I agreed to this as I was at home all day anyway. The specialists arrived around 19:00 ... on the same day and completed the project. At the beginning of the next week, I received an e-mail from ITB with an invoice increased from the one in the accepted offer by an additional EUR 175 for additional transport costs (as the specialists had to come twice). I do not agree with the additional costs as the company did not keep their word regarding the arrival time.
I exchanged e-mails with ITB about this, but they said that they should charge me up to EUR 350 as they were already at my place on August 13, 2023, sending an e-mail with a proposal to carry out a project that I had not seen before - I also did not agree to carry out the project at that time - neither in writing / e-mail or by phone - because I was abroad at that time and could not use the telephone. ITB also stated that they can arrive earlier than the agreed time and if I am not prepared before the time specified in the e-mail, it is my fault and I have to pay additional costs. I completely disagree with this. I asked to send an invoice that was correct in my opinion and did not include additional costs, or at least to send two invoices - one for the completed project and the other for additional costs, so I can pay for the work done and take legal steps for extra costs, but I did not receive any response on this matter anymore. The invoice those not include specified costs information. As the payment deadline for the invoice is 10 days (sent on October 3, 2023), I have time to pay by October 13, 2023 - for the invoice with which I do not agree. I do not feel guilty for thier lack of competences and wrongly planned arrival time. I would like to ask whether in such a situation I have to pay additional costs if ITB did not meet the specified deadline? Can I take any legal steps to not to pay extra costs (175 euro is not a small amount for me but the case is that I really do not find myself done anything wrong). In case that there are some steps, is there any chance that ITB will be resposible for costs that I have to take for legal advices / attorney fee / court expanses?
I exchanged e-mails with ITB about this, but they said that they should charge me up to EUR 350 as they were already at my place on August 13, 2023, sending an e-mail with a proposal to carry out a project that I had not seen before - I also did not agree to carry out the project at that time - neither in writing / e-mail or by phone - because I was abroad at that time and could not use the telephone. ITB also stated that they can arrive earlier than the agreed time and if I am not prepared before the time specified in the e-mail, it is my fault and I have to pay additional costs. I completely disagree with this. I asked to send an invoice that was correct in my opinion and did not include additional costs, or at least to send two invoices - one for the completed project and the other for additional costs, so I can pay for the work done and take legal steps for extra costs, but I did not receive any response on this matter anymore. The invoice those not include specified costs information. As the payment deadline for the invoice is 10 days (sent on October 3, 2023), I have time to pay by October 13, 2023 - for the invoice with which I do not agree. I do not feel guilty for thier lack of competences and wrongly planned arrival time. I would like to ask whether in such a situation I have to pay additional costs if ITB did not meet the specified deadline? Can I take any legal steps to not to pay extra costs (175 euro is not a small amount for me but the case is that I really do not find myself done anything wrong). In case that there are some steps, is there any chance that ITB will be resposible for costs that I have to take for legal advices / attorney fee / court expanses?