I hired a moving company to move us and later go in and clean the house afterward. The move is not in dispute, but the hours billed for what I consider excessive cleaning, is.
The house was an 1,800 square foot home in average condition. It needed cleaned and I was quoted $375 for vacuum, dust, sweep, mop, wipe counters, wipe walls, wipe appliances.
We were then told it could not be done in the first day because of the amount of work required and that they would need a second day. We knew they would need a second day, because we were at the house until noon on the first day and no one had shown up. So we agreed to the second day of work to get it done. They of course, took get it done to the abusive level.
And then, it ballooned to five days (two-man crew, $25/hour, 74 hours) and $1,100. And then they tried to run a $1,700 charge for the cleaning for even more extra work done, of which I subsequently stopped the payment. The house wasn't a disaster, it was average to slightly less than average at worse (of course, subjective). They also cleaned the storage shed, calling it a garage even though that was never mentioned, and of course billed for the work done there, including yard work, which was also never agreed to.
Now I received the billing statement from them, and I know of at least one occassion, and according to a few other people we had checking on the house, they couldn't have possibly been working on the house during the time they said they were. This was a business-paid move, and I was the only one authorized to make decision regarding anything with the move, including the cleaning. They never contacted me for any approval, only talked to my wife trying to get her approval.
Also, they billed me for the first day on the morning I was there (eight hours between two of them). But I was still occupying the house I owned (up for sale, by the way), finishing up some late packing with my wife and father-in-law up until almost noon that day. Billed for hours I was there and they were never on the premises. I have a neighbor I'd never talked to before, come over and wish us well too. TO me , this throws into doubt any work done on the house beyond the first morning - how could it be accurate?
I've sent e-mails pointing out the descrepencies without specifically tipping my hand about me and family members, and neighbors being there during supposed hours worked. I have asked for a settlement, paying the $375 for the full day, and half of that for the half day worked.
What do I do now as they seem to not want to settle, are bothering my current employer, etc.?
