After an Electrician completed a job in our home, we received an invoice for double the amount. He quoted us 1.5-2 hrs for the job. I agreed to this price verbally over the phone. He did not provide a written quotation, nor did we sign a quotation.

The said electrician called my wife later that day to say he would need to bring a helper. Shortly thereafter, we received the invoice billing us for double the time (5 hours when he was there for half that time with a helper). He did not indicate to my wife that he would be charging us for the second 'helper'. By the way, this helper only pulled wires yet we were charged a full time electrician's wage of $75/hr for both of them. The total bill was just over $500 to relocate one light switch to the adjacent wall and move a fireplace fan switch just below the light switch.

Shocked by the invoice, I called him to make arrangements to pay. Having a graphic design and website development business, I suggested trading for services. He said he was interested, would speak with his brother and get back to me. All this took place in August of 2010. I didn't hear from him again until the summer of 2011 and that was by way of another invoice in our door with a 'past due' note.

I called him immediately to discuss and said the ball was last left in his court. Not only that, I expressed my dissatisfaction with bill for double the amount we agreed upon and that I did not approve bringing on another full-time electrician. I expressed also that I felt he took advantage of the fact that I was away at work and just saw this as a cash grab. I've spoken with other tradesmen and electricians who all say his charges are double what they should be. He made some verbal threats on the phone, saying "see what happens" and hung up the phone.

I wrote him a long letter following this conversation explaining why I believed his bill to be unjust, and agreed to pay him the agreed upon fee for one electrician for the total time and his supplies, about $270. I told him I would not be paying him anymore than what was agreed upon verbally. The check that I sent with this letter was cashed.

In my mind cashing the check was an acceptance of the terms of the letter. However, today I received a letter from a collection agency for the remaining $211. Needless to say, I'm outraged. Now my credit is on the line, I can't contact the electrician according to the collection agent, and they want payment in full within 10 days or else, this that and the other. I tried to find a governing body for electricians in BC, considered filing with the BBB, but found nothing for the former, and feel the latter is really not going to get me anywhere. The issue at hand is having to pay this fee and feeling as though I have no recourse. I'm a pretty level person, but the principal of this circumstance leaves me frustrated to say the least.

In summary, I'm wondering if I have any legal ground, and if so, what can I do? How can I deal with the collection agent? Is there not some type of statute of limitations given the time that has passed (2years), his cashing of the check which accompanied the statement that this was what I was offering as final payment, his lack of a signed quotation and submission of an invoice that was double what was agreed upon? I don't have issue with paying him according to our verbal contract, but......

Sorry for the wordiness here, I'm just at a loss. My wife says to pay it, seemingly being the lesser of two evils but I just want to know my rights before rolling over for this guy.

Thank you in advance,
Mike

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Province/Territory relating to question: British Columbia

Already Tried:
phone call, contra (barter), letter, payment