A charge to provide an insurance repair estimate?

[bstreep]

OK, a few weeks ago we had an insurance claim. I also contacted a couple of yards to prepare an estimate for repairing the boat. We got the settlement from the insurance company, and we are in the process of having the boat repaired.

This week I received, via email, a bill from one of those yards - the one I didn't use for repair work. It was for 3 hours work to prepare the estimate. Never was there a mention of this during any of our conversations or correspondence.

Am I obligated to pay the bill & should I pay it?

TIA

[AnchorageGuy]

Never heard of that one but if you did not agree or authorize the charge for the estimate you are not obligated to pay. I am in Clear Lake so would you mind telling us who charged you? There are only a few yards here on the Lake. If there was a charge they should have collected the money before giving you the estimate. I would tell them, nice try.

[johneri1]

Nope. No signiture, no obligation. Plus, you have lots of help if they get nasty--just tell them you are filing a complaint with (fill in the blank)--whoever licenses the yard, the BBB, and especially the state Insurance Commission since it was an insurance estimate.

[bstreep]

The yard in question is South Texas Yacht Services at Watergate. They also own Seabrook Shipyard. These are pretty much the 2 biggest ones in the Clear Lake area.

[AnchorageGuy]

Thanks Bill for the info. I will pass it along. But I sure would not pay them, but that is ultimately your decision.

[Chief Engineer]

Once again another example of a yard ripoff.

An estimate is just that.

To charge for an estimate is ridiculous....you are TRYING to get the job.

[David M]

If you did not sign anything then they cannot hold you to it.

[Tellie]

I'm tellin you, the pirates aren't out there, they're here amoung us.

[AnchorageGuy]

It is not at all unusual for a company to charge for an estimate, especially an insurance estimate since they expect to not get the job. BUT, they should and usually do tell you up front that there is a charge. Dealing with any yard you need to be careful and get all charges up front and in writing. If they won't do that then move on.

[Tellie]

I gave out job estimates for years, never expected to get paid for one of them and never did, most took a heck of alot longer than three hours to prepare. If I told my customers I was going to charge for it Ida been out of business in a minute. I don't see why a boat yard should be any different from any other contractor. The yards mark up plenty as it is. I'm kinda tired of treating the marine industry as prima donnas. We need an owners union.