Contacted business to request an art appraisal as part of a move damage claim. Business principal agreed to visit our home to look at the artwork and referenced, verbally, an estimated cost range for the project based on the phone conversation. No quote or estimate in writing was submitted and so no approval of charges was ever given. However I did mention that payment would be contingent on approval of services by the moving company.
Business principal visited the home for an hour and the proceeded to send an invoice for the "work". I pointed out to vendor that work was never approved in writing and business principal proceeded to threaten to take me to court over the $225 invoice (for a one hour visit to scope the project), because according to her, a written, approved estimate, quote or agreement is not necessary in North Carolina to create a biding contract (I guess her deep knowledge of contract law explains the $225 / hour fee ...).
Since I did not want to be taken to court over $225 I agreed to pay, along with recommending to this business that they get into a good practice of getting approvals in writing before starting a project.
This is not a review of the actual work product since none was delivered by this business. So, if you are considering hiring this firm, please request a written, clear estimate that you can review and sign in approval before the work starts. Otherwise you may find yourself in Small Claims. As for the owner of this business, just a word of advice: threatening to take customers to court over a $225 invoice for the delivery of no work is no way to build a reputation in the small, tightly knit Charlotte art community. read more