General Contractor awarded service contract via home voice recording...

United States
November 1, 2006 4:31am CST
Worked on a contruction remodel bid for local business (invested 3 months research) was awarded contract bid via voice mail, client pleased with proposed price. asked me to pick up security dep and get the project underway, this was on a Thursday, we agreed to meet on Monday to do final signing and secure project window time for me only to find out that she no longer wanted my services. Do oral agreements hold up in State of Calif? Can I bill for my research time, travel time, ect... I have invested well over 60 of my hours in this project only to have her verbal tell me "The bid looks GREAT, can you come out to her town to pick up the Deposit and get this project rolling" on Thursday to "Sorry, this just isnt going to work" on Monday no explanation or anything. Any advice would be helpful. Burnt once again
1 response
meeoww
@meeoww (1174)
• United States
1 Nov 06
That really stinks. I don't remember what I've heard about verbals, but it's been quite a while so it may have changed anyways. But, did you put out any expense for materials AFTER the OK? And did you save the confirming voicemail? Maybe that can be used in court. Seems to me that any research, etc. that you may have done for the bid that GOT you the job was not guaranteed to get you the job in the first place, so it would be considered the "cost of doing business". (you could have done all the work for a proposal but they might have hired someone else, and you would've been out that expense anyways). However, if you had expenses/purchases AFTER the ok, which would not have otherwise been made, then I would think that the client would be responsible for repayment of that amount. Good luck!