Top Quality Maintenance & Construction

Misrepresentation by providing a verbal estimate with promise of written estimate but not providing either. Result is an exorbitant invoice.
***-Owner
Invoice # *** for $1200.00. : I have a 29 sq. ft. bathroom floor that the linoleum was puckering in spots near the tub. I pulled up the linoleum around the tub but couldn't really see anything. I went beneath the house to look for leaks but didn't see any. I knew there was extra flooring beneath the linoleum I pulled up but wasn't sure how bad it would be. I asked around and Top Quality Maintenance was recommended. My initial communication was through email. After a few failed attempts to sync communication and our schedules, the owner arrived. During the initial evaluation, the owner and I discussed the replacing the floor and perhaps the tub as well. He said once his guys got in there to see what was going on he could give me a written estimate for the floor alone and one for floor and tub. At the time, he verbally estimated the job at $2000.00. He said around $500 for the floor, and $1500 for the tub. After the workers came and pulled up the first layer they said some water must've gotten between the layers and caused the patchwork particle board to rot. He said they would have to go deeper to see if there was further damage. He now says he can do everything for $3000.00. I asked why the drastic change from the initial estimate. He said the layers of flooring and to install the tub they'd have to rip out the plaster walls. I hesitantly verbally agreed with the new estimate. The owner said he'd draw up a contract and email it to me. I contacted the owner a couple hours later to tell him I'd changed my mind and asked that he just do the floor. I was told by the owner over the phone that it "wouldn't be much, I'll give you a good discount on it". My mistake is I did not pursue a written estimate. For this company to tear out the flooring, cut a cast iron toilet flange and replace it cost me $1300. The invoice shows $300 for materials and $1000 for labor. They even left a small section without any molding in the bathroom. I spoke with the owner to tell him I thought that was exorbitant. While speaking with him I told him I'd take 50% of the responsibility for not pursuing a written estimate but he had some responsibility as well. Eventually, he too said he assumed responsibility for not providing the written estimate as he said he'd do but it was only because he got so busy. I reminded him that he'd say he'd give a good price on this. He said he is used to dealing with HOAs that they have to tear the walls out due to busted pipes and this amount is nothing to them. I said I am an individual and have a family and this is a lot of money to me. He made the point of how long the job took and the guys working until 9pm the first night to be sure my family had use of the toilet. I rebutted with the night they worked until 9, they were gone from 1:30 pm until 5:45 pm that day, so they could've finished before 9pm that night but they probably went to another job because they felt they could come back to my job. He said yes, they let me know they left but they were willing to come back at night. We went back and forth for 30 minutes respectfully debating our points. I finally said we aren't getting anywhere. He asked what I thought was fair. I said $800, $300 for the materials and $500 for labor since you had to fix the toilet flange. That's $300 more than your verbal quote. He said he'd lose money if he only charged me $800. I told him I liked the work but if he had followed through on the written estimate and letting me know the amount was increasing, I would have been better prepared for such a large bill for such a small space or just told you since there is no leak don't worry about it. We were not getting anywhere so I asked, "What are you able to do about the bill?" He finally said he could take $100 off of the price. He emailed me an invoice for $1200. The final invoice shows $300 for materials and $900.00 for labor. I told him this is not taking responsibility at all and ended the call.