What's my liability here?
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Anonymous
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We had a granite countertop installed as part of remodel a little over two years ago. I just got a call from the granite company that we never paid our bill for the granite and install. I have emails, and a vauge memory, that I had to call in a credit card and give full payment before the granite would be fabricated. After it was finished, there were some serious installation errors, and we insisted and got a free remake. I also have emails documenting this.
What I don't have is a receipt or 2 year old credit card statement showing the original payment. The "unpaid" invoice they are sending me is for materials only, no labor, and is dated 6 weeks after the second install. They are insisting on proof that we made the origial payment. I can't even remember what credit card it was made on, and I'm going to have to write to my bank and get old records pulled up from storage. If I cannot find this proof, do I have any rights here? I asked why on earth they would think a fabrication and install would even occur if they insist on full payment beforehand, but they just said that "it happens" |
Anonymous
| If it was only two years ago, it should be fairly easy for your bank to send you copies of your credit card statements from that time frame. |
Anonymous
| Call your credit card and see if they have statements. |
Anonymous
| Just your credit card company. They most likely still have it in their system. |
Anonymous
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I did call. I can get the statements. Unfortunately, there are some pretty hefty fees if I order every possible statement it could be on (three possible cards and charged close to the close date on two of them)
It's just annoying as obviously this companies records are in disarray. I even copied them back the email correspondence that showed I understood their policy was not to install without payment in full, but they are insisting on proof. |
Anonymous
Ask them to search your statements for the company name. |
Anonymous
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Woah. What cc is this that charges fees?
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Anonymous
Op here. I generally love my cc company. The fee is because the records are old enough to be archived. Otherwise, I could search online myself. |
Anonymous
| I feel better about keeping all my old statements now! |
Anonymous
| Its been two years. I doubt they can do much about it now. Why are they just catching it now? |
Anonymous
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Two years is not too long for collections. Could it be that you did not pay?
Have you sent them all the other documentation? |
Anonymous
| How about the account that you paid the credit card with? Would this bill have spiked your payment on your credit card? Could you narrow the date down by how much you paid the cc company? |
Anonymous
| You can't see your past statemenets online? Bizarre. |
Anonymous
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To the OP,
I would not volunteer any information to the vendor. Tell them it doesn't work like that, it's not up to you to prove that you paid a bill, but it's up to them to prove that you owe them something by providing a valid invoice first. Do you have a signed purchase order with them? If the invoice is for materials, it needs to show when it was delivered and accepted by you. It's okay if the invoice date is sometime after the actual delivery was made, but the invoice still needs to describe the specific thing that they are charging for. Statute of limitations in Virginia for written contracts is 5 years. It's likely you signed something to initiate the purchase. |
Anonymous
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One reason I still get paper statements.
But for 2 years - very surprised you can't access online. I think the ball is in your court. |