John in PA

I was dumb and didn't get an estimate in advance, and now the painter (who came highly recommended by a friend) gave me an invoice for $7800 for painting my 2600 square foot home (just 2 coats of flat white). It took him about 2 weeks to complete the job - roughly 70 hours. Over $100 an hour seemed pretty ridiculous to me, so I called up 3 other local paint contractors and was given estimates of $2100, $2500, and $4000.

Would I be within my legal rights to only offer to pay him $4000, which was the highest estimate I received? Or am I stuck paying the $7800? What if he had given me an invoice for $20,000?

I was dumb and didn't get an estimate in advance, and now the painter (who came highly recommended by a friend) gave me an invoice for $7800 for painting my 2600 square foot home (just 2 coats of flat white). It took him about 2 weeks to complete the job - roughly 70 hours. Over $100 an hour seemed pretty ridiculous to me, so I called up 3 other local paint contractors and was given estimates of $2100, $2500, and $4000.

Would I be within my legal rights to only offer to pay him $4000, which was the highest estimate I received? Or am I stuck paying the $7800? What if he had given me an invoice for $20,000?

For those already using a government health insurance program, what is your honest opinion of how it works?

The war on the middle class and small businesses is destroying America. When will the big corporations be held accountable for their actions?

http://wakeupwalmart.com/facts/#taxpayers

http://www.goodjobsfirst.org/pdf/wmtstudy.pdf

http://money.cnn.com/2004/05/24/news/fortune500/wa...

The war on the middle class and small businesses is destroying America. When will the big corporations be held accountable for their actions?

http://wakeupwalmart.com/facts/#taxpayers

http://www.reclaimdemocracy.org/walmart/2007/state...

http://www.goodjobsfirst.org/pdf/wmtstudy.pdf

Have we outsourced too many jobs to China, India, and Mexico? Does the loss of manufacturing threaten our national defense?

Do you think the government spends money wisely?

Or have you seen what I've seen over the course of 20 years - rampant fraud, waste and abuse?

Were there times when you saw an opportunity to save money, but you weren't allowed to do so? Being evaluated not on how wisely you spend money, but how close you could come to spending 99.99% of your budget?

I'll give you a specific example. Janitorial contract is awarded to a section "8a" contractor through the Small Business Administration. Half the time, they never show up to clean, but we're required to pay them anyway because they're small/disadvantaged?

Spending 2-3 times what we should be spending to ship supplies, just so they can sit in a warehouse? But you can't use a slower/cheaper mode of transportation because it's not good for the "metrics"?

Then you give the guy who comes up with those lame brained ideas a raise because he expedited shipments?

Or our local public school doesn't have enough money to buy new textbooks, but they can spend $1 million on a new scoreboard for the high school football stadium?

Anyone who thinks they're getting a bargain from the government just doesn't realize how badly they're being ripped off.

Or will it be the end of the earth when people can't survive without handouts and being told what to do by the federal government?

That government spending is out of control? Whether you're a Republican or Democrat, everyone has to realize that we can't continue to keep spending money that we don't have.

The budget deficit and national debt are crippling the economy. When will the excess spending end?

the same ones that go down to Walmart and buy their cheap Chinese crap? And drive a Japanese car?

The problem ain't the government folks. It's US. Vote with your wallet and support American-made products.

BTW, not a union supporter either. Just proud to buy American and keep Americans working.

Stop blaming the government for everything from jobs to health care. Rely on yourself.

When does it end?

Or is the goal to make us all sheep who rely on everything from the government?

Was I raised as a fool?

Instead of taking out government student loans, I worked full-time and paid my way through college.

Instead of taking out a loan for a new car, I paid cash for a used one.

Instead of buying the biggest house I possibly could, I bought a smaller one I knew I could actually afford?

Instead of relying on government bailouts and handouts, I actually save 15% of my income?

With all the handouts and bailouts, what is the incentive to be responsible?

I guess I'll just end up paying more in taxes to re-distribute the wealth to the fat, lazy, irresponsible folks who don't want to help themselves.

$3 Trillion wasted on Iraq and Afghanistan, inability to balance the budget under BOTH Republicans and Democrats, a mountain of debt that will haunt our granchildren.

When are we going to say enough is enough!!

End the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Stop rebuilding other countries and rebuild America instead. Reduce the size of the government, and REAL "entitlement" reform?

No more government bailouts, no more pork in the budget. NO new programs!!!

Why isn't EVERYONE demanding accountability?

at the rate we're spending money that we don't have, how else can we avoid bankruptcy?

Now that big corporations are moving manufacturing overseas to take advantage of cheap labor and no environmental restrictions, what kinds of jobs will replace them?

Walmart greeter? Fry guy at Mickey D?

Should I sue McDonald's and collect millions in compensation because I can't control myself? I think the hot coffee trick has been overused, so would this be a better angle?

Should I get social security disability because I'm too fat to work? I'm tired of this whole getting up in the morning and going to work routine. It's cramping my style.

Should I get medicare to pay for a scooter because I'm too fat to move?

Should I get a handicapped parking spot so I don't have to walk my fat *** to the mall?

Should the government pay $250,000 for my heart bypass surgery?

Americans don't buy American-made products, then blame the President because unemployment goes up.

They smoke, drink, and eat at McDonald's, then complain about health care costs.

They spend foolishly, then expect a handout from Uncle Sam to help buy another LCD TV.

Why work when you can live on the government dole at no cost?

People smoke cigarettes, then want the government to pay for their cancer treatment.

They eat at McDonald's, then want the government to pay for their heart bypass surgery.

They drink beer every day, then want the government to pay for their liver transplant.

Why don't people just live healthy?

Or do you believe that we should keep on spending money we don't have for things we don't need?

What happened to the American value of saving for the future, working hard, sacrifice?