UKA service provider quoted £500 but charged £800. Am I bound to pay?
No, you are not bound to pay the extra £300 — the service provider must honour the quoted price unless you agreed in writing to the increase before the work began.
What the Law Says
The Consumer Rights Act 2015 protects consumers when businesses provide services — including pricing transparency and agreement requirements.
Under section 51 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015, a trader must carry out a service with reasonable care and skill, within a reasonable time, and for a reasonable price — *if no price has been agreed*.
But where a specific price *has been agreed* (e.g., a clear quote of £500), that becomes the binding price — unless both parties later agree to change it. The law does not allow unilateral price hikes after the quote is accepted.
Crucially, any variation to the agreed price must be made *before* the service begins and, best practice (and often required by fairness principles), confirmed in writing — especially if it significantly affects the consumer.
Statutory Texts. 51: ---
— Consumer Rights Act 2015, s. 51 — Service contracts
What to Do
Check whether the £500 quote was confirmed in writing (e.g., email, quotation document) and whether you accepted it.
Refuse to pay the extra £300 unless the provider can show you agreed — clearly and voluntarily — to the higher price *before* work started.
Write to the provider stating you dispute the £300 excess and request a refund or corrected invoice.
If unresolved, report to Citizens Advice or escalate to the Trading Standards service.
As a last resort, you may make a small claim in the County Court for recovery of overpaid amounts.
Sources
Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.