BG Bau is sending us a high bill - can I defend myself against it?

Hello everyone,

In April 2018, we started excavating and constructing our basement. In May 2018, our prefabricated house arrived, which we had built turnkey without any personal work and without non-professional helpers. I completed small tasks on a few days with my father; I estimate the total number of hours over the entire period to be about 50 hours.

Now a letter from BG Bau is coming stating that I have to pay €2800 for the period 09/17 - 12/17 and €1400 for 01/18 - 03/18. These amounts were estimated because I allegedly did not fill out the form with the working hours. At that time, we had just completed the sample selection for our house; there was still a lot of time before anything would actually start, and I do not remember any form from BG Bau.

Now my question … do I have to pay this money? Would you recommend a construction law lawyer in this case, and has anyone ever had such a problem?

I am very worried; we do not have the money at the moment. If BG Bau also makes these outrageous financial demands on us for the rest of 2018, even though we did not have such helpers, then things look bad for us.

I really hope you can help me here...

Thanks, best regards Tobias

These details were estimated because I supposedly did not fill out the form with the working hours.

I would just call and ask.
For 4 months, twice as much as for 3 months seems strange to me as well.
Besides, you didn’t have any work during the mentioned period. It might be a misunderstanding.

200 construction helper hours cost about 200 euros ... something must be wrong there, I would call first and only if that doesn't work then lawyer ... but it can only be a mistake actually

Thank you all in advance for the quick responses, BG Bau estimates the hours for the period 09/17 - 12/17 at 1951 hours and 01/18 - 03/18 at 985 hours, so these large amounts result from that. I cannot understand this whole matter, they really scare me... It feels to me as if this cooperative takes the money from ordinary people without asking and without providing any service :-(

No worries. The hours that have accrued will be paid. In your case, that is 50 hours. The rest is nonsense and they have no leverage against you. Wish you a Merry Christmas

Do not pay. Explain that only commercial work was done, no hobby handymen. Therefore, no BG contribution is due. Period. Invoice to [die zurück] to relieve you. K.