In the light of the hearing of the matter of Edwards v Garbutt due to take place on 13 July (see [2005] Gazette, 23 June, 1), I explained to my builders that I was not going to pay a penny piece more than the estimate that they had given me for work to be carried out at my home, even if it did not cover all the work that they genuinely had to do. I am sure the judges in the Court of Appeal would have been fascinated by their response.

Could we now be told whether overrun estimates from other trades or professions would be met with the same criteria as those of solicitors, and if not, why not?


Roberta Tish, London