We arrived in Bern in Feb 09 and moved into the townhouse on 16 March, which
was still under construction.
My landlord introduced and told us that because she is not always around, we can talk to the architect about any townhouse matters because he represents her.
Two days after we moved in, the architect appeared and asked me, ‘If there were any problems in the house?”
I mentioned about the electrical outlets in the kitchen counter and the third floor bathroom. I asked him if it were possible to make it more useable?
Some thirty minutes later he showed up with a young man and told me this is the electrician, and “Remember his face because he will return shortly after he completes his work next door and he will make the changes.”
The electrician showed up later and performed the work and left. About an hour and a-half-later he returned with a paper asking me to sign it. I did not because first it was in German. Second I noted it had a time stamp and a cost figure. I told him I did not order the work but the architcet, and therefore he should sign the invoice. Not knowing what to do, he tried to cajole me into signing by saying in effect it was not an invoice but only that he was present and did his work. Still I did not sign seeing it clearly looked like an invoice and I knew I was not authorized to order any kind of work for someone elses house that is still under construction. Moreover, if the architect did not introduce him to me and told me to let him enter the house to do his work he would not have been able to do what he did at all.
The next day the architect returned to check around the house again and asked me, ‘Did the electrician come back and do the work yesterday?’ I confirmed that he did as he was told by you and showed him what the electrician did. Then he said, “Oh no.” I asked, “What happened?” the architect said after he ordered the job late that afternoon, he called the landlord about it and she said, “No.” I asked, “Now what?” He said, “Well the work is already done, not to worry. You did not authorize it, I did. It is not your worry. The work is already done.”
Now we are keeping getting the bill (CHF200) from this company we do not even know who they are in the first place.after I send the letter to them and explan the whole thing,they still insist that this is my bill because I am the one who live here and they said the landlord and the architect both refuse to pay and some one should pay for it, So they decided that I should pay. I feel that they try to rob me just because I am a foreigner and new to here so I don't know better.
Who can tell me what should I do now?
Thank you.