HANDYMAN AL

I received two oral estimates for painting my deck for $500 each. Because Handyman Al was also $500, I did not ask for a written estimate.  I assumed I would be billed $500 for the job plus materials.  I selected he because I didn't use him for the siding job and because he advertises in Senior Citizen News. 
On October 16 the deck was stained in one day by two workers. I was shocked when I received an invoice in November for $1,020.46. I was billed for two 8 hour days at $55.00 an hour for labor.  The workers arrived at my house at 8:40 and left before 4:00 with a half hour for lunch. The total time at my house was 6 hours and 20 minutes.   In addition I was billed $55.00 for "check out hail repair job". 
I called Handyman Al and he claimed he didn't give me an estimate, that most people don't ask for an estimate, they just want to get the job done.  I felt like he was attempting to intimidate me because I am a woman and a senior.   I paid the charges  invoiced except  $696.30 for labor rather than $880.00.

The work was mediocre but acceptable.  They were patient with me and seemed very professional at first.  However...

The company charged us extra to repair mistakes made by their workers.  For example, when a laborer cut the holes in our new drywall too big for the outlets, I was told that they purchased some new outlet covers to fix the mistake.  I took this to mean that they realized a mistake was made by them, but had a fix.  Instead, I was later charged for the new covers and the driving time to get them.  I would have rather paid the much lower cost to pick them up myself. 

They also surprised us with a price increase without informing us until after the work was done on our flooring.  If the installation was going to cost 2 and half times what they quoted and they realized it wasn't going to happen after starting, then I would appreciate knowing that before they spend two more days letting their cost go up.   If you go with this company, get everything in writing up front.  I wouldn't take them at their word, but perhaps it's like this with every contractor?  Whatever the case may be, I learned a lesson I won't soon forget - and it only cost me an extra $1,000.