Am going to TRY to keep this somewhat vague in case of causing RL problems for this mega delicate situation. But i'd really like to know what you think and what you'd do in this situ. You are 'someone'.
Situation - someone hired someone else (a recommended contractor) to do some work on an agreed fixed rate. They then asked him to do a tiny bit of extra work (like a tenth of what the fixed rate job entailed) as an addition, and it was verbally agreed that the terms would be "similar". Everything was fine and really friendly, but then the contractor tried to charge them a frighteningly huge amount of money for that extra work. NB - the job (even the fixed rate part) was never completed.
They tried to negotiate their position to say 'look, how on earth can that be right when the fixed rate for all that was only £x - can we come to a fair arrangement?' and this contractor became abusive and started threatening 'trouble' if the bill wasn't paid in full.
Unwilling to be intimidated out of a lot of money, the someone agreed with this contractor that they should go to an independent ombudsman type person, to do a report on what all the work was fairly worth and that that person's decision would be final. They did so, and the report found that the additional charges were indeed about 10 times over rated. The someone offered to pay the amount that was recommended by the independent person, (bearing in mind that the job was still incomplete) but the contractor became hysetrical and abusive and threatening (quite physically so) and THEN presented a NEW bill which was now hiked by a further huge amount.
The contractor is now causing a ridiculous amount of trouble, making libellous claims and behaving in a very threatening way, not only to the someone, but also to anyone who goes anywhere near someone's buisness and to the family members of that someone.
Does this sound like some kind of protection racket to you? I think it sounds like a plot line from eastenders but i can assure you it's all real and very worrying.
The options for the WWYD as as follows.
a) enlist the full power of the civil law; legal letters requesting this person backs off or face a libel and intimidation actions .. or whatever the legal terms are.
b) call the police and see what power of criminal law can be used - this contractor is frequently on the street by the someone's place of work behaving in a totally irrational manner to whoever goes in and out!!
c) pay the independant ombudsman's estimated bill and wait for the consequences and then go to A / B as appropriate. (Actually, there is no question that they will be paying the person SOMETHING - they are not trying to avoid paying him at all despite what this person is shouting at random clients on the street!)
d) pay the FULL outrageous bill and hope this gets him off everyone's back and puts an end to the horrible matter. (what if it's only the beginning?)
e) try to negotiate with him one last time to behave in a reasonable manner and if not then reconsider the position very carefully.
f) call in the heavies and get him concrete booted. (joke... i think)
g) dunno. haven't thought of a G. Can you?
Someone is worried about the A or B route because ultimately a few shitty legal letters and even an injunction (they feel) isn't actually going to be able to resolve the situation and this highly unpleasant individual will still probably make a big fat nuisance of himself - at best. Not to mention the costs of A. Even if a lawsuit of option A was won and the contractor had to pay the costs - it seems as if he'd try to recoup it all back somehow anyway! 
As far as i understand it E is going to be attempted this afternoon.... maybe just maybe they can come to an arrangement - but i'd hate to see a two bit scumbag wannabe gangster get away with any of this.
Please x 100 - if you "know" me IRL then keep this strictly out of the RL gossip domain. I have agonised about posting this but decided to do so anyway in trust of the discretion of hitched according to the Hitchers Code, article 7, clause b; "thou shall not trade in tittle tattle to RL third parties what you think you learned about a known RL situation via the medium of hitched, or may you be struck down with incurably itchy pants evermore" or something. IF you think it's to do with 'that thing' - it actually isn't, so nyerr.
Anyway, not meaning to make light of what could actually be a really serious problem here.
Thanks 
Thanks for any thoughts on this.
