Requesting a refund for unused blocks

QUESTION:

I gave a supplier the engineer’s drawing of the slab for a quote. They calculated how many blocks and lintel will be needed, and gave me a quote according to their calculations. Their engineer also came out to the site to measure before delivery. I then paid the quote which had 67 lintels and 180 polystyrene blocks. I paid for it before delivery. When they delivered, I received 68 lintels and 160 blocks. Of the 160 blocks after packing the slab complete, I have 19 blocks left over and 1 lintel. I owe them for 1 lintel and they owe me for 39 blocks, which they refuse to refund. Is it correct for me to offset what I owe on the concrete against what they owe me, and ask them to collect the the blocks and lintel?

ANSWER:

You should inform the supplier that you will be returning 19 blocks which you do not require, and that you will also require a credit to be passed for the 20 blocks which you did not receive. If it is acceptable to them, then you may deduct the amount for the 39 blocks from the concrete invoice. It is your right to be credited for the blocks which you did not receive. However, it is up to the supplier to decide whether they will refund the blocks which you did not use. The (extra) lintel belongs to the supplier since they did not charge for it, and it should be returned to them.

الإقالة جائزة في البيع بمثل الثمن الأول” لقوله عليه الصلاة والسلام: “من أقال نادما بيعته أقال الله عثرته يوم القيامة” ولأن العقد حقهما فيملكان رفعه دفعا لحاجتهما “فإن شرطا أكثر منه أو أقل فالشرط باطل ويرد مثل الثمن الأول”. والأصل أن الإقالة فسخ في حق المتعاقدين بيع جديد في حق غيرهما إلا أن لا يمكن جعله فسخا فتبطل، وهذا عند أبي حنيفة رحمه الله وعند أبي يوسف رحمه الله هو بيع إلا أن لا يمكن جعله بيعا فيجعل فسخا إلا أن لا يمكن فتبطل. (الهداية ص55 ج3)

 ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:

Mufti Mohammed Desai

Date:-  11 Muharram 1445 / 30 July 2023