Company Added Extra Charges After the Job Was Done — Do You Have to Pay?

You paid the agreed price for a service and thought you were done, and then the company comes back with a long list of "extra costs" — materials, delivery, hours worked beyond the schedule, a handling fee, an admin fee. Sometimes it's reasonable, sometimes it's simply made up. The law is fairly clear: if a charge wasn't in the contract and you never agreed to it, you shouldn't have to pay it. In practice, though, companies often push hard anyway. This guide explains when extra charges are legitimate under Polish law, when they're a trap, and how to push back.

This guide is general legal information, not legal advice. How the rules apply depends on your contract, your evidence, and the circumstances — including whether the matter is consumer, civil, or business-to-business. If you need advice or representation, the matter should be assessed by a qualified Polish lawyer or another relevant specialist. Twoja Sprawa helps you organise the documents for that assessment.

The basic rule: the price must have a basis in the contract

Article 471 of the Polish Civil Code (Kodeks cywilny, KC) provides that a party is obliged to perform the contract in the manner that follows from the contract itself and from custom. In practice, this means:

The price should be clearly set out in the contract before the service is carried out.
Any additional charges should either be listed up front, or agreed by you in writing before you incur them.
A charge with no basis is not owed.

If a company adds something to your bill that you never agreed to, you're entitled to insist: either they show you where it comes from — the contract, the terms and conditions, or a statute — or you tell them you won't pay it.

When extra charges CAN be legitimate

Charges clearly listed in the contract

If the contract said something like:

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"Flat renovation: PLN 5,000 + materials per invoice + PLN 300 delivery of materials + PLN 200 admin fee",

then all of these are owed. You knew about them in advance.

Charges agreed in writing while the work was underway

Example: a renovation turns out more complicated than expected. The contractor texts or emails you: "the wall needs more plastering, that's an extra PLN 500 — OK?" If you reply "OK, send me the cost", that's a variation of the contract that you accepted.

Charges based on an agreed rate or price list

Example: a haulage service has a price list of "PLN 60 per km". They drove 100 km, and the bill comes to PLN 6,000. That's fair — it follows what was agreed.

Additional works on construction contracts (Article 647 KC)

In a construction works contract (umowa o roboty budowlane), "additional works" — work that wasn't in the original plan but that the client instructed — can be charged for. But this has to be agreed in writing, including the price, before the work is carried out. Without that, the contractor cannot simply add it to your bill.

When extra charges are NOT acceptable

A charge with no clear basis in the contract

If the contract says "renovation: PLN 5,000" as a single fixed sum, and the company then sends an invoice for PLN 5,500 with a line for "supervision fee" or "contractor's margin", that's not acceptable. You never signed up to a supervision fee, and it was never agreed separately.

Charges invented at the end, without your agreement

Example: a contractor finishes a flat renovation and sends you a bill with a line for "VAT surcharge: +PLN 1,000" or "assistant labour fee: PLN 800". You're entitled to say: "This wasn't in the contract, I'm not paying it."

Charges that contradict what was actually agreed

If the contract says "free delivery" and the company then charges PLN 300 for delivery, that's not acceptable.

Charges that amount to unfair contract terms (consumers)

Important for consumers: if you're a consumer (buying for yourself, not for a business), the contract cannot contain unfair terms (klauzule abuzywne — one-sided, unbalanced terms). Examples of unfair terms:

"The company may change the price unilaterally, without notice."
"A fee of 50% of the price applies for any change of decision, regardless of the actual cost."
"The consumer bears all cost risk; the company will always be charged the lowest rate."

If the contract contains a term like this and you were a consumer, you can challenge it. The Polish Consumer Ombudsman (Rzecznik Konsumentów) can also open group proceedings — see uokik.gov.pl.

Practical scenarios

Scenario A: Flat renovation, scope of work changes

Contract: "Painting walls and ceiling, PLN 3,000."

During the work it turns out the wall is in bad condition and needs skimming before painting. The contractor writes to you:

"The wall is weak, it needs levelling for an extra PLN 800. OK?"

Your position: - If you reply "OK" — you're bound by it. - If you say "no, I'll switch to another company" — the contractor is entitled to stop and to be paid for the work already done (Article 636 KC deals with withdrawal, but the right to payment for completed work remains). - Best approach: say "put the quote in writing, and let's decide together."

If work already went ahead and you didn't say "stop", and the company then bills you for it, you can bring in an independent expert (rzeczoznawca) to assess whether the extra work was genuinely necessary. Many renovation disputes are genuinely unclear — was the extra work actually needed, or not?

Scenario B: Taxi, driver adds "PLN 50 for a route change" at the end

Agreed fare: "Airport transfer, PLN 100."

The route taken was different but roughly the same distance. At the end, the driver asks for PLN 150. If the meter showed PLN 100 and the driver now adds a line for "route change surcharge", that's simply made up — you don't have to pay it.

(This is a taxi example because most taxis run a meter, but the same principle applies to other services.)

Scenario C: Online service, an "activation fee" appears after purchase

You buy access to a platform for PLN 200.

After payment, a message appears: "registration fee: PLN 50." If this wasn't disclosed in the offer before you bought it, it's not acceptable. You can ask for the PLN 50 to be refunded. If this was a consumer purchase made online, you may also be able to cancel the whole purchase within 14 days (the consumer right of withdrawal).

Scenario D: Renovation, the materials bill is higher than expected

Contract: "Renovation PLN 5,000 + materials per invoice."

It turns out the materials cost PLN 2,500 instead of the estimated PLN 1,500. Is that acceptable?

If the contract clearly said "materials per invoice", then in principle yes — but you still have the right to check whether the invoiced costs are reasonable.
If a specific supplier's prices were agreed and the contractor used a more expensive one instead, you can challenge that.
You can say: "I'll only pay for materials at a reasonable market price — show me some quotes, and I'll pay up to that estimate."

How to push back when a company charges extra fees

Step 1: Go through the contract

Get out your original contract and read it carefully:

Was a final price agreed, or only an estimate?
What additional costs are mentioned?
Does the contract give the company the right to change the price unilaterally?
Are there any clauses about "additional works" or "variations"?

Step 2: Compare the bill against the contract

Go through the invoice line by line — is each item mentioned in the contract, or is it genuinely justified some other way?

A charge that's in the contract ✓ — you pay it.
A charge that isn't in the contract and wasn't agreed ✗ — you don't pay it.
A charge that's in the contract but calculated wrong — ask for a correction.

Step 3: Send a written request for correction

Write to the company (by email with a read receipt, or by letter):

Dear Sir or Madam,

I received an invoice dated [date], no. [number]. It includes a line item "[name of charge]" for [amount], which was not agreed in our contract.

My contract with you, dated [date], does not contain this term. I did not accept this charge, nor was I informed of it before the service was carried out.

I request: 1. An explanation of the basis for this charge (the relevant clause of the contract, or the terms and conditions). 2. A corrected invoice without this item.

If the charge is maintained without justification, I will have no choice but to refer the matter to [the Consumer Ombudsman / the court].

Yours faithfully, [Name]

Send it with proof of delivery (a read receipt on email, or recorded/tracked post).

Step 4: If the company won't budge — next steps

If you're a consumer: - A complaint to the Consumer Ombudsman (Rzecznik Konsumentów) — free of charge. - A formal demand for payment (wezwanie do zapłaty) via a court or a lawyer. - A civil claim for damages and the return of amounts not owed.

If you're a business: - An amicable settlement (mediation). - A formal demand for payment. - A claim in the commercial court (postępowanie gospodarcze).

What to do if you've already paid a charge you didn't owe

If you've paid, you're entitled to a refund

If you can show the charge had no basis, you can ask for it back. This claim becomes time-barred after 6 years (Article 118 KC), but the sooner you act, the better.

Route to take: 1. A written demand for repayment. 2. If the company refuses — mediation, or a claim in court.

Be cautious about going to court on your own

If you bring a claim yourself: - Claims up to PLN 2,000 → the sąd rejonowy (district court, simplified procedure). - Claims above PLN 2,000 → the sąd okręgowy (regional court, a more complex procedure).

Prepare your documents: the contract, the invoice, all correspondence, and proof of payment.

When it's worth involving a lawyer

Get proper advice when:

The amount is significant (over PLN 5,000).
The contract is complex and its meaning isn't clear.
The company threatens a counterclaim or takes other aggressive action.
The matter involves construction works — the rules there are more complex (Article 647 KC).
You're a consumer and want to challenge unfair terms — the Consumer Ombudsman is usually the right route.

Common mistakes people make

Texting "OK" to a price change without thinking it through — a single text message can bind you.
Not putting anything in writing — leaving it as conversations only means it's your word against theirs later.
Paying a charge without objecting — if you pay without any reservation, a court may treat that as agreement.
Not keeping a copy of the contract — always keep the original.
Waiting too long to react — the sooner you respond, the stronger your position. After months go by, the company will argue you accepted the charge.

Frequently asked questions

Can I simply refuse to pay a charge I think is unfair?

Technically yes, but you risk the company suing you for it. It's better to send a written objection setting out why you're disputing it — that way you have evidence you challenged it, and you don't look like you're simply refusing to pay.

If the contract says "materials per invoice", can I ask to check the invoice?

Yes. Although the contract gives the company the right to be reimbursed for the actual cost of materials, it doesn't give them the right to pick the most expensive option available. You can say: "please use materials at a competitive market price."

What if the company says it's a legal requirement — e.g. a "tax on the tax"?

VAT is charged at the statutory rate (usually 23% on services) and should either be stated in the contract or added automatically to the invoice. But a separate "tax" invented by the company doesn't exist as a legal category. If a company cites "a tax", ask them to point you to the specific provision.

Can I still challenge a charge if I already signed "I accept the price"?

It depends. If you signed the contract, you're bound by it. But if you signed a delivery note or receipt without agreeing to new costs added to the contract, you may still have an argument. Always add a written reservation: "I am signing to confirm receipt, but I do not agree to any charges that were not agreed."

When is a claim too small to bother taking to court?

If the disputed amount is PLN 100–200, the cost of pursuing it (a lawyer, court fees) may exceed the amount itself. It's usually better to try to resolve it amicably first. But for PLN 2,000 and above, it's usually worth pursuing.

Checklist: dealing with extra charges

[ ] Go through the contract — is the charge mentioned anywhere in it?
[ ] Check the invoice against the contract
[ ] If they don't match — send a written request for correction (email with read receipt)
[ ] In your letter, ask for the legal basis for the charge to be explained
[ ] Wait for a reply (7–14 days)
[ ] If the company won't budge — send a formal demand for repayment (if you've already paid) or a formal dispute of the demand for payment (if they want you to pay)
[ ] Keep all correspondence
[ ] If the amount is significant — get advice from a lawyer
[ ] If you're a consumer — report the matter to the Consumer Ombudsman

Legal information last reviewed: 26 June 2026.