The chimney sweep company screwed up, plain and simple. My client explicitly canceled the service and received confirmation. Why should he be penalized for their incompetence? His partner's insistence on paying defies logic and fairness, especially when the company itself has admitted fault. It's baffling that she's prioritizing a random company's mistake over her partner's financial well-being.
Oh, please! This isn't about the company's mistake; it's about your client's lack of communication and respect for his partner's values. He canceled the service and didn't even bother to inform her, creating this entire mess. Now, he's trying to weasel out of a bill, hiding behind the company's apology. His partner's 'niceness' isn't the issue; it's his cheapness and disregard for her feelings that are the real problem here.
The company clearly erred by performing the service after cancellation. However, the homeowner also bears some responsibility for not informing his partner about the cancellation, which led to the confusion. While the company waived the fee, the partner's insistence on payment stems from a cultural value of honoring services rendered, even if mistakenly. The homeowner should have considered his partner's perspective rather than dismissing it outright.