A person hired a cheap band, but there was another wedding where the families concerned had the same names, and the bands became confused, and now the person is being asked to pay a high price, what should he do?
B. A person arranged with a house painter to leave his key in the electricity cupboard outside the apartment, and the painter found the neighbor’s key and painted the neighbor’s house, what should he do?
In the Shulchan Aruch there is a principle in such a case that the person needs to pay the provider of the service (shamin lo v’yado al hatachtona), but the amount to be paid needs to be assessed. If his neighbor’s house needed painting, then the neighbor should pay.
The amount of payment should be fixed according to the accepted rate for such a band or such a house painting, but not the highest or lowest rate, rather the average accepted rate.
DAAT coordinators offer assistance and guidance based on Torah and Chassidut in halachic, motivational and family matters to rabbis, leaders and to individuals. The rabbis at DAAT provide answers that appear on this site. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us. Fill in the attached questionnaire and you will receive an answer by email as soon as possible.