Dealing with customers who wont pay

[Phil]

You cant avoid them in any trade, but how do you deal with the awkward dishonest people who - even after a fantastic job refuse to pay you?
I would be interested to know about peoples encounters with these people, and weather or not there is any way of avoiding them.

make sure they read your terms & conditions, sign and agree any paperwork quotes etc.
or get past on to a collection agency.

[John t]

Some people get off by ripping honest tradesmen off I'm afraid. I always ask for material costs (sometimes up to a grand depending on the job) up front.

[Phil]

A collection agency?
I've never heard of one, I take it they collect from your 'customer' and they take a percentage?

[nick penfold]

As a self employed sole trader for 30 years, my father had problems 4 times. Each time, he took the customer to the small claims court and won every time. More often than not, if you have an awkward customer, just the threat of court is enough.

It is recommeded as stated above that you ensure that before carrying out any work you draw up a basic agreement. This can be a basic method statement if you wish which can cover the cost of labour and materials etc and timeframes and working practises. GET the customer to sign the agreement and you should be fine.

All of my fathers court visits were due to no paperwork being signed etc.

Hope that helps

[Phil]

Wise words Nick Penfold, thanks.

[ProffesorPlumb]

Some great advice there guys

It happened to me once where they guy was trying to turn me into a handy man, after I fitted a power shower in his en suit, then tiled it.

Just because I had a tool box of spanners etc, he though I was up for any work around his house that needed done. When I refused, he threatened not to pay me for the shower/tiling that I had done.

The fact that I then took photos of my work and threatened him with the small claims court as I walked off soon persuaded him to cough