Another, non paying, theiving swine!!

[TFGplumbing]

I installed a shower tray, enclosure and cladding last month.

Quoted Labour @ £690
Materials @ £1227
Total: £1917

Customer payed up front for materials before job started no problem, Gave them the labour bill on completion of the job. Thought they were being a bit slow paying the outstanding amount, so I rang them up today.

Me: Good morning TFG plumbing and heating, how are you?
Custard: Fine thank you yourself?
Me: Good
(polite small talk over)
Me: would it be possible to settle your outstanding bill?
Custard: what bill? I have already payed you!!! (slightly angry)
(canned laughter)
Me: Ummmmmm no mrs, you have payed for your materials
custard: I cant get the money out until next week I will pay you then

So I promply typed out a remider, Including a file copy of the original quote (inc materials) for the job. Please pay within 7 days or I will take further action.

 

[Roger Welton]

Don't forget a 5% late payment charge

 

[TFGplumbing]

mines 2%, its the sheer gall of some people! what bill????????????? Iam frigging raving.

 

[SimonJohns]

I can see another expanding foam moment coming on

 

[Guest123]

Hate people like that. Wonder how they'd feel if it happened to them.

Hope you get your money mate, keep hassling them until they get so peed off they have to pay you.

 

[SimonJohns]

How long do you guys wait? I invoiced one job in January and still no £££££

 

[Guest123]

How long do you guys wait? I invoiced one job in January and still no £££££

Someone on here (I think it was Kay Jay) had a link to a really good lawyers letter that should make them realise you're not playing around.

 

[SimonJohns]

I'm sure I've been told that in industry it can be 90days.

I've never had to press ppl before but I've never had to wait this long

 

[diamondgas]

I have these on file and have thought about using them Letter Before Action | The Thomas Higgins Partnership | Business Debt Collection Solicitors As yet not as have found that pestering has worked so far

 

[TFGplumbing]

pay within 7days, dont pay withing 28days and the **** hits the fan basically is what it says on my invoices

 

[gravytrain]

i came across this from the office of fair trading today.
i was going to post the link just as general help but yet again there is someone
suffering from non paying customers

[DLMURL]http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/markets-work/home-repairs/OFT1410-Home_Repairs_and_Im1.pdf[/DLMURL]

the basic message seems to be get it all in writing !

 

[dontknowitall]

I waited 5 months for a payment last year (from a company).

I find patience is the best policy. It's frustrating but it seems to work for me.

Only three bad debts in 4-5 years and all were after I told the customer (all male) that they could go forth and multiply (but I can't remember being that verbose about this advised course of action).

 

[mountainman]

I've worked with some really dodgy characters in the Middle East, and one (of many) things that they taught me was.
Get all your costs, labour, materials & profit up front in the deposit and any money you may lose at the end was merely your bunce.

 

[SimonJohns]

I've worked with some really dodgy characters in the Middle East, and one (of many) things that they taught me was.
Get all your costs, labour, materials & profit up front in the deposit and any money you may lose at the end was merely your bunce.

I'd be lucky to get that.

Some Brits just arnt that trusting.

 

[REDSAW]

mines 2%, its the sheer gall of some people! what bill????????????? Iam frigging raving.

mines 15% per week after 21 days, so they can do what they like until the court date...

once did that with the council £250 reached £700ish when they paid then paid me again by mistake, never asked for it back either.lol.

 

[SimonG]

I have a really low tolerance for thieving scumbags who 'try' to dodge their bill. Payment on completion or it will 'cost' you. Yes there is an occasion where you are working in the house alone as you have been left a key to get on and invoice on completion, but the top and bottom of it is we work in peoples houses and there's no excuse to not pay you on completion. The cheque book is only in the drawer. grrrrrrrrrrrrr.

 

[Barry98]

I'm sure I've been told that in industry it can be 90days.

I've never had to press ppl before but I've never had to wait this long

do customers go into b&q pick up a bathroom suite and walk out and say to cashier ill be back in 90 days to pay - i think not. its customer education. all these problems are easily solved one of the best investment ive ever made was some upto date terms and conditions. covers both parties and if they refuse to sign , which ive had one we dont do job. if they wont sign menas they had no intention of paying so im glad we didnt do it

 

[thereisawizza]

MACHINE GUNS FOR SALE - AUTOWEAPONS.COM

This should do it?

 

[Paulus]

I had one last week, told them the price up front and they said "thats fine can you do the job now?".

I got on with the job but late in the day realised that they didn't have the correct waste for the specialist washbasin. I arranged to go back 3 days later when Mrs Custard would have been back to the shop for the new waste. As I was making the final supply connections Mrs Custard asked how much for the job as she wanted to make out a cheque. I produced invoice for the original amount quoted ( no extra for having to go back).

She said that she didn't think it had taken that long and was expecting less so she couldn't pay me now as she would have to speak to her husband first at the weekend.

I immediately started dismantling the work I had done. She asked what I was doing and I replied that, as you seem to be uncertain as to whether you're going to pay the bill I'm taking back all the parts I have supplied.

She came back with a cheque pretty rapidly so I started to pack up my tools, and told her I would complete the job when the cheque cleared. She went to the bank and produced cash.

 

[Barry98]

I had one last week, told them the price up front and they said "thats fine can you do the job now?".

I got on with the job but late in the day realised that they didn't have the correct waste for the specialist washbasin. I arranged to go back 3 days later when Mrs Custard would have been back to the shop for the new waste. As I was making the final supply connections Mrs Custard asked how much for the job as she wanted to make out a cheque. I produced invoice for the original amount quoted ( no extra for having to go back).

She said that she didn't think it had taken that long and was expecting less so she couldn't pay me now as she would have to speak to her husband first at the weekend.

I immediately started dismantling the work I had done. She asked what I was doing and I replied that, as you seem to be uncertain as to whether you're going to pay the bill I'm taking back all the parts I have supplied.

She came back with a cheque pretty rapidly so I started to pack up my tools, and told her I would complete the job when the cheque cleared. She went to the bank and produced cash.

i blame the media

 

[Paulus]

You're probably right bod but I also think there is a general "as long as I'm OK, stuff everyone else" culture in this country which I have never come across in any other european country.

If I had inconvenienced a tradesman and he had to come back another day and he didn't charge me for it I would give him a bit extra for his trouble with my apologies.

 

[Veggie Dave]

Regarding interest on late payments ... AFAIK, you can only legally charge 8% above the base rate (which at the moment is just 0.5%) and any reasonable debt recovery costs. And this has to be stipulated on your invoice.

If you then take them to court, and you win, you will get your invoice paid and the interest, too, without further legal hassles regarding the exact amount owed.

All my invoices state the above and when I've gone to court it's been great - paid the full amount owed including interest.

 

[REDSAW]

Regarding interest on late payments ... AFAIK, you can only legally charge 8% above the base rate (which at the moment is just 0.5%) and any reasonable debt recovery costs. And this has to be stipulated on your invoice.

If you then take them to court, and you win, you will get your invoice paid and the interest, too, without further legal hassles regarding the exact amount owed.

All my invoices state the above and when I've gone to court it's been great - paid the full amount owed including interest.

you would think the banks should know that when i am overdrawn by a fiver!!!!.

my debt recovery team charge an arm or a leg, very expensive i know.lol.

 

[Dragonfly]

Someone on here (I think it was Kay Jay) had a link to a really good lawyers letter that should make them realise you're not playing around.

That would be a very handy link to have if you could find it.