What and arxse hole...

[Octopus]

Why are there "txts" around that think we can offer extended credit terms!


Back in December I agreed to do some work for a one man band "developer". The price was agreed but I didn't ask for a staged payment, nor did he say he would only pay on completion.

Total value of works a "mere" £1274.00 - this wasn't broken down in anyway.

So I invoiced him for £700 before Xmas being the costs for my time and the materials for kitchen lights, bathroom lights, inline fan and smoke/heat alarm. The reason I invoiced him was due to me getting a "bad feeling" about his ability to pay!

His response to me when receiving my invoice was :

"Hi xxxxxx - I note your invoice - no mention of stage payments for a job this size - will pay on the day you complete and I have the certificate for final elec installation.

I live at the property and am not going anywhere, your payment will be immediate and without any delay!"

NB: He lives next door, not in the property

My response was:

"With greatest respect I am a sole trader and month end payments are the norm...

I will leave you to consider this. This invoice covers the time and materials that I have to pay for..."

His response was:

"Sorrey I can't help "

I didn't respond to this and this appeared 3 days ago:

"All trades on target at 76a - To be on the safe side, and not have people tripping over each other! Might be best if you can programme your winding up for the week commencing 1st.Feb when all tiling and wall unit work will be in place for you.

I have jacked and screwed the bathroom ceiling issue ready for last LED light fitting .

I think remaining items are [you will know] :

Oven skt & isolator/Gas hob supply/2-No under unit LED lights/finish kitchen wall switch wiring/outside light connection [me to provide light]/skt outlet connections in white/skt outlet & isolator for wash machine/new consumer unit/correct bonding/test & certify.

Let me know a convenient day that week.

If you wish to pop in to run any further tests re your under floor wiring feel free any time - The floor boards are being screwed down this coming Saturday."

To which I responded:

"Best we talk about money before we talk about dates.

My terms and conditions are on my website...."

and his response:

"It is not a requirement that I research your website. You set out your costings clearly in your quotation and, communicate in a very defined manner at site meetings and after commencement, conveniently omitting on all occasions any reference to stage payments. Had you have made that clear at inception I would not have engaged your services

I have invited you to complete your contract with good notice to do so, [2/3 weeks]. At completion you would be paid in full, in exchange for your certificate, a certificate without which your work has no value as I have learned recently at great expense.

To make it clear, this contract will continue to completion without expensive delays with or without you! - If you are not satisfied with my invitation to re-attend and complete the work you contracted to, then you must advise me of the expenditure you have been put for material cost only and you will be reimbursed. This does not include anything related to the wiring integrity or your time spent on uncertified work.

If I do not hear from you to confirm your intended completion date within that week commencing 1st. Feb as specified, I will have no alternative other than to seek other electrical services, but would naturally prefer that you complete you undertaking and be paid immediately upon completion. "

Reimburse for "material costs" only - what planet is he on?

I bumped in to a plumber mate who had been invited in to bid for the plumbing - on meeting this chap he declined to provide a quote!


So how would you guys respond...

Thanks

 

[Pete999]

What nationality is you customer? out of interest

 

[Octopus]

What nationality is you customer? out of interest

Very much an arrogant white Brit....

 

[Pete999]

Very much an arrogant white Brit....

Don't know mate, get what you can out of the dipstick,make safe and cut your loses, met quite a few of these "developers" don't know one end of a screw from the other, most of the ones I have met don't have a clue do they, sorry for your predicament.

 

[tomspark93]

If it was me, as much as i'd want to tell him what I thought of him and all the rest of it I think i'd just bite the bullet and get it done and get out. He seems unreasonable but if you do the work and complete your side of the bargain he has no reason not to pay unless there is an obvious problem.

If the day comes in which where he does't pay once all works are complete then that's a different matter. I'd be saving conversations etc and photographing work as evidence and threaten/take legal action. Or if i couldn't be bothered with that I'd be ripping it all out and making it a nightmare for him.

 

[ruston]

And you have written proof that he will pay if you meet his terms.

 

[Geordie Spark]

Just do it & when he doesn't pay, me Trev & Ruston will pay him a visit .

We'll only charge you £1k for our services - Mates Rates & all that.

 

[Midwest]

What they said Murdoch, unless you can absorb the time/money you've already spent. Once completed & you have your money, you can 'put the word around', but alas I think someone else will only take your place. Another lesson learnt in life's rich tapestry.

 

[ruston]

Lol , at the minute I'm as good as an ash tray on a motorbike.

 

[Octopus]

Mind you, the new CU will need notifying and I don't think he realises the difference between a certificate and a part p certificate.....so that would give me the upper hand if he delays payment

 

[Geordie Spark]

Lol , at the minute I'm as good as an ash tray on a motorbike.

Aye ...... So am I but keep that to yersel.

 

[davesparks]

From the way he has worded the email it looks as if he knows what he is doing and may even have the upper hand should this end in legal proceedings.
But it does also have a statement that he will pay immediately upon receipt of certificate, so complete the job and hand him the certificate and invoice in person and take payment before you leave.

Did you include a copy of your terms and conditions with the quote or specify within the quote that it is subject to your terms and conditions?

Did you take a deposit? As a rule I take a deposit if the price is 4 or more figures, or if I suspect they might be trouble.

 

[ruston]

I would say that this is the best option.
This person seems switched on.
I wondered right away what his day job might be.

 

[GMES]

Just do it & when he doesn't pay, me Trev & Ruston will pay him a visit .

We'll only charge you £1k for our services - Mates Rates & all that.

I can see it now :rofl:

 

[R G]

As said if he has given in writing that he will pay on completion then thats the only way to go , It would have been better if you had stage and interim payments on a contract , always collect a deposit from the customer and the contract should be signed and a copy given to the customer .......

 

[GMES]

Clive what as given you this bad feeling at the beginning, to be fair even though he does sound a bit snotty he does word it very straight forward that you will be paid as soon as a certificate is provided, and not having requested staged payments it kind of leaves you a bit open. ( probably not what you wanted to hear sorry ).

 

[ruston]

I can see it now :rofl:

Nowhere near as sophisticated and suave as that.:blush5:

 

[Octopus]

From the way he has worded the email it looks as if he knows what he is doing and may even have the upper hand should this end in legal proceedings.
But it does also have a statement that he will pay immediately upon receipt of certificate, so complete the job and hand him the certificate and invoice in person and take payment before you leave.

Did you include a copy of your terms and conditions with the quote or specify within the quote that it is subject to your terms and conditions?

Did you take a deposit? As a rule I take a deposit if the price is 4 or more figures, or if I suspect they might be trouble.

I didn't provide a copy of my T's and C's - but with this knxb in mind I've added a "part" to quickbooks that allows me to state that are available on my website or be email on request. So the next job like this will get this included.

No I didn't take a deposit - whilst my terms say I can request them, I have not asked in the 6 years since going SE.

 

[Octopus]

Clive what as given you this bad feeling at the beginning, to be fair even though he does sound a bit snotty he does word it very straight forward that you will be paid as soon as a certificate is provided, and not having requested staged payments it kind of leaves you a bit open. ( probably not what you wanted to hear sorry ).

The week before Xmas I bust my gut to get the kitchen and bathroom lights finished so the other trades would have "light" - he was talking about all the money he had saved as he didn't have much cash!

 

[ruston]

I have the same feeling that davesparks alluded to. If you don't go back , you will either lose the lot , or have a devil of a job getting anything.