Getting payed in advance

[Devonchris]

Oxbridge graduates dahling!

I only meant the ones recruited by the KGB not the MI5 ones.

 

[Toneyz]

Has anybody took half or full payment in advance before carrying out work. I went to look at a domestic property and when giving the quote, I decided to ask for 70% of the money in advance. This is because he has stripped the house bare to the walls and removed the 1st floor ceiling and being the electrician I will be there in the beginning and towards the end for second fixing. most other traders works will be done in-between and they will get paid. I am worried that the customer will run out of funds when it's my turn to collect. getting paid in advance will make me relax. So what are your thoughts , all work will be on contract.

Then you will be one of the first to be paid for the 1st fix,do as Tel's advice
Consumer orginisations are always telling the public not to pay upfront the customer may have the same resivations about you thaking money upfront and not seeing you for dust. If you are ordering non stocked items from your wholesaler that would incure a restocking/return charge if not needed then maybe there is a point there to ask for that.

 

[stuarth]

I have staged payments as part of my terms & conditions (sent with quote) depending on the size of the job, so anything over £500 will have staged payments of 50% two weeks before starting works then the balance on completion, unless its over £1500 then theres a 25% payment due the day work starts and all materials relevent to the job are delivered, has worked very well for many years only ever been queried a couple of times and never been refused