I'm after some opinions please.
Full rewire, original agreement was payment on completion of first fix, then second fix then on completion.
Project has had "a few" unscheduled" pauses (caused by other trades) so payments were agreed to be at month ends. All was going well until submission of my March invoice which hasn't been paid, and still hasn't.
Client is now saying they won't pay until its all done, completed and tested.
Whilst I could accommodate this change its leaving me awfully short of cash and my concern now is what if they delay payments again I'll be in trouble with the bank.
My inclination is to complete the live testing then remove the busbars from the CU until they pay .....
How would approach this?
Murdoch - like others have said, first step is to identify whether or not this contract was on written terms, or if it was a verbal agreement. By what means did you come to an agreement with the customer that they would pay monthly or in stages? Was it verbal?
If written, you have the basis of a court claim, and other actions. If not, bluff will be your best bet (within reason).
Given the situation you seem to be in - e.g. one payment missed, further materials on account, you need to act now, and stop all work until the matter is resolved.
Your first best bet is to meet face to face with the customer, and present them with the originally agreed terms, and ask, again, to be paid to date, so you can fulfil the reminder of your obligations under your agreement. If they refuse, ask why, and ask for it in writing.
Your likely response in this case will be issue of (a) a solicitor's letter, and (b) court papers or a statutory demand.
I would, prior to this, ensure that any materials purchased but not yet used, are removed from site forthwith, until such time as you can fit them, or return them to your supplier for credit.
It's hard to know exactly how to advise without further information about the basis of the agreement, and current status though.
