People who can't be arsed to pay
Discussion
My 'friend' did wee job for a top Edinburgh lawyer a few years ago. Slightly naughtilly, it was done as a 'discount for cash' job with no paperwork . On completion the client smugly refused to pay on the grounds that there was no paperwork and he'd be quite happy to go to court to defend any claim. A couple of days later a tree in his garden was mysteriously cut down and landed on the new conservatory roof.....Oops!
brrapp said:
My 'friend' did wee job for a top Edinburgh lawyer a few years ago. Slightly naughtilly, it was done as a 'discount for cash' job with no paperwork . On completion the client smugly refused to pay on the grounds that there was no paperwork and he'd be quite happy to go to court to defend any claim. A couple of days later a tree in his garden was mysteriously cut down and landed on the new conservatory roof.....Oops!
And then took him to court ?
And then posted a Google review ?
The Moose said:
It's funny, I have it the other way around! I detest owing anyone any money at all and I struggle to get invoices out of people to pay!
I know I owe money to a couple of tradesmen who have worked on my personal property recently and are yet to issue invoices.
I use them for quite a bit of work in the course of business so I could sort of understand if it was a £10 bill for something but even when it's hundreds of pounds of materials alone it baffles me why when I ask they don't give me a bill!
I often take a good week or 2 to invoice customers, and these are sometimes into 4 figures.I know I owe money to a couple of tradesmen who have worked on my personal property recently and are yet to issue invoices.
I use them for quite a bit of work in the course of business so I could sort of understand if it was a £10 bill for something but even when it's hundreds of pounds of materials alone it baffles me why when I ask they don't give me a bill!
Its mainly due to finding the time to invoice! Plus i hate paperwork
As long as i get paid at some point i don't really mind if it takes a few weeks/month to get paid.
After over 2 years trading I've only had one customer who wouldn't pay, however once i got judgement from money claim online, he couldn't pay quick enough!!
dartissimus said:
brrapp said:
My 'friend' did wee job for a top Edinburgh lawyer a few years ago. Slightly naughtilly, it was done as a 'discount for cash' job with no paperwork . On completion the client smugly refused to pay on the grounds that there was no paperwork and he'd be quite happy to go to court to defend any claim. A couple of days later a tree in his garden was mysteriously cut down and landed on the new conservatory roof.....Oops!
And then took him to court ?
And then posted a Google review ?
The Mad Monk said:
MX5_Nuts said:
The credit card machine won't work with me unfortunately as a lot of them are out when visiting hence leaving an invoice.
If you take the credit card details over the phone when the job is booked, you can then take a "Cardholder not present" charge when it suits.Many of these amounts can be relatively small, but the aggravation they cause is out of all proportion.
I have a distant family member who owes me £1200 for work I did in January 2012. I send at least one invoice per month, named and shamed her on her Facebook business page but still nothing has been paid.
A lot of customers drag their heels when the it comes to payment. Even more start to argue over the 'extras' they have asked for!
A lot of customers drag their heels when the it comes to payment. Even more start to argue over the 'extras' they have asked for!
Hoofy said:
dartissimus said:
brrapp said:
My 'friend' did wee job for a top Edinburgh lawyer a few years ago. Slightly naughtilly, it was done as
a 'discount for cash' job with no paperwork . On completion the client smugly refused to pay on the grounds that there was no paperwork and he'd be quite happy to go to court to defend any claim. A couple of days later a tree in his garden was mysteriously cut down and landed on the new conservatory roof.....Oops!
a 'discount for cash' job with no paperwork . On completion the client smugly refused to pay on the grounds that there was no paperwork and he'd be quite happy to go to court to defend any claim. A couple of days later a tree in his garden was mysteriously cut down and landed on the new conservatory roof.....Oops!
And then took him to court ?
And then posted a Google review ?
And no Google back then.
Would've been good to have invoiced him for the tree surgery but obviously 'my friend' was nowhere near the area at the time the tree fell down. The entertainment value of imagining his face when he saw it was worth it though.
Bristol spark said:
The Moose said:
It's funny, I have it the other way around! I detest owing anyone any money at all and I struggle to get invoices out of people to pay!
I know I owe money to a couple of tradesmen who have worked on my personal property recently and are yet to issue invoices.
I use them for quite a bit of work in the course of business so I could sort of understand if it was a £10 bill for something but even when it's hundreds of pounds of materials alone it baffles me why when I ask they don't give me a bill!
I often take a good week or 2 to invoice customers, and these are sometimes into 4 figures.I know I owe money to a couple of tradesmen who have worked on my personal property recently and are yet to issue invoices.
I use them for quite a bit of work in the course of business so I could sort of understand if it was a £10 bill for something but even when it's hundreds of pounds of materials alone it baffles me why when I ask they don't give me a bill!
Its mainly due to finding the time to invoice! Plus i hate paperwork
As long as i get paid at some point i don't really mind if it takes a few weeks/month to get paid.
After over 2 years trading I've only had one customer who wouldn't pay, however once i got judgement from money claim online, he couldn't pay quick enough!!
brrapp said:
Hoofy said:
dartissimus said:
brrapp said:
My 'friend' did wee job for a top Edinburgh lawyer a few years ago. Slightly naughtilly, it was done as
a 'discount for cash' job with no paperwork . On completion the client smugly refused to pay on the grounds that there was no paperwork and he'd be quite happy to go to court to defend any claim. A couple of days later a tree in his garden was mysteriously cut down and landed on the new conservatory roof.....Oops!
a 'discount for cash' job with no paperwork . On completion the client smugly refused to pay on the grounds that there was no paperwork and he'd be quite happy to go to court to defend any claim. A couple of days later a tree in his garden was mysteriously cut down and landed on the new conservatory roof.....Oops!
And then took him to court ?
And then posted a Google review ?
And no Google back then.
Would've been good to have invoiced him for the tree surgery but obviously 'my friend' was nowhere near the area at the time the tree fell down. The entertainment value of imagining his face when he saw it was worth it though.
Explain that to your peers.
Intimidation only goes so far, he got his just desserts.
Unfortunately OP some people are just s**t. I've had this situation a few time over the years, more so before I got a card machine, with people turning up having no intention of paying. I even had a guy come in and empty a child's money box on the counter, saying I had forced him into doing this, despite him authorising the work after I had given him a quote! I don't get many now, having refused to work for the idiots over the years, and when I speak to other businesses in the area, these people do the rounds! Tell them you are no longer prepared to work for them, and why. It will feel good! Concentrate your efforts on the good 'uns!
As a customer, I always pay my bills on time as I know I'll need that service again in the future. Doesn't do me any favours to be a dick about paying.
However, if a trade turned up wanted the full payment before the work is completed, then they aren't for me. I have taken all of the risk and lost money if he doesn't turn up or the work isn't to standard. I suppose it gets easier when you build up a relationship with the trades people, they get to know you and things become easier. We've had the same trades people for 10 years working on our house now so its become pretty straightforward.
However, if a trade turned up wanted the full payment before the work is completed, then they aren't for me. I have taken all of the risk and lost money if he doesn't turn up or the work isn't to standard. I suppose it gets easier when you build up a relationship with the trades people, they get to know you and things become easier. We've had the same trades people for 10 years working on our house now so its become pretty straightforward.
AClownsPocket said:
As a customer, I always pay my bills on time as I know I'll need that service again in the future. Doesn't do me any favours to be a dick about paying.
However, if a trade turned up wanted the full payment before the work is completed, then they aren't for me. I have taken all of the risk and lost money if he doesn't turn up or the work isn't to standard. I suppose it gets easier when you build up a relationship with the trades people, they get to know you and things become easier. We've had the same trades people for 10 years working on our house now so its become pretty straightforward.
It's a tricky one, isn't it. I'm having some building work done and the idea of handing over a few thousand before they've done it doesn't sit well with me. And yet on the other side of the table, how can the builder definitely know I'm going to pay up?However, if a trade turned up wanted the full payment before the work is completed, then they aren't for me. I have taken all of the risk and lost money if he doesn't turn up or the work isn't to standard. I suppose it gets easier when you build up a relationship with the trades people, they get to know you and things become easier. We've had the same trades people for 10 years working on our house now so its become pretty straightforward.
hairyben said:
I'm a sparky... nothing more likely to make me can't-be-bothered at your emergency than if you're a tardy payer or more likely to try to bend over backwards to fit you in when my plates already eleven tenths full than being a super prompt payer!
That is why we are super quick payers. People/Companies who do work for us will always sort our problems asap, knowing that we will pay within a few days tops. I am a firm believer, you can tell alot about a person on how they handle their debts and how they treat their kids.I find if your eager to pay then trying to get an invoice out of someone is a real challenge. i use a local window and door fitter for my portfolio, usually he takes about 3-4 months getting an actual invoice to me.
A spark rewired a house for me back in 2013, still haven't heard anything from him regards to payment. i chased him for 6 months for an invoice and then thought f
k it, he clearly doesn't like money.
As for me getting money out of people, probably 5 or 6 tenants have to be reminded each month to pay their rent, and these aren't dossers either they are decent people that can well afford it they just think im going to forget that they live there and have to pay rent.
A spark rewired a house for me back in 2013, still haven't heard anything from him regards to payment. i chased him for 6 months for an invoice and then thought f
k it, he clearly doesn't like money. As for me getting money out of people, probably 5 or 6 tenants have to be reminded each month to pay their rent, and these aren't dossers either they are decent people that can well afford it they just think im going to forget that they live there and have to pay rent.
There really is no excuse for late payment in this day and age of online banking and instant transfers.
To the OP - I'd suggest putting something on your invoices like:
'Payment required in full within 14 days, otherwise a late payment charge of £50 per week will accrue.'
It probably wouldn't be legally enforceable, but I bet it would make people think twice about mucking you around.
To the OP - I'd suggest putting something on your invoices like:
'Payment required in full within 14 days, otherwise a late payment charge of £50 per week will accrue.'
It probably wouldn't be legally enforceable, but I bet it would make people think twice about mucking you around.
Found this initially, but ended up using freeagent to issue invoices, you can specify how soon reminders are sent out if payments aren't received and how often after the initial reminder etc. Also hooked up to the bank account so automatically knew when invoices were paid, saved he hassle of manually chasing invoicing!
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