Being hounded for payment

[JJPP1234]

I've had a guy in decorating my lounge. The job took a couple of days and he finished today at 4.30. When he was leaving he asked how I wanted to pay so I asked if bank transfer would be ok. He said fine and emailed his details immediately.
An hour later I've looked at my phone and I've had 5 text messages and a missed call plus voicemail asking where his money is.
AIBU to have not paid him (I've done it now - was going to wait for DH to get home and i was making dinner) within an hour of him leaving my house?

[Believeitornot]

@FrancisCrawford

OP had agreed by bank transfer. Why does it need to be immediate

And no it isn’t like buying from a shop!

YANBU OP. A bit OTT

[Confusedbeetle]

It is reasonable to pay within 48 hrs

[TheInimitableMrsFanshawe]

Even if you had done it immediately faster payment takes up to two hours, so he’s being totally unreasonable. But do make sure you deal with it ASAP.

[JJPP1234]

Usually when I've had people doing work they send me an invoice a couple of days later and I pay within 24 hours. I really didn't think I was being slack. Just curious about what others think.

[Mailawaymailawaymailaway]

With the plumber I used last time, it was cash after the job was completed or an immediate bank transfer before he left the house. So perhaps not an uncommon expectation in manual work.

[khajiit13]

I'd also pay immediately. He's probably been stung before and learnt he needs to be quite insistent to get paid ASAP.

[PattiStanger]

It's maybe a little OTT but he might have had problems in the last .You should have managed his expectations if you weren't going to pay immediately

[Blackteadrinker77]

I've always paid as they leave.

[Rainshowers]

We've held off until the next day so we can check out the work in daylight first. I think that's pretty reasonable but we did mention it to them (and had paid a deposit).

[nitroxTrained]

"He's probably been stung before and learnt he needs to be quite insistent to get paid ASAP."

This.

You're hardly being hounded, are you?

[woodpecker2]

If he wanted cash in hand he should have said. A transfer the next day would be reasonable.

[Aridane]

Yes, OTT. So what if he has had bad experiences in the past. 6 chasers in one hour is excessive

[Believeitornot]

I would class 5 texts and voicemail as hounding.

[JJPP1234]

Tbh I do feel a bit hounded. He's basically driven home and then attempted to contact me every 5 minutes.
It's interesting that many people.do an instant transfer... What happens when it isn't instant though? If he'd had wanted cash this could've been arranged but he seemed find with the transfer. I shall bear this in mind for the future though!

[CluedoAddict]

Always paid immediately.

[readysteadyteddy]

I think 5 texts and a voicemail in an hour is definitely hounding!

[Awwlookatmybabyspider]

Perhaps hes been ripped off before and is paranoid.

[OutyMcOutface]

YANBU. That's really weird. Use someone else next time unless he was good enough to risk lettuce no a crazy person into your house.

[Footiegirl84]

You were definitely hounded. My dad is a decorator. He would finish the job then invoice. Sometimes he would wait weeks for payment and that is legal

[Wellfuckmeinbothears]

In my experience I have always been asked to pay cash or bank transfer before the decorator leaves the property.

He was being a bit OTT but there could be any number of reasons why he needed the money asap.

[expatinscotland]

I'd pay up immediately.

[ivykaty44]

Many businesses go bankrupt due to none payment of invoices.

You need to pay for a job once it’s finished and promptly- the decorator may have been stung many times before for all you know...

[apostropheuse]

Perhaps he desperately needed the money right away. Perhaps he agreed to bank transfer as he presumed you would do it immediately.

It only takes a few minutes to make a bank transfer, you could have done it as he left.

[brownelephant]

yanbu
unless otherwise agreed before work starts it's bank transfer after a) I was able to inspect the work properly b) after receipt of a proper invoice