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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think that if you get an invoice you dont NEED to pay it immediately?

138 replies

Hundredthmillionthdiet · 16/05/2024 16:26

Context : used a new mechanic to repair car who issues invoices. Its taken 4 weeks to get the invoice and I've said to OH we can pay it when we get paid on Wednesday. OH wants to pay it now out savings , I'd rather not as more often than not the money doesn't get replaced (that's our issue not mechanics')

I'm not disputing paying it - of course not. Just opinions. Usually invoices will say pay withing x number of days which I've asked him to double check. Just wondering what's reasonable, as I'm sure there will be times cars need fixed etc and people to have the money immediately to hand.

OP posts:
Elphame · 16/05/2024 18:54

4 weeks is nothing!

I got one in March for work the electrician had done for me 6 months earlier!

Some really are not great at the paperwork ( and yes I had reminded them I hadn't had the bill!)

longdistanceclaraclara · 16/05/2024 18:44

What are the payment terms? You follow those.

LaWench · 16/05/2024 18:30

I work in accounts and always pay on receipt or to the terms on the invoice unless there is a dispute with service/ goods/ costs etc.

Plenty of small traders are not great at paperwork but still need the cashflow.

saraclara · 16/05/2024 18:30

caringcarer · 16/05/2024 17:11

This I always pay on the collection of my car.

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This used to be the norm, but I've found over the last couple of years, that when I pick the car up the mechanics tell me that they'll invoice me later. That's two different local garages that I've used.

I'd rather pay straight away, but it seems that with various online invoicing and general small business financial sites becoming available, garages have moved from handwritten billing available straight away, to end of the day/week/month bill management.

CornishTiger · 16/05/2024 18:27

I’d pay immediately in the hood he remembers my prompt payment and in future schedules in any future work quickly.

WhereAreAllTheBendyBusses · 16/05/2024 18:23

Also any decent mechanic would know the time it takes. They cannot charge more for the labour hours than the job is expected to take. They have system's that will state. So they should have given the maximum price so you'd have a ball park figure.
For example. If a CMax clutch states 5.6hours labour they can only charge that. If they for example took 8 hours they can't charge 8 hours only 5.6 plus the parts. The mechanic may only take 4 hours and charge 4 hours or they can take 4 hours and still charge the 5.6 max.
So i find it hard to believe you wouldn't have had a quote prior. So you can set money aside.

StMarieforme · 16/05/2024 18:16

The terms should be on the invoice.

PuppyMonkey · 16/05/2024 17:55

What do the invoice terms say?

NeverEnoughPants · 16/05/2024 17:53

Einwegflasche · 16/05/2024 17:47

It seems I might have meant no, apologies.
(I suppose being ill isn't really an excuse for causing confusion......but that's all I have....)

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I probably wasn't completely clear tbf, but we are on the same page :)

AlltheFs · 16/05/2024 17:50

It depends on the terms.

My plumber asks for 7 days, I usually pay within 24hrs of receipt. As a sole trader he needs it.

Our huge vet hospital which bleeds me dry (elderly equine), their terms are 30 days from invoice and I pay them when it suits me within that time. Never late but I do often wait until payday.

Einwegflasche · 16/05/2024 17:47

NeverEnoughPants · 16/05/2024 17:18

Do you mean yes? It sounds like you mean no. Which is what I would expect and have experienced.

If the bill isn't ready, I've always been able to take the car and pay when I receive it. They have never tried to keep the car at the garage because they haven't managed to get the invoice done promptly.

Show quote history

It seems I might have meant no, apologies.
(I suppose being ill isn't really an excuse for causing confusion......but that's all I have....)

JJathome · 16/05/2024 17:35

Just pay it and put the money back on payday. Surely you can manage that?

TheFairyCaravan · 16/05/2024 17:21

Pay the invoice with your savings, today, then repay your savings on payday.

NeverEnoughPants · 16/05/2024 17:18

Einwegflasche · 16/05/2024 17:04

Yes, the mechanics tend to work longer than the receptionist at our garage, so sometimes the bill isn't quite ready. They trust most of us to return to pay the bill when we receive it/within a reasonable time. We live in a small community though so if you don't pay your garage bill word will soon get around!

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Do you mean yes? It sounds like you mean no. Which is what I would expect and have experienced.

If the bill isn't ready, I've always been able to take the car and pay when I receive it. They have never tried to keep the car at the garage because they haven't managed to get the invoice done promptly.

thefamous5 · 16/05/2024 17:12

Pleas pay as quickly as you possibly can.

I'm a freelancer and I've just spent 3 weeks chasing a significant payment.

It's my livelihood!

caringcarer · 16/05/2024 17:11

PickledPurplePickle · 16/05/2024 16:30

I’m amazed you managed to drive your car away without paying

This I always pay on the collection of my car.

PanicAttax · 16/05/2024 17:10

NeverEnoughPants · 16/05/2024 17:02

And what do you do if the bill isn't ready? Tell them to keep the car until it is?

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This has never happened, but then I use the dealership where I got the car. Surely if you have no agreement on what the cost might be they'd just charge whatever they like and add things to the invoice?

If I was paying thousands for something I would want the invoice but also would want to check it was working before I paid. Just as I would if I was paying for a new boiler; you'd make sure it worked first before paying.

I think there is legally 30 days usually on an invoice?

lanya · 16/05/2024 17:07

If you need to wait until you are paid then that's a valid reason to wait a few days - as long as it's not going over an agreed payment time. You need to check the invoice to see if it has a "payment required by" date on it. You shouldn't keep them waiting more than a few days either way.

Einwegflasche · 16/05/2024 17:07

PanicAttax · 16/05/2024 16:56

I always pay when I pick up the car. Weird to just walk in and drive off?!

It probably depends on location and/or how well you know the garage.
(I have already explained this in another reply just above).

WhereAreAllTheBendyBusses · 16/05/2024 17:06

However if we're late issuing an invoice, we we're last week as new system then we would obviously give a bit of leaway

HisNibs · 16/05/2024 17:05

Hundredthmillionthdiet · 16/05/2024 16:59

Of course not. This is purely from point of view from being issued an invoice, that's taken 4 weeks to be issued thats all. Not something I have experienced before.

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So why make them wait until next Wednesday? Pay from savings now and when payday comes around next Wednesday, put the money back in savings. Job done.

Einwegflasche · 16/05/2024 17:04

NeverEnoughPants · 16/05/2024 17:02

And what do you do if the bill isn't ready? Tell them to keep the car until it is?

Show quote history

Yes, the mechanics tend to work longer than the receptionist at our garage, so sometimes the bill isn't quite ready. They trust most of us to return to pay the bill when we receive it/within a reasonable time. We live in a small community though so if you don't pay your garage bill word will soon get around!

WhereAreAllTheBendyBusses · 16/05/2024 17:04

Terms of our invoice is payment upon job completion. Don't pay = don't get car key back

greenbeansrock · 16/05/2024 17:02

Hundredthmillionthdiet · 16/05/2024 16:59

Of course not. This is purely from point of view from being issued an invoice, that's taken 4 weeks to be issued thats all. Not something I have experienced before.

Show quote history

and it seems to have knocked you sideways 🤭

Einwegflasche · 16/05/2024 17:02

Addictforanex · 16/05/2024 16:58

When I was renovating my house trades invoices would come thick and fast. I’d usually sit down on a Saturday and pay those that had come in during the week, updating my spreadsheet as I went. All fine.

There was one guy - a stonemason- who would want same day payment. Literally send the invoice in the morning and the emails would start at lunchtime saying “haven’t seen payment yet, can you attend to invoice asap!”. By the evening “is there a problem with the work, are you refusing payment” etc. I was literally at work FFS I was not going to drop everything and start doing personal banking, and had no chance to even validate the work had been done. I won’t use let him again, such an aggressive way to operate.

That sounds ridiculous - I'd probably initially reply with 'We have a lot of bills from tradespeople so to make it easier we pay them all at the same time, every (insert day). Your payment of (insert amount) will be included then, and we were really happy with your work.'

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