How do you pay electricians?

[Literallynoideaatall]

This is such a silly question I know but I've never had any trades people do anything at mine or anything before I don't understand how you pay them, I have really bad social anxiety so I just want to know what to do
do you pay them cash when they're here? Or will I get a bill I can just pay by bank transfer?
if they're from a company then do I pay the company?
I know it's so stupid but having to talk to strangers is my worst nightmare I always make such a twat of myself!

Bank transfer usually. Most tradespeople will email an invoice with bank details.

Not always promptly - I had chase the last one a couple of times and eventually got a bill 3 months later!

If they offer a discount for cash it means they're probably dodging tax / VAT. Lots of people think this is ok (I don't, and I wouldn't trust someone who offered it) but it is something that you might encounter.

Hopefully you have an idea of the cost before the job is done. Once it's completed, you could ask if they will be sending the invoice by post or email.

Usually bank transfer, larger companies often take cards too. We always pay by credit card if it is possible but with smaller companies or sole traders bank transfer is the norm.

We rarely do cash although we do pay the village odd job man in cash- but he’s not a qualified trade.

I would pay by bank transfer on receipt of an invoice & any relevant certs. Some might have a card machine but I would still want a written invoice.

I’d expect to pay by bank transfer as soon as the job is completed or they may send you an invoice later. I’d expect an electrician to certify their work if it’s substantial and the certificate may arrive much later.
I was caught out by a fencing company wanting cash on the day - this hadn’t been agreed and it wasn’t easy to get so much together. I didn’t notice any discount for cash either and didn’t get a receipt.

Bank transfer based on an invoice they would send me. Or card if they have a card reader.

usually these days bank transfer though some might take cards too. having run a small business myself taking cards eats into your income quite a lot so not that common.

Many tradespeople used to be cash only (often but def not always seen as a tax dodge) but I’ve noticed a massive shift to bank transfers, especially since the pandemic

Asking for cash is rare these days. Emailed invoice and bank transfer is the most common way, in my experience anyway.

Just WOW! So they couldn't be offering a discount in an effort to keep cash flow going through the company books which allows them to pay their own bills promptly. 🤔

They might be under the VAT registration threshold though.

This is nonsense. Most bank transfers are now immediate - possibly even quicker than getting your purse out & dealing with change!! Cash demands or discounts are almost certain to avoid tax.

*certainly

All customers are not like you, some customers ask for a bill and then don't pay for over 6 months in which case it doesn't matter how fast a bank transfer goes through does it?

Fair point.

I work in accounts in this industry. Nothing wrong with accepting cash but offering a discount for cash usually means someone isn't putting it through their books.

A discount for prompt payment is fine. If a tradesman wants paying on the day then he needs to have some sort of system for providing an invoice there and then to the customer even if it is only a duplicate pad.

I've literally paid them straight away when the job is completed via bank transfer, done this a few times.

Is that common for a tradesman? Possible I suppose. There's also income tax to be declared / paid for.

I've nothing against doing business in cash but whenever I've been offered a discount for cash it's always been for tax dodging purposes.

I think I scared a builder once - he asked if I worked in the tax office!

Your views are ignorant and you obviously know nothing about running a small business. It is disgusting that you are branding small business owners like this when there are proper parasites on the planet, there are many many reasons why small businesses may prefer cash, none of them make them automatically dodgy.

I don't understand how you pay them, I have really bad social anxiety so I just want to know what to do

Just ask them. "Hi, what's the best way to pay you?"

Have you received a quote - either email or paper so do you know how much you’re potentially going to be paying?
It will usually indicate on there methods for payment.

Dh is a tradesmen, he accepts cash, bank transfer and card payment.
All upon receipt of invoice.

You'll be suprised how many say. Just stick it in your pocket, i dont want an Invoice. However he does as at the end of the day hes a business and has overheads therefore the cash gets paid in. If that customer doesnt want an invoice they can bin it. But we have7our copy.

Ask them to email your invoice and their bank details, then do a bank transfer.

Or cash in hand after they've handed you their invoice.

Reasons which make it worth offering the customer a significant discount, for the added hassle of handling cash?

A discount for cash over card is understandable. A discount for cash over a BACS wire transfer is more suspect, given BACS is instantaneous and doesn't come with extra fees.

In my experience, most tradesmen prefer a BACS transfer immediately after the job is done (especially if it's an irregular job like a call out).

I've always done it whilst they're there (i.e. when they've been packing up). I'm not sure that's been necessary, but I know how much of a pain it is chasing up your debtors and I think it's kind to do it there and then and wave the phone in front of them so they know that it's hit their bank account and can relax.