Is this usual for a tradesman to ask for money upfront?

[RadiatorHead]

Hi all. It’s been ages since we last had a patio laid and it was pre-Covid (if relevant) We’re currently meeting with people to get quotes and see pictures of their previous work on their websites before choosing who to work with.

Anyway, two of the guys sprung on us at the last minute that they charge up front charges. One said that it was 10% of the cost to book the days. One said it was £1000 to secure the days and then 40% of the total cost on day 1.

Is this a ‘thing’ now? I’m waiting for a quote back from someone else who didn’t mention it when he came round but who knows if it’s going to pop up on the paperwork!

Grateful for any insights.

They can do but be wary, I had one nick off with a £55 deposit and I’m still annoyed by it. I’d be incandescent it it was £1k.

I would wait to see what the next one says. Anyone hurrying you into agreement should be avoided.

Alternatively ask for the materials to be delivered to your home and pay then or, safest option, order them yourself.

My name is for the con artists who came after the recommended “tradesman” who did a runner with mine (and a few other people’s) money.

Now those con artists had the gift of the gab, didn’t even stop for breath.

So take your time and check reviews

Yes very normal. Especially for a patio where they have to pay out for expensive materials.

DP is a tradesman, he usually fronts the cost of the initial materials, usually it's an ongoing job where materials are bought regularly then some will be bought, then after those works are done the customer pays and then he buys more etc etc. £1000 is a lot to pay upfront as is 40%. I can see why they may do this though as work can be dropped last second and then they have no wages but I'd be careful in any case.

Another piece of advice is to look for reviews, either online or from someone you know personally.

If you do pay upfront, just make sure you have some kind of a contract with them and do your due diligence that it is an actual firm and not some chancer. Also get a receipt where it is clear what it’s for and make sure they don’t try to bill you again for the same things at the end.

If you pay by bank transfer and select 'paying for goods and services', and you keep the quote/ some documentation, you should be able to claim if back if anyone runs off with any money.

Thank you. The 10% guy I was a little less wary of. Not only because it’s less money but because he said it’s for the materials (I guess that’s obvious) But the £1k seems loads plus the extra 40% seems weird. I’m not going to pull out of the job, surely! He would have literally started! Do people do that??!!

Depends, DP doesn't generally ask for money up front but on larger jobs that take a substantial amount of time he will usually agree in advance for some payments to be made part-way through the job. If it's a new customer he hasn't worked with before he might ask for a small deposit on day 1 - both scenarios because he has been stung in the past

I wouldn't use anyone asking for money up front, even for materials. They should have decent credit with their suppliers for exactly that reason. If they really can't get them, delivery to yours and you pay that way. Part-way payments, agreed upfront and for what stage, totally fine.

Our company charge 25% deposit to purchase the materials. When this is received we start placing the orders and confirm a start date. We can't afford to buy materials and then a customer cancel the job,

I’m not going to pull out of the job, surely! He would have literally started! Do people do that??!!

Or they just don't pay promptly, or at all, when the job is finished, so the tradesman has to chase. If he's taken a deposit, at least he's not out of pocket for materials.

Buy the materials yourself and tell the contractor they will be delivered on x day. You don’t get much of a trade discount on patio materials and then you’ll own them.

No don't pay. If they don't turn up you'll never see your money again.

This is my concern. I get that they’re worried I won’t pay or cancel last minute but it seems unreasonable to pass that sort of risk onto me just because other people have been arseholes.

Unfortunately some people have work done and delay paying or don't pay which leaves tradesman with problems as they have to pay their suppliers and wages. We have certainly noticed it becoming a bit of a trend in our business

I wouldn’t use anyone who asks for payment upfront. I’ve always been billed when the work is done.

We had a landscaper last year who asked for funds up front to get materials. We only did it because his best mate lives next door and he recommend him so we thought we were pretty safe from being scammed!

We had a quote for a large job of 25k and they then suddenly requested 50% before starting. I waa surprised they sprung it on me and it wasnt mentioned at quote stage. Luckily they were starting within a few days and had just successfully completed a friend's extension, so I had no evidence to not trust them.

I understood that they needed to order a lot of materials specifically for our job, and they wouldn't want to risk us not paying them too. So, we agreed 10k and I crossed my fingers.

All went well. We've paid that and a mid-stage payment now. The jobs finished today so there's about 30 percent left.

We had a massive build last year, paid in stages as we went along. We held back the final installment to pay on completion which seemed fair enough and they agreed to, trouble is the final tranch of work (part of an extension) is disastrous so we're refusing to pay and they are going ballistic. Very stressful and think we will have to take legal advice. I get that they are out of pocket but they've left us with nightmare to sort out. I hate that the whole industry is so unregulated

I recently had some work, on a much smaller scale but I was asked for 30% upfront, not only did the tradesman do an excellent job he actually did it earlier than he'd said

Its way too prescriptive to discount everyone who asks for a deposit for that reason alone

If anything is to pay for materials then I would suggest you pay for these directly so they are yours. Then you can pay for the labour when they have actually done some work.

Far too many times they will take on a job, take some money, dump their things on your property for the job but then possibly extra things so that no other builder will then take on the job that the original builder failed to do if that makes sense. Sort of marking their territory, in the meantime you are still waiting for them to do the work but they already have some cash in their hand.

I didn't know that, I always have to answer that question when I pay anyone online but I didn't know why, is it your own bank who pays you back?

We've had a lot of work done and all of them wanted some money upfront. Mainly to cover materials but some 50%. It's the way of the world now.

I would say that it’s not unusual but make sure they are legit. Search on local sites to see what people have to say about them and read all the reviews - check the reviews aren’t all glowing and written in the same language or posted at a similar time.