To not pay the balance until the job is complete

[Madinitials]

We're having some work done in our garden by a reputable company (found on Checkatrade). We agreed to pay a third of the cost upfront and the balance upon completion. Halfway though the job, the gardener asked us to pay another third of the cost early to cover materials; we did. He hasn't been coming everyday so the job has gone on longer than expected but I guess thiis comes with the territory. I saw the gardener this morning and he said that he would complete today by putting the fence up and could I give him a cheque for the balance this afternoon which I agreed to do. He then went off to do another job and I went out.

When I came home, he had not returned and the fence was not up. DH had an email from gardener (sent after gardener and I spoke this morning) asking if he could have the balance in cash on Monday morning to buy materials as he is short of cash due to having bought a new van.

DH thinks we should give him the money, I think we have already flexible enough in paying a third of the money earlier than agreed and that we should pay the balance once he has finished - what do you think?

Yanbu. I think you've been both generous and patient.

Personally I wouldn't. You have paid him two thirds of the money. Not all of that will have been for materials. He would probably get supplies where he has 30 days to pay anyway. I'd tell him you will pay the balance on completion of the work.

Quite right. You have been more than accommodating. His cash-flow problems are not your concern. You agreed to pay the balance when he finished the job, and he hadn't finished the job.

Definately not pay him!

If he's already pissing you about what's to stop him just buggering off for good?

Why does your DH think you should pay him? Just because he's asked for it?

No. No. No. You've paid 2/3 already. Materials shouldn't be more than 2/3 of the cost. I wouldn't give him the remaining money until the work is finished.

Totally agree^. Ask him reasonably to get on with what he agreed to do and you'll pay, as agreed, at completion.

I think he's got serious money troubles. Do businesses not get credit accounts with local merchants etc? Every one I've dealt with has.

DH thinks we should pay him (or at least give him half of the balance) because we could be cutting off our noses, ie, he really doesn't have the money to buy the rest of the materials and therefore our job cannot be finished.

I looked up the cost of a fence and the possible materials to erect it and even if he was supplying us with the Rolls Royce of fences, he would not need even half of the balance to do so.

What gets me is that he said to me he was going to get the fence, the work would be done today and could he have the cheque later and 90 minutes later, he sent DH and email asking for the balance prior to completion as he is tight on cash. What changed so suddenly?

No, don't pay him until the job is finished. I would be wondering what is going on....... Can you ask him for receipts to show exactly where the money has gone to date? Why didn't he buy the materials first?

What changed could have been that he went to the fence shop and they said 'no more fences for you until you pay what you owe us for all the other fences you've had', which wouldn't bode well for you getting your fence done even if you did give him some more money.

I wouldn't trust him at this point I'm afraid, but obviously you do want your fence finished. How about agreeing to pay for the materials directly to the supplier, then taking that money off the balance you will owe him at the end of the job?

If he does have money probs, you paying part of the balance won't get him out of the shit.

You'll just be paying him cash and then have to shell out again once you've realised he's not going to finish.

At least you have a bargaining tool, give him your hard earned money and you've nothing binding him to you.

Don't pay! A friend had her extension started in November, should have been finished week after Christmas, her builder did similar to yours - her DH is a soft touch and paid and they haven't seen him since - every time they ring him he keeps fobbing them off with excuses.

Whereas another friend who is hard as nails just kept saying "No I will pay when you have finished job"- hers got finished bang on time

Do not pay him.

Seriously.

Crikey Mills, your friend must be kicking herself.

You're all right and I have just told DH that we won't pay until completion. DH is a bit of a soft touch and I think the gardener sees this, especially because we paid the second third early and now he thinks we'll do it again.

DH will reply a polite no to his email and if he has any queries, it will be me he is seeing on Monday and I have no qualms about reinforcing our (my)decision.

DO NOT PAY HIM A SINGLE PENNY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If he doesn't come back and finish the job you can always get someone else in, if you do pay him and he buggers off you have no fence and no money. Show your DH this thread and do not let him pay a penny!

If your DH is looking to dish out some cash I could put some to good use?

Email [email protected].

Instead of you giving him the money to pay off creditors buy materials, why not say that you will go with him to the suppliers and pay for the materials directly and then knock the amount off his bill.
See how he wriggles out of that one!

Zigzag what scares me is that if your story was plausible enough my DH would give you some money, reason why I married him

YANBU

DO NOT PAY HIM!
No matter what he says, you should never pay any contractor the full balance before the job is finished. My dh is a plasterer and yes he will ask for an upfront payment, only material cost he would never ask for the balance before finishing the job. DH always has a contigensy(sp) fund for extra costs.
If you need any more convincing, watch a few episodes of cowboy builders or watchdog.