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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To expect to be paid for a job on completion.

99 replies

zombieplanmum · 20/10/2012 16:41

DP has just done a job for someone. It is finished, to their satisfation. It was finished on Monday, signed off by building control on wednesday. We have NO money, our mortgage is overdue and we really need the money. DP has just sent a text as a gentle reminder to the client but im really annoyed - i wouldnt buy something and expect to just pay for it when i have time.

Whilst i realise that our financial situation is not the clients fault (well beyond the fact that we expected payment on wednesday really) and he is not to know that we are broke. I think it is rude, we have even had the text that said, thanks for a great job etc.

Why do people think they can have work done and then just pay later? This happens quite alot and i don't get it. I don't have work done becaues DP does it, but if i did, id expect to pay on completion.

Genuinely: AIBU? Or is this just the done thing? I didn't like having to remind the client to pay but really, they shouldn't put us in the situation where we have to. I need to go shopping but can't becaue we don't have the money. I have about £40 and thats it, i don't want to spend it obviously, in case something comes up.

OP posts:

MousyMouse · 20/10/2012 18:14

sorry you are in such a pickle, hopefully it's sorted soon.

Original poster

zombieplanmum · 20/10/2012 18:14

All i would say is this really: Next time you have work done, please spare a thought for the people who have done the work, they wont want to tell you that they are really strapped for cash, but i promise you, many tradesmen are finding things really hard lately and rely on every penny they earn WHEN they earn it. They simply cannot afford to wait 30 days because thats how the bigger companies do it, it just doesn't work like that. It can cause people genuine hardship, of course that isn't your problem, you are paying for a service and not providing charitable payments, but if you have a tradesmen who goes that extra mile for you, like my DP always does, value him and show this by making prompt payment, it could make all the difference to their family.

OP posts:

Panzee · 20/10/2012 18:16

I am so bad at writing cheques and posting things. It's got to the point where I insist on an invoice before the person leaves and pay them right then, otherwise they will have to wait because I always bloody forget. It's not because I don't want to. If you left while I was at work then I will forget. Pop round - slack but nice people like me appreciate that.

Original poster

zombieplanmum · 20/10/2012 18:17

Don't mind, to be honest, that wouldnt be a problem, if i knew the money had been paid and would hit the account in a few days, but not knowing IF he has paid is doing my head in :( All i want is for DP to ask the guy if the payment has been made. The last time he paid by BACS the money went in within hours. If he has paid using a different account it may of course take longer, its the whole not knowing that is what im finding so difficult.

OP posts:

Original poster

zombieplanmum · 20/10/2012 18:18

Panzee, i would, but its 75 miles away

OP posts:

Original poster

zombieplanmum · 20/10/2012 18:25

Thank you to those who have been kind to me on this thread, i knew i shouldn't have started it, i KNEW it would make me feel worse, have just had enourmous row with DP and after the week we have had, he is pretty fucking angry with me, who can blame him. The thought of having to wait 30 days for the money is too much, if we go over a month on the mortgage then we are in the shit big time, this is what im trying to avoid, a 30 day wait will finish us. But hey, its my own fault. hey ho

This thread has made me feel like i should know my station in life, maybe i do - thats enough for me

OP posts:

panicnotanymore · 20/10/2012 18:28

If handed an invoice I would assume payment was due within 30 days unless otherwise stated. Small local firms round us require payment immediately and will stand and wait for me to write a cheque. I am happy to do that when asked. A large sum requiring a bank transfer from a savings account would take longer as I would not have sufficient funds in my personal account and might need to organise a building society transfer. That requires going into the building society hence would have to wait until a saturday morning.

Paying for a building job is not the same as buying furniture. Usually people want a weekend to really check there are no snags. That is reasonable. Getting refunds from most builders for problems is nigh on impossible (I speak generally, I do not know you personally). Getting a refund for faulty goods bought in a shop is very easy in comparison.

Rather than complaining after the fact you should tell the client the exact terms.

Original poster

zombieplanmum · 20/10/2012 18:31

Honestly, im incredulous that you think it is ok to make people wait that long - we clearly come from very different worlds. If there was a problem with the work my dp would fix it, free of charge, he rarely has a problem because he takes his time and does a good job, if he goes back on a job its usually done out of good will.

OP posts:

MousyMouse · 20/10/2012 18:34

maybe you need set up a better system for invoices/reminders? maybe per email (most people have email these days)?

ZombTEE · 20/10/2012 18:36

You are disorganised if you have no idea what your husband wrote on the invoice,

If it was me, I would be insisting that my husband get a steadier stream of income because this is obviously not working for you or your family.

panicnotanymore · 20/10/2012 18:40

It's not about 'making people wait that long', it is about what is naturally assumed for invoices. If you require something different, tell people. Clients aren't shits they are in the main very reasonable and happy to oblige.... but they can't KNOW what your terms are unless you TELL them!!!!

Just state in big letters on the invoice 'payment due on invoice date'. It really is that easy.

Blistory · 20/10/2012 18:43

No OP, your husband needs to modify the war he runs his business to better suit your family circumstances. Staggered payments, larger deposits, discounts for prompt payment, invoice terms clearly stated, there's quite a lot he can do to help ensure you don't face these issues in future.

Has he no built in provision for bad debt ? It's tough when one invoice can bring you to the brink and he needs to rethink things particularly with the ways things are.

It's all very well and good be excellent at what he does but financial management of a business is a different skill set and easy to overlook in good times.

Hope the payment in en route - anyway to check your forward postings on the account ?

DontmindifIdo · 20/10/2012 18:45

Thing is, it's not like 30 days have gone by, it could be they paid within 48 hours, it's just not hit your account yet. give them a week, then chase, if you you can't wait a week, you need to start saying at the start of the job, or asking for a % at the start of a job to cover you.

Of course, that's not going to help you this weekend, is there anyway you can access any money until next week?

GrendelsMum · 20/10/2012 18:45

FWIW, I would feel that I had paid on time so long as the money was in the company's account 7 days after they presented the invoice.

However, I'm more than happy for someone to explain that they need the money right away and then I'll do a bank transfer that evening.

I recommend doing more formal invoices next time, stating your bank details so that people can do a bank transfer rather than posting a check, and stating up front exactly how quickly you want the money and how you would prefer to receive it.

I agree that I'd probably want to wait for a couple of days so that I could check the work myself. Perhaps your DH needs to work out some more formal way of signing off the work as done?

GrendelsMum · 20/10/2012 18:46

p.s. sorry if this comes across a bit harsh - I'm trying to help you work out a system for the future.

DontmindifIdo · 20/10/2012 18:47

oh actually, the idea of a "discount" for prompt payment (calculating so the discount price is what your normal prices are now, the pre-discount being a bit higher) would be a good idea, make people think they are getting a bargin, not being rushed into paying ASAP....

booitsme · 20/10/2012 18:59

I am often in a very similar situation. My husband sells and fits a plumbing item. Most people pay him the same day. Our estimate states payment on install. However, some people act surprised that he expects to be paid and say they have not got their cheque book or their Internet is down and they can't do a transfer. That's happened about 6 times and each time it has taken a few weeks, months to get paid. These people have fobbed us off with cheques lost in the post.... One couple never paid our £800 invoice. When I spoke to them they were indignant that I had chased them for payment and kindly alerted me to the fact there is a recession on and times were hard for them! I have a £10,000 business overdraft for fun! The item my husband sells is a luxury item as not a necessity! I was infuriated and told them in no uncertain terms I would not be financing their lifestyle!

I'm sorry you are struggling. Make sure it doesn't happen again by ensuring estimates state payment on day of completion, or if their is no estimate, insist your husband tells clients upon meeting them that payment is on the day of completion.

Could you text or e-mail the clients and tell them that as the materials were high on the job you would be grateful if they could send payment now. It means swallowing you pride but if you're worried your mortgage won't get paid.... I really do understand, my husband's van has broken down and beyond repair and I haven't slept for worrying about it.

squeakytoy · 20/10/2012 19:57

we are only a small company, but we always put on quotes of over £500 that a 20% deposit is due up front on acceptance of the quote. That covers materials.

we also state on the quote that payment is due on completion and put that on the invoice too

Inertia · 20/10/2012 20:03

I'm surprised at the number of responses saying that they pay within 30 days - it's never even occurred to me. I've always given the tradesman a cheque before they leave once the job is completed.

OP , I think you've hit on the way to address this. Tell the client that you are doing the finances, and you're just checking that they used the correct bank details and paid by BACS on Weds, because you're going to chase up the bank as the money has not appeared.

ShatnersBassoon · 20/10/2012 20:24

You don't yet know if the clients paid within hours of receiving the invoice. If you needed cash immediately, you were daft to not say anything. I think you're being premature in saying these people are taking the piss.

SugarPastePumpkin · 20/10/2012 21:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BeanieStats · 20/10/2012 21:45

Your financial situation is nothing to do with your customer. If you did not explicitly state payment on completion on the invoice then you have no reason to complain.

ajandjjmum · 20/10/2012 21:53

OP
It might be worth asking for a deposit in advance and payment on completion in future, perhaps building in a small discount on that basis. Would maybe save you some stress.
Sometimes people contact us (business wise) and say that cashflow is tight, would we mind settling quickly - often times well ahead of their normal terms. We are happy to do that whenever we can. Maybe you should call and speak to the client, and politely say that cashflow is tight this month, but as they said they were paying straightaway you haven't transferred any funds from other accounts. Could they settle please, as you want to settle your invoices, and not mess your suppliers around? Sort of thing....... Said with a smile and based on the fact that you need notice to transfer funds from other accounts, you're not giving anything away about your personal situation.
Sorry - Sat night + wine = waffle, but hope it helps!

digerd · 20/10/2012 22:14

When i had new windows from a reputable firm, I had to pay a deposit first, and then a surveyor could come to inspect the needed work. The work was done , but not as the surveyor told me, as the workers said it was not necessary and they know better. I was also told from the firm to pay the workers on completion, which I duly did. The next day, one of the windows wouldn't shut properly, and I was getting frozen feet from the large bow window I had to replace my flat one. I had to phone and they sent someone round to inspect and just said the remedial man would be round. The window was fixed. But with the bow window, I was just told, of course a large bow window like this will make you colder than your old flat one. When I said should have been informed, he just shrugged his shoulders and went !!!!
I have always paid on completion and then had fights with work not done properly, or not done at all. Didn't know I had 30 days to pay, as Trading Standards say, I do not have to pay if work not done properly or incomplete, or unsuitable for their purpose. All I want is for the tradesmen/builders do the job properly, but never had that happen. OP your DP is being treated badly by a customer, I,m sorry about that and your financial difficulties. It's obvious the customer has no complaints about the work, but taking advantage.

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