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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To feel fed up regarding invoices?!

59 replies

lilwelshyrs · 15/10/2015 20:22

I've just moved my horses to a beautiful yard. We're mostly happy there. However struggling with the yard owner.
I have 3 horses. One condition of the move there was that we had our own storage for bulk buying hay and straw (much cheaper) so she gave us a stable to store it all in.
We found a local farmer who was happy to supply us with the hay and straw but it turned out it was the same farmer who the yard owner uses. So the yard owner has asked us to go through her to order the hay and straw and wont invoice us for the amount... Just wants the money in cash up front. So that's the first annoying invoice issue I have... I've accepted that cash up front will just have to do but sometimes I forget which is why an invoice is so handy - plus we can see how much hay and straw we're going through each month.

Next is the monthly livery cost. It doesn't change at all. So because of this she has told me she won't do any invoices from now on... I find this quite incredulous as it is a business and there are approx 20 odd owners on site.

I am due my first baby soon so have asked the yard owner if she would remind me on the 1st of the month with a text as when baby's here, I doubt I'll know what time of day it is let alone what the date is!
She won't text a reminder on the 1st and has instead told me to set up a standing order - which would be fine if my only income wasnt maternity allowance which comes once every two weeks. I've said to her that I will do a standing order when I go back to work...

But I feel so frustrated! Why is it so hard to invoice us?! Or at least be understanding of the fact that these next few months are going to be a bit mental for myself and my husband... Is she being unreasonable or am I just being a bit sensitive?!

OP posts:
Floralnomad · 15/10/2015 20:28

I have had horses at various livery yards for over 30 yrs and I have never had an invoice ( I've had 2 babies in this time ) . I don't really understand what the problem is with the hay/ straw surely you have to pay the farmer when you take the goods ?

Original poster
lilwelshyrs · 15/10/2015 20:30

Yeh we do, but once we had established a contact, they were happy for us to do bank transfer whereas now we're not allowed to.

Every yard I've been to I've had an invoice... When I first moved to this yard i was invoiced. Then they suddenly stopped without warninf until i asked for an invoice.

OP posts:
IamtheDevilsAvocado · 15/10/2015 20:32

Can't you set an alert on your phone?

Invoices are going out of fashion!

Original poster
lilwelshyrs · 15/10/2015 20:35

A reminder on my phone would work.
Are they going out of fashion? My dog walker invoices, the girl who does the assistance at the yard invoices, I have to invoice for my work otherwise I don't get paid :-/

OP posts:
Floralnomad · 15/10/2015 20:41

The only reason I can see for an invoice is if it's different amounts each week ,I can't see the point if it's always the same cost .

RoseWithoutAThorn · 15/10/2015 20:43

The only time we invoice is for extras required eg muck out, turn out, bring in, hold for farrier etc. It's not your yard owners responsibility to remind you when livery is due. I don't invoice for monthly livery as that's expected to be by bank transfer and is outlined in the livery agreement.

iamaLeafontheWind · 15/10/2015 20:44

Invoices going out of fashion? What a ridiculous thing to say! Not invoicing makes them look entirely unprofessional.

Original poster
lilwelshyrs · 15/10/2015 20:47

I guess if I had been warned of this change I wouldn't be as surprised by it... The fact the invoices suddenly stopped without warning seemed odd. When I asked another owner they assumed she had just forgotten.
I dont have a copy of the livery agreement and cant remember what was said regarding it... If anything. I think it was more to do with how the yard is treated as opposed to how livery was paid.

OP posts:
RoseWithoutAThorn · 15/10/2015 21:04

I can see your frustration if you've been getting invoices and they've suddenly stopped. I missed that part in your OP. My livery agreements are inclusive of price, turn out, use of the arena, parking, box storage and having a vet on site. They can be several pages long. DH is an equine vet and when I first opened that was causing a lot of problems. He was often treating the liveries horses then being bloody late for call outs. I won't mention the expectation of not paying for treatment

Original poster
lilwelshyrs · 15/10/2015 21:13

It wasnt very clear in my OP i think.

I'm sure you've seen your fair share of awful liveries Grin And having a DH as a vet must be super handy although when people take advantage, then that's just shit!
The girl who does the assisted once poo picked a sick paddock a horse had been in for a few weeks - his owners hadnt poo picked it at all and there was barely any grass left... Instead of his owners saying thanks, they said "you're not going to charge us, are you?" Shock I'd be mortified if my horse was stood in more shit than grass!! I cant poo pick our field anymore so am more than happy to pay the girl to do it for me!

OP posts:
Boxoffrogs123 · 15/10/2015 21:18

Refuse to pay without an invoice Shockthat's how businesses work. no invoice no pay . We all like to see what they are charging us for. Really old fashioned I know but how will you know what you owe?

LeftMyRidingCropInTheMortuary · 15/10/2015 21:20

YABU. You take the goods and service and you pay for them. You don't "forget" to pay! Set up your own standing orders and reminders. It's not everyone else's problem/responsibility. You having a baby doesn't mean the yard owner has to become your PA. Perhaps she has a busy life of her own - what if all the horse-owners had, oh gosh, a BAY-bee to look after?

And YY, invoices cost time to make and clutter places up with admin and paper!

Boxoffrogs123 · 15/10/2015 21:21

Well there are always the ones who take the piss, for poo picking ! But a basic invoice is not taking the piss it's just business really or how do they know what people owe?

LeftMyRidingCropInTheMortuary · 15/10/2015 21:22

Post from yard owner:

AIBU to refuse to make 20 invoices per month AND send reminder text messages to my horse-owners just because they have had a baby and can't organise their own affairs?

LeftMyRidingCropInTheMortuary · 15/10/2015 21:26

But the OP is effectively paying rent for her horse and paying for goods. You don't usually get invoices for rent/goods being purchased.

I invoice for work I've done BECAUSE otherwise people don't know how much is due. And technically from an accounting perspective, it should be done. But seriously, you want an invoice for a few bales of hay?! From a farmer? Sounds like a lot of hassle for him.

Original poster
lilwelshyrs · 15/10/2015 21:27

Left - I'm not expecting her to be my PA... I've always had invoices from yard owners and it's a useful visual reminder.

I wont withold payments but if i forget to pay on the 1st of the month once baby has arrived then i forget... Surely there's a bit of leeway for that?! It's not like I'll never be up at the yard again and do a runner with 3 horses...

OP posts:
Original poster
lilwelshyrs · 15/10/2015 21:29

The farmer has a business - the bales are bulk bought and will change in price depending on yield. I'm not allowed an invoice for the hay and straw as I now have to go through the yard owner and pay as I go instead of at the end of a month via bank transfer with an invoice if i was dealing directly with the farmer...

OP posts:
Boxoffrogs123 · 15/10/2015 21:30

Err yes any business invoices for any regular expenses , regardless and left I think and the op is not talking about the odd bale of hay but her livery costs as well.

Original poster
lilwelshyrs · 15/10/2015 21:31

Blimey, Left, this post has changed tone Hmm

I've been on bigger yards and they manage to invoice Hmm

OP posts:
RandomMess · 15/10/2015 21:35

As an accounts clerk I find it very odd that they have no system? Are they going to be declaring all this income etc.?

Don't understand why they won't email you an invoice each month, they ought to be keeping records of some sort...

Original poster
lilwelshyrs · 15/10/2015 21:40

That's what I thought, Random. Apparently it's all legit and she keeps copies of it all... So why is it hard to do an email or something?!

I mean ultimately it's fine - i'm not about to demand she gives me an invoice "or else" as the amount doesnt change, but I find it helpful for my records. If I pay in cash I definitely want some kind of invoice or receipt!

OP posts:
poocatcherchampion · 15/10/2015 21:40

I can't see why you can't set up a standing order?

It doesn't matter that you are paid fortnightly - you need to budget for your expenses. My mortgage company wouldn't accept me saying that I get paid fortnightly so cannot set up a regular payment. Likewise if I kept paying late because I had a child.

Boxoffrogs123 · 15/10/2015 21:41

Ask about if they are VAT registeredI'm sure that will that will get a response

Fuckitfay · 15/10/2015 21:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Fuckitfay · 15/10/2015 21:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.