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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:
LeftMyRidingCropInTheMortuary · 15/10/2015 21:44

It's not acceptable for you to "forget" to pay!

Original poster
lilwelshyrs · 15/10/2015 21:48

I cant do standing order until i'm back to earning again as i might not have the full livery amount in my bank account on the 1st of the month and dont want to go over my overdraft. I have other direct debits i have to pay throughout the month which are also a priority. DH can help out when I'm short which might change month to month. I don't know how this will all pan out currently as this is my first child and first time on maternity allowance. I work freelance so only get MA.

I've been told we are not allowed to go directly to the farmer anymore as they supply the yard owner and she obviously makes something from ordering in hay and straw from them.

OP posts:
RoseWithoutAThorn · 15/10/2015 21:53

But the OP is effectively paying rent for her horse

This is how I view my livery agreements. They're like a tenancy agreement but on a rolling month to month basis with a month notice from either side required. Although, I have on one occasion returned three weeks livery and moved the horses free of charge, an experience I'd rather not have to go through again Livery is due on 1st each month. We have our own hay and haylege which we supply to the liveries. This is paid in cash per bale unless the horse is on full livery in which case the cost is included in the livery agreement.

I work term time and wouldn't have the time to invoice. DD does the invoicing for any extras as its her who does the work.

Original poster
lilwelshyrs · 15/10/2015 21:57

If the yard owner had simply told me that she was no longer invoicing, i'd have appreciated that.

OP posts:
LeftMyRidingCropInTheMortuary · 15/10/2015 21:59

Op that's YOUR problem. Don't try and make it the yard owner's.
Are you sure you can afford three horses and a child?
You don't sound responsible enough either I'm afraid.

Original poster
lilwelshyrs · 15/10/2015 22:00

Thanks for your opinion left :) it's greatly appreciated.

OP posts:
RoseWithoutAThorn · 15/10/2015 22:02

The farmer costs I'd just ask to go back to a direct contract not thru yard and then ask the farmer to confirm how much you owe.

It's not as easy as this with some Yard Owners unfortunately. A lot of them put they're own mark up on bales and don't allow direct contact with suppliers. My friend was on a yard that bales were being bought in for £20 and sold to liveries at £35 Shock. The yard owner was buying them from us! We stopped supplying her.

ThatsDissapointing · 15/10/2015 22:06

As a PP suggested my first thought was to set up a reminder on your phone or computer. I don't see any reason how that could cause a problem. Confused

LeftMyRidingCropInTheMortuary · 15/10/2015 22:06

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Floralnomad · 15/10/2015 22:06

If your OH and yourself have separate finances ,which I've assumed from what you have said ,then set up a standing order from his account and you pay him when you either remember or can afford to , at least that way you know it's paid on time .

Original poster
lilwelshyrs · 15/10/2015 22:10

Left - there's just no need to be so nasty... I dont get why you have to be so personal about it?! I'm not about to get into my personal finances online just wanted some views on invoices not about whether or not i sound entitled?!

Disappointing - i agreed earlier a reminder on my phone was a good idea as i hadnt thought of that myself :)

Again, without going too much into finances, it's easier if DH and I pool money when we need it as his wages pay rent and usually mine pay for the animals (and my share of bills and food and fuel) - however this has changed since being on MA and he'll have to help me out a bit more.

OP posts:
RoseWithoutAThorn · 15/10/2015 22:10

Hope your kid doesn't turn into a spoiled brat too

That was completely uncalled for. Angry

bimandbam · 15/10/2015 22:11

If the amount changes each month yanbu. If it doesn't then you are.

Set a reminder on your phone to pay your livery bill. I have 3 horses, and 2 dcs. Ds is 22 months and I didn't forget to pay my bill.

Also yab a bit u re the hay and straw. Yard owners have to make things pay and that sometimes includes goodwill from local suppliers. If it was my yard I wouldn't like liveries going to my supplier direct or providing storage for it either unless someone was paying livery on the empty stable!

Original poster
lilwelshyrs · 15/10/2015 22:14

Bim - i didnt know they were her suppliers until she told me. They cut her hay fields for her and do other jobs. Their hay is really lovely but i'd have loved to have kept it seperate had i known, however they do a good deal and always turn up which is brill!

OP posts:
Original poster
lilwelshyrs · 15/10/2015 22:15

Thanks Rose... I really wanted a conversation about this, not a slanging match... Heavily pregnant and posting on AIBU clearly isnt a good idea!

OP posts:
Original poster
lilwelshyrs · 15/10/2015 22:19

Bim - also she supplied the stable as storage. She didn't have to, but it was a deal breaker between her yard and another yard. Plus we are one owner and 3 horses so take up less space than requiring a pallet of space per horse which would be the case had we been 3 seperate owners.

OP posts:
TheLambShankRedemption · 15/10/2015 22:23

Just so you know, and to prevent you heading down the wrong track, VAT legislation does NOT require businesses to issue invoices to non business customers. Also, VAT invoices are not required if they are supplying only VAT exempt services (horse livery tends to be VAT exempt).

www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/vatrecmanual/VATREC4020.htm

Original poster
lilwelshyrs · 15/10/2015 22:24

Thanks for that :) i didnt know that but wouldnt have gone down that route anyway as i'd like to stay at the yard for as long as poss :)

OP posts:
LeftMyRidingCropInTheMortuary · 15/10/2015 22:29

Calm down dears!
You certainly don't ACT as if you want to stay at the yard, OP.

Original poster
lilwelshyrs · 15/10/2015 22:29

How?! I was just asking about invoices!

OP posts:
LeftMyRidingCropInTheMortuary · 15/10/2015 22:36

No you were talking about how you are likely to pay your bills late and (rudely imo) asked owner to text you reminders!

Original poster
lilwelshyrs · 15/10/2015 22:38

I might forget - we're all human! I didnt think it was that awful to ask if she'd text me... She texts me anyway and we discuss hay and straw deliveries over text so didnt think it was much different.

OP posts:
RoseWithoutAThorn · 15/10/2015 22:44

Calm down dears!

Everyone is calm, except you, who was incredibly nasty about an unborn child.

As I said, your comment was completely uncalled for and I assume made with the sole purpose to be goady.

LeftMyRidingCropInTheMortuary · 15/10/2015 22:55

Try and remember this is just the internet, dear, not real life.
Proceed to a grip shop perchance.
Bored of this thread now.

poocatcherchampion · 15/10/2015 22:59

I still can't see why you can't be sure to have enough money in your account if you are overall able to afford the livery.

But to answer your question - yes they are perfectly reasonable. You need to get organised.

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