Being hounded for payment

[JJPP1234]

I've had a guy in decorating my lounge. The job took a couple of days and he finished today at 4.30. When he was leaving he asked how I wanted to pay so I asked if bank transfer would be ok. He said fine and emailed his details immediately.
An hour later I've looked at my phone and I've had 5 text messages and a missed call plus voicemail asking where his money is.
AIBU to have not paid him (I've done it now - was going to wait for DH to get home and i was making dinner) within an hour of him leaving my house?

[NotReadyToMove]

Fwiw, none of the few trades pople coming in our house have ever asked for immediate payment. They’ve always sent an invoice and we often have had to chase them up for said invoice!!

My parents have had a few people coming too and have had a similar experience. They are waiting for an invoice that can take months to come! Even with reminders on their part.

[PonderLand]

I don't remember where I read this from but I've got it in my head that if you've haven't received any t&c in regards to payment/possibly on an invoice, then you are required to pay within 30 days.

In my DP's line of work it's reasonable to be paid 3 months after he's finished the job. It's not unreasonable to get paid a few hours/days/weeks after work is completed. It's what most people have to deal with.

[HolyShet]

When you said "can I pay by bank transfer?" did you agree when, what time?
He clearly meant right then and there, you meant whenever you got round to it, probably that evening.
If he had been expecting to be paid cash on completion he was already extending you a courtesy. When you ignored his texts (to make dinner) he was worried - because tomorrow he'll be busy doing physical work decorating someone else's lounge and doesn't have time or an assistant to chase up non-payment

I know you didn't mean to be unreasonable OP, but I think you were. I don't know if and how you work but if you are not salaried, you need, and are within your rights to expect prompt payment/payment on the terms set before you do a job.

[JacquesHammer]

YANBU OP. His behaviour was inappropriate less than an hour after leaving.

I would be tempted to call/text every 5 mins for a receipt

[londonrach]

Im surprised he left without you paying him

[HolyShet]

If he is a sole trading painter and decorator, he may well live pretty much hand to mouth.

And businesses like that are slow after Xmas when folks are skint.

[BothersomeCrow]

I'm surprised by all these trades who invoice! Everyone I've ever used which is a lot wants paying before they leave the house, either in cash or watching you do the bank transfer. Sometimes we agree that they will come round in the next day or so once DP confirms the job is OK, but only if discussed in advance.

[ShiftyMcGifty]

Over the top, sending that many texts. He’s basically made sure you never recommend him by leaving yoh with such an unprofessional last impression.

If he needed immediate payment upon completion, he should have requested it and arranged it with you.

[SundaysFunday]

I would always pay a tradesperson before they left the house. I'm surprised he left without payment.

5x missed calls is a bit OTT though, but I guess you never know how much someone else is struggling financially.

[nancy75]

All those people saying 48 hours/a few days is acceptable - it might be acceptable to you but it obviously wasnt to him.
Tradesmen are in a difficult situation, they ve done the work, if you suddenly don’t pay what do they do? They can’t come and take the paint off the walls.
A big part of my job is collecting payments & I have to say most people ( even regular customers) are piss takers - I’ll do it today usually means you’ll have to chase 5 times before you see the money

[lottiegarbanzo]

He sounds unhinged. That behaviour would definitely put me off using him again.

[Chunkymonkey123]

YANBU I have never paid by bank transfer as someone is leaving my house!
If they ask for cash in advance then I will make sure I have it but if it is bank transfer I think anything up to 3 days is reasonable.

To pay a new payee I have to log on to my bank via my computer, if a tradesman left at tea time there is no way that this would happen before DS went to bed.

I think his behaviour is really weird and it would make me think that he had done a shoddy job and wants paying before you spot the paint pealing etc.

[grannytomine]

This has just reminded me of a job I had done 2 years ago, I contacted him twice to say I hadn't had the invoice and he said he was behind with his paperwork and to just wait. I still haven't had it and I can't remember his name. My email changed, not my fault Orange stopped it, so I can't find the emails. I feel really guilty now. I owed him for parts as well as labour. I just remember his first name as it is the same as my eldest son.

[SlothMama]

I'd have paid him immediately, just see it from his point of view he's done the work he wants the money for it.

A bank transfer takes minutes to do, he's probably had issues in the past with none payment.

[Aridane]

Love the smuggy mc smug faces who think it outrageous that you didn’t pay before tradesman left and that you had the absolute temerity and unreasonable behaviour to have dinner before making an online payment

[Runninglateeveryday]

Maybe he was having a super poor day and was relying on the money for necessitys !

[smargolis]

I think I would have asked, before he started the job, how he would like to be paid. I would probably not wait until the job was finished for him to ask me how I wanted to pay. If most of his clients are like me, he might have feared you were a bit reluctant.

[GabsAlot]

if he wanted it immediately why didnt he just ask for cash when agreeing to the job

i think hes gone ott would put me off

[Aridane]

Maybe he was having a super poor day and was relying on the money for necessitys !

And maybe he just has the business and social skills of a goat and is a twat

[nancy75]

And maybe he just has the business and social skills of a goat and is a twat

Maybe his rent is due tomorrow, or it’s his kids birthday this weekend or other people that should have paid promptly have let him down, or decided like those on here that 3 days is perfectly acceptable to wait before they pay

[worridmum]

Yes its a stupid thing traders men or even web designers etc all have no bargaining power once the work is done (less so with web designers though) but with phyically tradesmen the amount of pisstakers that fine a single blemish or refuse payment is obscene and its nearly impossible to get money from a house onwer that refuses to pay you once work is completed, its not like they can knock down your front door and destory the work they have done is it?

You have all the power you could have the best standard finish ever and the customer then refuses to pay you? then you have to go to court and chase them which costs you so much more money and time.

You should be prompt with payment i bet you lot would not like you pay day to be late why should traders people be any different?

[Amatree]

If he needed you to pay immediately he should have made that clear. Otherwise I think giving you the evening to do it would be reasonable and then maybe nudging you after a day or so. Given the times you've quoted I would have done it that evening without it occurring to me that would be slack! His hounding would put me off using him again, it would make me feel really uncomfortable!

[littlemisscomper]

24 hours is fine, 48 hours acceptable, longer than 3 days taking the biscuit, but an hour? What a weirdo!

[nancy75]

For a 2 day job I can’t imagine anything other than paying before they leave on the final day of work, no different to a person coming to fix your oven or repair a leaking pipe - for little jobs most workman expect immediate payment