To withhold half the cash until I see completed job

[dove83]

I have a guy coming to do work for me today. This was booked 5 months ago as this was his first available date. I will be there this morning to see him and discuss the job but I'm after been given an appointment in the hospital this afternoon which I cannot miss. The job should be finished before I get home but I'm worried about paying him in full until I see the completed work. AIBU to withhold some of the money say half until I get back and ensure the job is done or should I pay in full and take the chance? There is no one around that can pop in and check and he is not local to the area.

I can see why you would want to do that but in fairness to the trades person how do they know you'll pay the other half? Nobody else you could send round before they leave to make sure they haven't screwed it up?

Everyone I have had do work for me recently has been very happy for me to get home, see the work and then do a bank transfer.

It is not unreasonable as long as the money are in the account the day he dirà the work.

I would say that is entirely normal. Ask him to leave you an invoice and tell him you will pay by bank transfer after you've seen the work.

If it's a short day job I've always paid after the job is completed. Of its a longer job then I'm happ to pay for materials when receipts are given so the trader is not out of pocket.

With the short ones I'm out all day and it's often just an email invoice that I get because they've gone when I get back

*the same day he does the work

Wierd auto correct.

Trades people in my experience are always paid fully afterwards, not even half before. In fact, what job is anyone paid before they’ve done it?

What job is anyone paid for before*

I wouldn't pay all the money upfront either. What if he does a terrible job that causes her money to fix?
I'd give him half or 3/4 and tell him you'll transfer the rest when you get home and see the work.

Pay in full when you receive invoice

It was my husband who suggested I pay half just as a gesture so the guy knows we're not trying to rip him off. He's independent and is on Facebook so not a big company I would say his is a nixer for him

DH does private building work. He'd never expect to be paid before the work was complete however small the job

Why would you pay before any of the work is done? Standard practice is to pay once invoiced. After completion.

On some occasions some materials are paid for upfront. But we are talking when numbers are well into 3 or 4 figures.

For a day job - pay on satisfactory completion is entirely normal. If he wants it in cash he can come round and collect it.

DO NOT PAY UNTIL YOU GET AN INVOICE!
And yes absolutely do not pay anything until the end of the day!

Just ask him to send or leave you an invoice with his bank details on.

Payment when the job is finished and the customer is happy is normal practice.

I wouldn't pay until you get the invoice either. I recently had some work done (over several weeks) and the builder e-mailed me an invoice for a higher amount than we agreed (he added the VAT twice). I wouldn't pay him until he invoiced for the correct amount which he finally did late one Sunday night. He then went nuts with me early the next day for not paying him when he sent the original incorrect invoice. I did pay him the correct amount in full on the Monday. To be fair he's the only tradesman I've used who expected paying before he'd fully completed the job and invoiced me correctly. I'll never use him again.

When I had a new boiler fitted the plumber finished the job on the Friday afternoon and told us he'd invoice us over the weekend and if we could get the money to him within a few days. Similar case for having a bathroom fitted. I would call the guy and explain you can't be there, a good tradesman will want you see the work and be happy with it before they get paid.

Pay after work is complete and you are satisfied-as others say you should be invoiced.

“I’m off out to an appointment. Leave me your bank details and I’ll whizz the money over this eve”.

Just tell him you will do a bank transfer in the evening.

For big work I have been asked to pay half up front.
For smaller work they’ve given me a rough quote and billed me on completion.
Never paid full upfront.

Pay when it's done. Like everything.

For big work I've paid in instalments on completion of certain agreed tasks. I've never paid half up front.

For small work I pay on completion.

If in doubt, think: You wouldn't pay for a hair cut in advance!

DH is a tradesman. I always tell our customers you pay in full once the work is completed and you’re happy with it.