Tradesman chasing for payment

[CharlesIsQueensHorcrux]

Hi - I had a tradesman in last week, finished Friday & invoiced Friday night with email and message. Since then has messaged another five times chasing me! By the way I wasn’t ignoring him I messaged back saying I was out but would deal. Is it me or is he unreasonable to chase me all weekend for an invoice issued on Friday night? I was happy with the work but not sure now I would use him again as I feel a bit ick like there’s a suggestion I wouldn’t pay or something. Aibu?

People who whatsapp you with an invoice as you;re walking round a supermarket and are nagging you before you've even got through the door back at home are arseholes of the highest order.

This would be true had the OP said he messaged her 5 times within an hour or 2 of sending the invoice, but he didn't - the invoice requested payment within 1 day, it's now Sunday.

Making up scenarios to match your argument is a bit weird really.

I run payroll for 30 employees for the company I work for. It’s always done during office hours as long as time sheets are handed in on time.

Maybe he's skint and has hungry kids at home?

The only time I didn't immediately pay on completion was when I was waiting for the builder to issue a guarantee for roofing work. As soon as he issued the paperwork I paid. Within the hour.

I cannot comprehend how little some people must have going on in their life that they are able to pay invoices immediatel.

Because we're fully conscious adults, aware and responsible for every aspect of our lives and finances.

I always pay immediately upon receipt of the invoice.. Didn't know it was acceptable to wait several days

It will have taken less time to pay him on her banking app than it took would have to compose the OP.

His done the work. You are happy with it. Pay him what you owe him for a job well done.

Cash flow is a huge issue for sole traders and small businesses- I'm one of them. I'm an artist. I will often ask for staged payments for commissioned work. And my invoices state that payment is due immediately.

I'm self employed, on Friday I needed some help with a job, my helper sent a invoice as soon as they got home which I paid straight away. I'm still waiting for the customer to settle their invoice mind you!

an earlier job in the week has yet to be paid where 2/3 of the invoice is costs I have already paid out.

I reluctantly deal with private customers due to payment problems these days

Like most self-employed people, he's probably totally fed up with waiting a long time for payments. It does seem a bit much to chase so many times in a short space of time. But I try to pay immediately whenever possible, with the tradesman still standing in the house usually if I'm paying through my banking app.

I agree. I will pay for the work I had done last week once I receive the invoice. If he wanted payment on the day he should have said as I'm not a mind reader. I do the same for my cat sitter, once she's invoiced me, I pay.

Nope, she's just a normal, decent person who understands that I shouldn't have to wonder why I've not been paid, and chase her as a result.

It takes seconds to pay someone via internet banking on a phone. It's not like you have to trek to the bank, queue up and take the cash out anymore

it totally depends on the bank. As I've said above, Nationwide is a pain in the proverbial. Yes I could change banks, but a little patience on the part of tradespeople doesn't go amiss either. Or they could accept cards so you can pay there and then (the guy who cleans my oven brings a Sumup card machine with him)

If you're expecting an invoice, then you bloody well check your e-mails! You don't just ignore them and leave someone without payment for several days because you can't be arsed to log on to your computer.

Even if you have to set up new PAYEE details and use a card reader, it really doesn't take more than five minutes to pay someone via online banking.

I did not say how many employees my business has! No-one who is not myself or a very close family member suffers.

The point being that in the real world people cannot pay bills immediately upon receipt (presumably OP got the invoice via email) because they might be driving or making dinner or working or taking kids to football or sleeping.

As a business owner I am increasingly issuing invoices before the work is completed, and I only issue the work once paid. But for the work where I have to invoice after doing the work it would not cross my mind to chase someone until after the weekend (earliest) or a week or two later (more normal). I am genuinely completely astounded that people think that immediate payment upon receipt of an email invoice is normal. I am even more astounded that everyone is always in a position to receive an email and make a payment on the spot - personally I don't use phone for emails or banking because emails and banking are never so important that they can't wait 12 or 24 hours, if not longer.

If people think that immediate payment is essential then they need to make it EXPLICITLY clear at the time of booking the job. I am sure that OP would not be asking AIBU if when she had first called him he had said "I invoice via email shortly after completion of the work. I require payment by bank transfer immediately and I will harrasss you if you don't pay within 5 minutes."

I agree tradespeople should provide several options for payment - cash, bank transfer or card, for example.

But even if your online banking app is a bit complicated, it's not a reason not to pay someone. If someone has done a job for you then you should make it a priority to pay them afterwards, even if it's a bit inconvenient for you. It's just a nice thing to do.

What do you regard as "immediate"? What do you do if your client is a teacher and working and can;t pay immediately?

Forget about business days, payment terms etc.
He's right to want his money on completion, there and then. Especially in the current climate.
It would be safe to assume his staff wanted paying cash on Friday and he probably gad a fair few late paying customers and not taking any chances.

@GCRich that's fine to make the choice for yourself. If you really truly needed it there and then you'd take the time to pay otherwise it's fine to wait if you can afford to. What you can't do is take that decision for someone else. Not paying yourself on time isn't relevant here

I expect a professional tradesperson to operate during office hours. It would not even occur to me to check emails over a weekend.

As a fully conscious adult who runs their own business I am responsible enough that my world doesn't fall apart if I have to wait 48 or 72 hours! Or even if I never get the money, not all clients pay at all.

I think that pulling up on the hard shoulder so you can pay immediately, all so a childish adult who can't handle fast payments, only instantaneous ones, is dangerous, stupid and unnecessary.

In my experience few ask for this. They usually send an invoice within a day or so. I have to actively chase one guy for him to send me an invoice!

Clients should pay before they receive an invoice? This thread is NUTS I agree.

I wouldn't go that far, but FFS, I can;t believe how few of us are sane on this thread!

I am talking from the perspective of someone whose dad and brother are plumbers and various uncles are electricians, joiners, etc etc.

From a child my dad was a S/E plumber before he started his company.