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?

i always pay when the works done immediately, I don’t walk out of Tesco and tell them I’ll bank transfer them in two weeks either.

How many times has this been rolled out. it's boring now. AND NOT THE SAME.

A lot of the world runs on invoices. For services.

Why do trades get to be paid instantly or it's trouble.

I'd say paying on Mon for a Fri Invoice is good .

It is within 1 working day though.

I think you need to pay a tradesman promptly, but Monday for an invoice issued on Friday is prompt.

Yes.
You said it better than me.

It does not state working day though just within one day.

You’re being ridiculous. There is a difference between intentionally keeping someone waiting whilst you ditcher about arranging your plants, watching eastenders, being an awkward fuck etc etc to being asleep and driving on a motorway.

Is anyone who says they pay immediately going to address my point? Even if you're driving? Even if you're asleep? Even if you're watch DS play football or at the cinema or at work?

Anyone who says they always pay immediately is a massive liar, or literally the saddest person on the planet sat at home doing nothing 24/7 so they can doing anything at the drop of a hat.

Part of the reason I would generally pay a tradesman same day or next day (or maybe the day after) is to ensure that they come back. But if they;re the sort of idiot who is harrassing me after less than 24 hours then I'm not going to want them back, and they can go right to the bottom of the to do list.

You’re being ridiculous. There is a difference between intentionally keeping someone waiting whilst you ditcher about arranging your plants, watching eastenders, being an awkward fuck etc etc to being asleep and driving on a motorway.

of course. But the person badgering you for the invoice they pressed send on an hour ago doesn't know that.

You won’t want him to work for you again as you have earned the right to have wanker tax put on your next quote. He’s done the job so just pay him

So he hasn't hounded you at all, has he? He's sent multiple texts/emails because you failed to pay on day 1, sent partial payment on day 2, and the final amount on day 3.

Totally wrong to have not paid the full amount on Friday, and then went on to not manage his expectations around the other payment issues.

The only thing you have done right in all this is take the criticism on the chin. Which is something.

So you don't pay immediately always? Thank you for your honesty. Will you now apologise for your dishonesty?

Where did OP say she was dithering? I assumed that she was busy doing a million and one things as was going to pay within a day or two when it was convenient.

If I was driving or asleep I'd not be aware of the arrival of the invoice so obviously wouldn't pay it. I wound do so on waking or when I stopped the car though. Watching children paying sports. Yes I'd do it then. At work - on my break.

@GCRich NO!! Because you are being absolutely ridiculous. Very petty and pedantic argument to put forward.

I would pay the invoice once I had seen it. I would class that as immediate payment. And I'm not going to see an invoice if I'm asleep or bloody driving am I!

You won’t want him to work for you again as you have earned the right to have wanker tax put on your next quote. He’s done the job so just pay him

He sounds a right PITA.

I presume you are ok with your employer paying you whenever they get around to it?

Well, mine pays me two to six weeks after I have completed my work, dependant on their payroll system. So just having to wait a Saturday would seem great to me. Even when I worked for the LA, I didn't get paid after each task. I had to work four weeks before I got anything.

You got the ‘ick’ because the poor bloke wanted his money? How was he to know you were intending to pay up soon?

I’ve heard it all now.

Maybe instead of coming to complain on MN, just pay the man and forget about it?

I would pay the invoice once I had seen it. I would class that as immediate payment. And I'm not going to see an invoice if I'm asleep or bloody driving am I!

Invoice guy doesn't know you're asleep or driving. And you get home/wake up to 5 more emails within hours.

Yep. Great. 🙄

Why do trades get to be paid instantly or it's trouble.

Because when you're self-employed, you get to set your own T&C's - be that payment in advance, payment upon completion, or payment within 48 hours, 14 days or three years.

I require payment within 24h of completion. If customers aren't happy with that, they're free to find another dog walker who is more relaxed about payment, but I have better things to do than spend my free time chasing up payment from people who just can't be arsed to pay me on time.

Luckily in nearly three years of business, I've only had one client who repeatedly paid late - so, as per my contract, I messaged her to say that all walks were suspended until her account was up to date. Funnily enough, she found the time to pay me then 😉she also never paid late again!

However, all my other customers respect me and what I do, and have the common decency to pay me on time.

Absolutely true.
Building work takes a long time, hardly a surprise when it needs paying for.

Materials have soared in price, a lot of trades have workshop units they rent, need to hire cranes &c and employees need paying-

Most Self employed Trades work in the evenings as well, doing invoicing and drawings &c

Imagine someone on PAYE being told “ We’ll pay you when we feel like it” - There would be upset for sure.

This is one of those threads where I feel like mumsnet is an entirely different world to real life. I've never heard of anyone paying an invoice before the tradesperson leaves the building. Standard invoice terms are 30 days, unless otherwise specified.

I don't think next working day is unreasonable at all (and OP has paid earlier than that).

I agree. Do people think Tesco pay as soon as they receive their goods? I'd think a bagnk transfer from Tesco within two weeks would be a bloody miracle.

Because when you're self-employed, you get to set your own T&C's - be that payment in advance, payment upon completion, or payment within 48 hours, 14 days or three years.

Yep I'm self employed too👍🏻

Imagine someone on PAYE being told “ We’ll pay you when we feel like it” - There would be upset for sure.

Why are you comparing it to PAYE ? 🙄

Good for you 👌

In the situation in question invoice guy knew OP wasn't sleeping or driving as she took the time to respond, just didn't take the time to pay.