We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Paying the going rate !

Options
Public notice !
When you have any work done by a family member or friend and you insist on paying the going rate before commencement.... :confused:

......please don't be dissappointed when presented with the bill, you find you are paying the going rate. :eek:

after all, you did insist on paying the going rate. :rolleyes:

rob :(
If only everything in life was as reliable...AS ME !!
robowen 5/6/2005©

''Never take an idiot anywhere with you. You'll always find one when you get there.''

Comments

  • Poppy9
    Poppy9 Posts: 18,833 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I don't mind paying family or friends the going rate so long as they do a proper job. If I have to pay tax I expect them to do so as well on what I pay them so demand a receipt. If you are doing work for family and friends as cash in hand with no receipt then you should give a discount equivalent to what you would be paying the tax man!!

    Also trades people should remember just because it's family or friends doesn't mean you can do 1/2 a job and then disappear. It also doesn't mean you should connect a gas fire so that its spewing fumes into the living room to save time (an ex-friend did this for us).
    :) ~Laugh and the world laughs with you, weep and you weep alone.~:)
  • Rob are you talking from recent bitter experience by any chance :rolleyes: ?

    Been there several times myself!
  • hilary1
    hilary1 Posts: 1,443 Forumite
    always always always agree a price. i work for a builder and asked the contactor we use to do some work and i'd pay cash. when he did the work which was fine his bill was such a suprise i stood staring at him for several minutes.

    no such thing as favours any more, or cheap labour (unless they want you to do something for them ofcourse)
    The curve that can set a lot of things straight is a smile
  • robby-01
    robby-01 Posts: 1,336 Forumite
    [QUOTE=Popp__If_you_are_doing_work_for_family_and_friends_as_cash_in_hand_with_no_receipt_then_you_should_give_a_discount_equivalent_to_what_you_would_be_paying_the_tax_man!!).[/QUOTE]


    Why would anyone want to do that?
    If a tradesman decides to evade tax by not declaring income,then he is breaking the law and risks a fine if found out.
    If he did it your way he would recieve exactly the same income for the job whether he declared it or not.What would be the point.
  • Poppy9
    Poppy9 Posts: 18,833 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    robby-01 wrote:
    Why would anyone want to do that?
    If a tradesman decides to evade tax by not declaring income,then he is breaking the law and risks a fine if found out.
    If he did it your way he would recieve exactly the same income for the job whether he declared it or not.What would be the point.

    I was being sarcastic.
    :) ~Laugh and the world laughs with you, weep and you weep alone.~:)
  • safesound
    safesound Posts: 1,164 Forumite
    robowen wrote:
    Public notice !
    When you have any work done by a family member or friend and you insist on paying the going rate before commencement.... :confused:

    ......please don't be dissappointed when presented with the bill, you find you are paying the going rate. :eek:

    after all, you did insist on paying the going rate. :rolleyes:

    I agree with you Rob, I dont mind paying the going rate to family/friends but I also expect that if I'm paying the going rate I get the same customer service as a 'normal' customer, ie. the start date doesnt get put off four times and the work is actually finished in the time frame agreed and not left to sit idle while a better paying job is started. GRRRR!

    Not that I'm saying you'd do that or anything :D

    sharon
    whose brother in law just has
    :A:A:A:A:A:A
  • Rhino666
    Rhino666 Posts: 571 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts
    'Why would anyone want to do that?
    If a tradesman decides to evade tax by not declaring income,then he is breaking the law and risks a fine if found out.
    If he did it your way he would recieve exactly the same income for the job whether he declared it or not.What would be the point.'


    I'm not sure I agree with above...... The going rate for a reputable tradesman would include an percentage that is income/corporation tax and may also include VAT on labour and materials, if they are VAT registered. If a person charges the going rate but doesn't pay the taxes due they are obviously pocketing the difference which could be a significant benefit ?
    Many people do cash in hand jobs that are indeed illegal as tax is being evaded but they usually reflect that by a lower bill at the end. This is exactly the sort of thing that friends do for friends to get paid the same but charge a mate less where trust is involved but morals aren't.
    Anyone that charges the going rate and then doesn't pay the taxes due is the worst kind of greedy, selfish CHAV and we don't know of any people like this in the UK, do we ? :-)
    PLEASE DO NOT STEAL
    The Government will not tolerate competition

    Always judge a man by the way he treats someone who is of no use to him
  • robowen
    robowen Posts: 3,042 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Thanks for all your replies.
    I have to add that this job was done with 1 weeks notice, was started and finished within the same week.
    Its been done through the books as well.
    I noted all the hours on the job throughout the week and after the bill was given it worked out at £11.50p/h.

    ...It must also be noted that the person I was doing the job for (unknown to me), is a financial advisor charging £80-£100 per hour :doh:

    They do say that people with money are the worst at parting with it !!

    rob :D
    If only everything in life was as reliable...AS ME !!
    robowen 5/6/2005©

    ''Never take an idiot anywhere with you. You'll always find one when you get there.''
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 350.9K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453.5K Spending & Discounts
  • 243.9K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 598.8K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 176.9K Life & Family
  • 257.2K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.