Peeve about certain consumers

shaun_from_Africa

Stick a notice up on your shop door listing the names and addresses of the people who refuse to pay as 'banned' customers who are not welcome in your shop.

Apart from the brick/window problem, you will probably get a summons or two accusing you of breeching the human rights (the right to privacy) of the non payers.
If any of the people concerned are from a deprived/monority/benefit scrounger class, you can just see the lawyers queueing up to take the case.

(and I'm in no way implying that everyone on benefits is a scrounger. I fully understand that many people are on benefits for legitimate reasons)

greektony

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

(and I'm in no way implying that everyone on benefits is a scrounger. I fully understand that many people are on benefits for legitimate reasons)

Although many are not

SandC

They will get theirs eventually. I would, indeed let all your heating engineer contacts know the names and addresses of non payers so they know for future emergencies who to priorities.

I feel privileged that my heating engineer/plumber invoices me instead of wanting cash/cheque on the day. He does this probably because of my prompt payment when he installed my boiler and I can now have the benefit of not having to have a wad of cash available when I have someone out and he can do the costings, leaving his guys free to get on with doing the work. I ensure that I get payment straight to him as soon as I get the bill. Not only do I have the benefit of that but I also get good service and will certainly be given priority over anyone who had proved difficult shall we say in the past.

Works both ways in life doesn't it?

piglet25

If you can only take payments in the shop then wouldn't you be able to take their card details and manually input them with their address details? I would ask your terminal provider for a more up to date machine as when it comes to next winter you might get stung again. I also agree with you producing a blacklist for the other local heating companies as its not fair that they agree to pay for a service and then tell you to bog off.

skiddlydiddly

I wouldn't dream of not paying someone on the day they do the job, whether it be cash or cheque.I expect payment for my work done and to pay for work done for me.Should have let them freeze.

paddyrg

Oh how awful! You try to do a good turn, and all... That must be why all those people couldn't get their original installers back - bad payers, told where to go by the original installer!!

olly300

paddyrg wrote: »

Oh how awful! You try to do a good turn, and all... That must be why all those people couldn't get their original installers back - bad payers, told where to go by the original installer!!

Is it legal to circulate a list of customers in the local area who have to pay up front before work can be done?

rustyboy21

Hi Thanks for all the messages of support, there are some nice people out there.

Just an update...

Had 2 people in today, one apologetic about delay in paying, lovely women in her thirties. Another one offered to pay £10 as the engineer was ' only there 10 minutes ' late fifties gent with a chip on his shoulder. I refused to take it and said I would see him in court, expect small claims summons within 7 days.

It will be worth it to see his face when he is done for non payment of the invoice he was left with.

Ho hum, life goes on, now trying to get the fire installations finished off which couldn't be done prior to christmas due to the slippy roof's at the time. Outstanding £15k of payments because of not being able to finish the installation due to the weather, as had to get on roof's to fit liners. Lets see how many want compensation for that !

rustyboy21

olly300 wrote: »

Is it legal to circulate a list of customers in the local area who have to pay up front before work can be done?

It wouldn't be a list of customers who needed to pay up front. It would be a lsit of customers, who I have stated that haven't paid me and for others to watch out for. Nothing defammatory about that as far as I can see, I am telling the truth. It is similar to what people do on here daily about other retailers.

Darksun

rustyboy21 wrote: »

It wouldn't be a list of customers who needed to pay up front. It would be a lsit of customers, who I have stated that haven't paid me and for others to watch out for. Nothing defammatory about that as far as I can see, I am telling the truth. It is similar to what people do on here daily about other retailers.

I really wouldn't try anything like this if I were you. You could potentially be breaching data protection laws, and just because a statement is true doesn't mean it's not defamatory.