Boiler installation - engineer asking for deposit via bank transfer

jodiesmitham

Thank Villabadger - some good advice.!

I think a number of posters here are missing my point. My first post (and subsequent posts) mention that I have no problem giving a deposit! I totally understand why one is required. My issue (again) is about safeguarding the deposit. I'm sure you are all fantastic, trustworthy tradesmen but consumers are wary in the same way that you are.!

I can't reiterate enough that I have no problem with a deposit (and I've never watched these rogue tradesmen programmes mentioned). Please don't be defensive about the trade. This is about transferring money without something to show for it and I wondered how many customers had done this previously. My bank has stated that there is no comeback if he does a runner - only the small claims court.!

After a phone conversation with said heating engineer yesterday afternoon, I transferred the money. However, no receipt and no contact since. I truly hope this guy turns out to be ok!

Jodie

heating-eng

jodiesmitham wrote: »

Thank Villabadger - some good advice.!

I think a number of posters here are missing my point. My first post (and subsequent posts) mention that I have no problem giving a deposit! I totally understand why one is required. My issue (again) is about safeguarding the deposit. I'm sure you are all fantastic, trustworthy tradesmen but consumers are wary in the same way that you are.!

I can't reiterate enough that I have no problem with a deposit (and I've never watched these rogue tradesmen programmes mentioned). Please don't be defensive about the trade. This is about transferring money without something to show for it and I wondered how many customers had done this previously. My bank has stated that there is no comeback if he does a runner - only the small claims court.!

After a phone conversation with said heating engineer yesterday afternoon, I transferred the money. However, no receipt and no contact since. I truly hope this guy turns out to be ok!

Jodie

Give him chance it is sunday today.:)

jodiesmitham

He was happy to communicate with me beforehand.

ormus

if a SE plumber cannot afford the outlay of 800 quid on a two day job, then he really should be working for someone else.
or perhaps working at tescos.


ive worked for myself for over 20 yrs. at one stage my biggest customer owed me 44k.

Canucklehead

ormus wrote: »

if a SE plumber cannot afford the outlay of 800 quid on a two day job, then he really should be working for someone else.
or perhaps working at tescos.


ive worked for myself for over 20 yrs. at one stage my biggest customer owed me 44k.

It isn't a question of finding the funds for the material outlay (more than £800 btw) it is the possibility that the client won't pay up...a real cause for concern for many businesses these days. If you don't pay off your account with the merchants your account is on stop.

Tradepersons are not credit or debt collection agencies

Canucklehead

ormus

thats just a fact of life in any business. if you cannot manage your credit control, then you should really look for another line of work.
bad debts/debtors are just another cost you have to bear over the long term of any business.

similar to shoplifting with any retailer.

Alan_M_2

ormus wrote: »

thats just a fact of life in any business. if you cannot manage your credit control, then you should really look for another line of work.
bad debts/debtors are just another cost you have to bear over the long term of any business.

similar to shoplifting with any retailer.

I agree with this to a degree.

However it's become such a large problem recently (last 12 months or so) that we no longer extend credit of any description - sure it costs us business - but the lost business is now less than the bad debt.

QED - Your statement actualy backs up the thoughts of the tradespeople on this thread. (Cause and effect)

Shop lifiting is an entirely different conversation - criminal activity as opposed to bad debt (unless the credit was run up with no intention of paying in which case it is criminal "obtaining goods by deception")

ormus

i said similar. its a cost of running the business.
large retailers often use the figure of about 2/4% for "shrinkage". its a cost.

Alan_M_2

I will add a further point that is relevant to the OP's question.

It is now incredibly difficult to get arrangements to accept credit/debit cards without large sureties. (excluding the fraudsters that are Paypal of course)

Many (quite decent profitable) firms are simply refused facilities or asked for cash security and charged rates that are so high it makes taking cards non viable.

The public at large are generally unaware that having card facilities is seen as a credit line by the supplying bank. Every time we process a transaction on the machine there is a risk of chargeback, this chargeback is paid by the company - not the card provider.

So card facilities are also one of the credit lines that have become more difficult to get hold of or simply become prohibitively expensive.

Bank transfers is the way forward, however I'd like to see a scheme implemented that gives some form of security on this type of payment.

phill99

ormus wrote: »

if a SE plumber cannot afford the outlay of 800 quid on a two day job, then he really should be working for someone else.
or perhaps working at tescos.


ive worked for myself for over 20 yrs. at one stage my biggest customer owed me 44k.

Ormus, a lot of what you say on these forums is very pertinent and appropriate. Some time you act as a complete retard and just don't get the point.

I also have a decent turnover. However, there is no way on earth that I would shell out for a boiler for a customer unless I had known that customer for a long time and was completely trusting of him. With new customers, you don't know them from Adam. Its not a case of not having the funds or credit lines to get the boiler. Its about risk management. And the risk is that you shell out this money but the customer doesn't pay. Then you are shafted.

To say that a plumber won't shell out £800 should be working at Tescos, shows how arrogant, niave and ignorant you really are. Ebveryone works differently and I am on the side of managing risk. No way would a new customer get a credit line of £800.

So its about time you stopped making comments without knowing individuals situations and really F*cking people off.