He owes us £1400!!

Lifeisbutadream

Mrs_Optimist wrote:

Out of interest, why didn't you send in the Bailiffs? Did he not have any goods worth siezing? Presumably your husband was in the house so had an idea as to how this robbing g~t lived.

Unfortunately you will have to put this down to experience. Perhaps you should request 50% up front in future with the remining 50% to be paid after the job has been done. That way you get some cash up front but do not alienate potential customers. I for one, would be extremely unhappy to hand over payment in full before a job was done - you see these programmes about rogue traders all the time.

I dont know how to send in bailiffs - I looked into it, but could not find someone who could do that. If you know how, please let me know..

We have started to ask for a deposit and some people are happy to pay, but some are not - I feel uncomfortable asking for money for something before the job is done - but that is because we are honest and would prefer someone to be happy with something first..

krisskross

Lifeisbutadream wrote:

We have started to ask for a deposit and some people are happy to pay, but some are not - I feel uncomfortable asking for money for something before the job is done - but that is because we are honest and would prefer someone to be happy with something first..

I can understand your reluctance about asking for money upfront. Have to say it sort of looks like you are operating on a shoestring and can't afford to even buy a pot of paint, doesn't give your client a lot of confidence. I recently had a kitchen remodel by a lone tradesman, I did ask him if he wished me to pay for the new sink, worktops etc as it was a lot of money, but he said it would be fine when the job was done.

thesaint

Lifeisbutadream wrote:

I dont know how to send in bailiffs - I looked into it, but could not find someone who could do that. If you know how, please let me know..

We have started to ask for a deposit and some people are happy to pay, but some are not - I feel uncomfortable asking for money for something before the job is done - but that is because we are honest and would prefer someone to be happy with something first..

You can go to the court and find out how to instruct bailiffs.
I don't know if this is an option now that you have placed a charge on his house.

Paying a deposit is normal, If you want to break away from "living hand to mouth". You are going to have to use normal business practices, you are not a charitable organisation.

Lifeisbutadream

thesaint wrote:

You can go to the court and find out how to instruct bailiffs.
I don't know if this is an option now that you have placed a charge on his house.

Paying a deposit is normal, If you want to break away from "living hand to mouth". You are going to have to use normal business practices, you are not a charitable organisation.

The long term plan is to bank enough money so that we can afford to take a few risks, although I would never 'write off' a debt, because of the principal of it!

I know we are not a charitable organisation, and you are right, but I still dont feel comfortable with it..

jobbingmusician

I just googled 'how to instruct bailiffs' and came up with this. Whilst you might not be able to use this now because of the charge on the property, I wonder if it would be worth you setting up some sort of relationship with a debt management company for the future, so that you have a sort of safety net in case things go pear shaped? It might solve your problem of asking customers to pay upfront....

Lifeisbutadream

jobbingmusician wrote:

I just googled 'how to instruct bailiffs' and came up with this. Whilst you might not be able to use this now because of the charge on the property, I wonder if it would be worth you setting up some sort of relationship with a debt management company for the future, so that you have a sort of safety net in case things go pear shaped? It might solve your problem of asking customers to pay upfront....

Thanks for that - I looked into debt agencies and couldnt find one that would help me for the amount I was owed - most were only interested if the debt was over £5000 or if the debt was owed by a company..