Landscape problems

keystone

Nile

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keystone

Umm - this is a contractual/relationship issue not a gardening issue.

WiSC

I'm a qualified landscaper, gardener and designer - if you'd like to pm me the full details of the job, garden size etc i can quantify and give you an accurate estimate of of how much this job should be costing for materials and for labour.

With my business i supply contracts before any work is undertaken specifying the work and timetables involved. After both parties have signed the contract our client pays into the company account the amount quoted for materials. If we have under quantified, made mistakes with calculations etc it is or fault and our pocket that subsidises it. We have given the client a price and we have to stick to it. Once work is complete and the client ratified we are paid our labour charge.

I'd be very wary of a contractor who.can't manages cashflow effectively and asks for more money.

Like i said feel free to pm me and I'll help as best i can - in the meantime don't pay another penny!

cyclonebri1

WiSC wrote: »

I'm a qualified landscaper, gardener and designer - if you'd like to pm me the full details of the job, garden size etc i can quantify and give you an accurate estimate of of how much this job should be costing for materials and for labour.

With my business i supply contracts before any work is undertaken specifying the work and timetables involved. After both parties have signed the contract our client pays into the company account the amount quoted for materials. If we have under quantified, made mistakes with calculations etc it is or fault and our pocket that subsidises it. We have given the client a price and we have to stick to it. Once work is complete and the client ratified we are paid our labour charge.

I'd be very wary of a contractor who.can't manages cashflow effectively and asks for more money.

Like i said feel free to pm me and I'll help as best i can - in the meantime don't pay another penny!

:T:T:T Although as a customer, I would only want to pay for what was actually delivered, but still :T:T:T

Leif

The fact that the work thus far is good is of course a plus point, not all trades are good. Do you have a written contract, with costings for each item? You should have, in which case you normally pay by staged payments, perhaps an initial deposit for materials, then a sum on completion of each stage. Do you have an agreed schedule for payments? Never pay the final amount before completion for exactly the reasons you state. If he cannot finish, then clearly he has spent the money on something else i.e. not your project. That raises alarm bells with me. If he has done what you have paid for so far, then that is good, if he walks, you get someone else to finish using the money remaining. As said above "I would only want to pay for what was actually delivered," is good advice. I have never paid up front, I did pay too much deposit once, and that cost me dearly when they turned out to be less than ideal, ahem.

By the way, I find it best not to be angry or emotional, but firm and polite.

WiSC

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

:T:T:T Although as a customer, I would only want to pay for what was actually delivered, but still :T:T:T

Can't fault you for that - unfortunately we've had a couple of clients who, once materials have been purchased, change their minds about what they want, or don't agree with the prices. We find our method protects both parties as we don't get our money (labour charge) until the job is done :-)

cyclonebri1

WiSC wrote: »

Can't fault you for that - unfortunately we've had a couple of clients who, once materials have been purchased, change their minds about what they want, or don't agree with the prices. We find our method protects both parties as we don't get our money (labour charge) until the job is done :-)

Of course, but I always argue in favour of the customer, ;)

Moomum

Thanks everyone, I thought I would update. We had contracts and a payment schedule. The landscaper never came back after that weekend. We paid way too much upfront and are left with about 8k worth of work outstanding. I think our only recourse is to take him to court as he is ignoring all communication. Thanks for everyones advice