WET ROOM - Payment

interceptor02

I have got a few quotes from companies from my builder website. The project is to rip out my current bathroom and install a wetroom.
We then decided which contractor got the job. However, I am not sure about the payment method they want. I wanted to basically to pay for the whole job on my credit card. The contractor has come back to me with the following "10% to book job & 15% at end of first day & remainder on completion of job Unfortunately I am not set up for credit card payments but payment by BACS is fine & I could give you account details"
So from that the contractor wants £410 deposit to be paid into his bank account. I am worried once I paid via this way I may need not see them again or my money.

andyhop

Sounds like more than reasonable . We would ask for 25%!!

Does the £4100 include materials ?? Sounds cheap for a wetroom conversion

Trust works both ways!! We often leave 5k worth of tools in a customer property on day 1 till completion, not all are our to rip you off!!

interceptor02

No. We are supplying all the materials except for the wetroom floor which is being supplied by the contractor.

DRP

i haven't ever paid an up front sum for builders, electricians, plasterers etc.

I'm not saying it is dodgy at all but I've never been asked. I've always thought that as the homeowner, you're not exactly going anywhere...

Ectophile

DRP wrote: »

i haven't ever paid an up front sum for builders, electricians, plasterers etc.

I'm not saying it is dodgy at all but I've never been asked. I've always thought that as the homeowner, you're not exactly going anywhere...

You obviously use different companies than me. I've usually been asked to pay a proportion of the cost up-front, and so far it's never been dodgy at all.

Remember there are rogue customers as well as rogue traders. These are the people that get tradesmen to do lots of work, then start finding excuses not to pay once the work's done.

phill99

Most builders don't take CC payments. A few will (me included), but most don't.

The fact that he has given you bank account details is good. That shows he runs a legitimate business and declares his tax. It alsomeans for you that the money is traceable.

If he had asked for cash, then you should worry.

The media seems to think that all builders are dodgy and simply out to rip you off. There are some dodgy ones, the same as there are dodgy accountants, doctors, policemen and shopkeepers. But most just want to do a decent Job and get paid.

macman

If you don't trust the contractor over £400, then do you really trust them to do any work in your house? 10% deposit is hardly unreasonable.

LandyAndy

Also negotiate a retention. I had a £10000 bathroom (including materials) fitted some years ago and renegotiated all the payment terms so that I was always slightly ahead. I kept a 10% retention. £750 of it was for just a week from effective completion and the other £250 was for a further month. It gives you at least some leverage.

sparkieguy

It really bugs me when customers think they can keep payment in retention! Payment is when job is completed! Do you go to tesco and pay 75% of your food bill and the rest at a later date after you have tasted the food?

DaftyDuck

sparkieguy wrote: »

It really bugs me when customers think they can keep payment in retention! Payment is when job is completed! Do you go to tesco and pay 75% of your food bill and the rest at a later date after you have tasted the food?

But Tesco has a very clear refund policy - even if you don't like it! It can be very difficult to get a builder to return to rectify all those small snags if there is no retention. Can be, not necessarily always is. The good ones who would come back tend to be those who fon't need to come back....