Paying tradesman

Marktheshark

Did you sign any type of contract ?

alumende27

No contract. I simply have a written quotation (no mention of deposit or cancellation fee), and an email from me in august saying I'd be happy to go ahead with it, followed by the occasional email discussion over the next 3 months agreeing to him pushing the start date back a few times.

prosaver

just say no,
Ill get someone else.

Mr_Poves

dsdhall wrote: »

Fun times. After agreeing to the cancellation of the work due to his asking for a 40% deposit up front (although not mentioning that in the quote or when he visited site or at any time between asking him to go ahead with the work 3 months ago until he finally sprung it on me last week, he's now sent me an invoice for 10% of the quote value as a cancellation fee (and 5% interest charged weekly if I don't pay within 5 days).

Argh!

See what's happened , you should of just paid the deposit !

Please ignore that comment , It's my attempt at humour .
I'd say you have a good case for not paying any penalty unless he can provide something in the way of proof that you accepted the quote and agreed to pay a deposit upfront , and you understood a penalty would be imposed if the planned work was cancelled .
I think that will be pretty hard in honesty as there's nothing been signed I take it ?
As far as verbal contract goes I'm not sure where you stand .
I think the guy may actually be making a stand in general and could possibly have been bitten badly recently or in the past .
I have to admire him from a tradesman's point of view though .

Marktheshark

Send him a harassment warning.
Then when he contacts you again, ask the police to visit and make an official police harassment warning or take action.

Something simple : Protection of harassment act 1997 :
Served warning :
To cease and desist contacting (YOUR NAME) as you are causing alarm and distress.
This is the required pre-requisite notice required by police prior to taking action and/ or prosecution under the Protection of harassment act 1997 .
This notice is served to Mr XXXXXXX on this date XXXXXX

What you must do : Reasonable requests to desist POH act 1997
Desist from:
Making or serving : Demands for money that are not contracted.
Any such demands must not be communicated to myself outside production of a signed written contract.

Cease and desist from contacting me by e-mail, telephone, in writing or in person and refrain from visiting my house.

Failure to do so may result in police action and a possible criminal conviction.

DavidF

Im an electrician and far too busy NOT to insist on a deposit up front and if it is a large job incremental payments. Yes some clients/customers want 30/60 or even 90 day payment terms. I usually ask if the supermarket they shop at offers the same as what they demand from a tradesman.
I can count on one hand the amount of customers who have declined my services due to being asked for a deposit for materials.
One last thing - I mark up my materials by X%. This markup covers your guarantee and the time taken to source the parts as well. I do sometimes do work where the client has purchased the materials - I just don't give any warranty on the goods. If it works when I leave then you have to pay me to change it if it blows before it's time.
If I supply materials then you get a no quibble 2 year guarantee as well as extended guarantees on some LED fittings.
I think most busy tradesmen will follow the above model.

Mr_Poves

DavidF wrote: »

Im an electrician and far too busy NOT to insist on a deposit up front and if it is a large job incremental payments. Yes some clients/customers want 30/60 or even 90 day payment terms. I usually ask if the supermarket they shop at offers the same as what they demand from a tradesman.
I can count on one hand the amount of customers who have declined my services due to being asked for a deposit for materials.
One last thing - I mark up my materials by X%. This markup covers your guarantee and the time taken to source the parts as well. I do sometimes do work where the client has purchased the materials - I just don't give any warranty on the goods. If it works when I leave then you have to pay me to change it if it blows before it's time.
If I supply materials then you get a no quibble 2 year guarantee as well as extended guarantees on some LED fittings.
I think most busy tradesmen will follow the above model.

Sounds like you have your head screwed on mate :beer:

J_B

DavidF wrote: »

Im an electrician and far too busy NOT to insist on a deposit up front .................................
I think most busy tradesmen will follow the above model.

Well, there you go - it's something that I've *never* come across in my recent (10) years of occasionally renovating properties.

konark

40% up front and a 10% cancellation fee for not accepting his terms. The guy's a comedian, you dodged a bullet.