How soon do i need to pay a tradesman's invoice

thenap80

Hi
I have an invoice for a refit bathroom from a tradesman. He has asked that I pay straight away but where do I stand on paying the invoice. I would like to leave it a few days or a week to make sure everything n the bathroom is up to scratch. I am sure if he tiles start falling off and I have paid him, he will not be in a hurry to return. Is there some law that allows me to pay in a certain amount of time?!

Thanks

Keep_pedalling

Stop being so paranoid and pay the man.

thenap80

i dont live there....place i rent out. so i need to go and see it in a few days but he wants me to pay now before i have had chance to see it

*~Zephyr~*

So if you're that paranoid, pay him 95% and hold a 5% retention until you've had a chance to see it. Pretty standard stuff in construction. Just don't dillydally about inspecting it. It might be an absolutely perfect job and its not fair to withhold his money for any length of time.

trailingspouse

You're right to check up on the work he's done. Personally, I prefer to be on the premises when I have trades in doing work (easier to answer queries or notice if things are going wrong), but I accept it's not always possible. But - once you've checked, pay asap.

Given a choice between doing work for someone who pays quickly and someone who doesn't, who do you think the tradesperson would prefer? We're self-employed ourselves, and some of our clients don't pay for 60 days - but one of our clients always pays within a week of receiving the invoice. Guess who gets priority when we're busy and they need something doing in a hurry.

We're all just trying to earn a living.

glasgowdan

Just be honest and say you're going to visit to inspect the work on x day and you'll pay that evening.

pelirocco

Hmm might try that at sainsburys.....ill pay once im sure they havent given me food poisoning

J_B

What does it say on the bill?

Many trades people say 14 or 28 days.

phill99

As a tradesman I find this unacceptable. Why do people believe they can defer or delay payment? A guy has been working on your premises and now needs his invoice paying. Why is it that if you get B & Q to fit a kitchen or bathroom, or Wickes or Homebase, they require paying before they set foot on site, yet people are quite happy to pay thousands of pounds before the work is done? These large organisations are the ones that can afford to have delayed payment. Not the small guy who has a mortgage to pay and a family to feed.


If you don't think he was up to doing the job you shouldn't have employed him.


Absolutely disgraceful attitude.

teneighty

J_B wrote: »

What does it say on the bill?

Many trades people say 14 or 28 days.

^^ This.

What are the terms of payment printed on his invoice. It might be cash on completion, 20% at order, payment within 7 days etc.

Having said that payment within 7 days is reasonable and quite normal so that should give you a chance to inspect the work.

ryder72

If there are no set payment terms then it was incumbent on you to advise him that you will pay only after inspection and within a certain number of days.

If you havent pre-agreed anything, then there is no reason why he shouldnt get paid. Give him a call and explain. He may be willing to come to an agreement but if he doesnt, then I think you should have to pay as per invoice.