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

teneighty

Just to clarify some of the misinformation.

If the trader has been silly and does not print his payment terms on his invoice the default is 30 days. So in the absence of printed terms the OP is perfectly entitled to wait until making payment.

But like I said, try to keep it within 7 days, we are all just trying to make a living.

martinsurrey

ryder72 wrote: »

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.

teneighty wrote: »

Just to clarify some of the misinformation.

If the trader has been silly and does not print his payment terms on his invoice the default is 30 days. So in the absence of printed terms the OP is perfectly entitled to wait until making payment.

But like I said, try to keep it within 7 days, we are all just trying to make a living.

Teneighty is correct

If no payment terms are agreed BEFORE the contract is signed (or started), the consumer has 30 days from the date the goods/services are received, or invoice (which ever is sooner) to pay the invoice.

https://www.gov.uk/invoicing-and-taking-payment-from-customers/payment-obligations

Just because this tradesman doesn't understand his legal obligations doesn't make the OP the bad guy.

So OP if you agreed payment terms BEFORE the job, stick to them, if not you can wait 30 days if you want.

TheCyclingProgrammer

I don't think waiting a few days to check the work before sending payment is unreasonable at all. Certainly not "disgraceful". I'm in a different business but generally my invoices are net 14 or net 30 payment terms. If you're cashflow is so poor that waiting a few days to receive payment would cause you a problem you've got bigger issues and its not really the customer's problem.

How often do people come on here complaining about poor workmanship, get asked if they have paid yet and when they say "yes" are told, oh well, hard luck, you should have checked the work before paying?

Of course, don't take your time over inspecting the work, get it done ASAP and if you're happy pay the man.

Rain_Shadow

TheCyclingProgrammer wrote: »

I don't think waiting a few days to check the work before sending payment is unreasonable at all. Certainly not "disgraceful". I'm in a different business but generally my invoices are net 14 or net 30 payment terms. If you're cashflow is so poor that waiting a few days to receive payment would cause you a problem you've got bigger issues and its not really the customer's problem.

How often do people come on here complaining about poor workmanship, get asked if they have paid yet and when they say "yes" are told, oh well, hard luck, you should have checked the work before paying?

Of course, don't take your time over inspecting the work, get it done ASAP and if you're happy pay the man.

This ^^^^^.


I have been paying various trades regularly over the last 12 months and I ensure I pay invoices within 24 hours for work being done on my home that I have been able to watch being carried out. But, if the work was being done offsite I would want to at least view it before paying and if it took a few days to be able to do that so be it. I doubt I'd wait as long as a week though although I would like to think a decent business had enough working capital to stand a few days credit.

thenap80

To call my attitude disgraceful is a bit harsh. Thanks CyleProgrammer for defending me!

My thinking was only that if I pay in full and something isnt right after that then the builder is in no rush to return. Or will ask for more money which I have had before. I had a plumber once who came round and "fixed" a leak...only to find it was worse a day later. Having paid him when he came and went, he asked for more money to come and look at the same problem, #
#

So Phill, please do not think me disgraceful for being cautious. It is because of some dodgy tradesmen that we have to be as such.

ryder72

martinsurrey wrote: »

Teneighty is correct

If no payment terms are agreed BEFORE the contract is signed (or started), the consumer has 30 days from the date the goods/services are received, or invoice (which ever is sooner) to pay the invoice.

https://www.gov.uk/invoicing-and-taking-payment-from-customers/payment-obligations

Just because this tradesman doesn't understand his legal obligations doesn't make the OP the bad guy.

So OP if you agreed payment terms BEFORE the job, stick to them, if not you can wait 30 days if you want.

Thanks for flagging this. I wasnt aware the nanny state had legislated for this as well :T:T

OP - there is your answer but I would still recommend putting the tradesman in the picture. After all he has done a job. Maybe settling part of the invoice and doing the rest on completion is fair.

martinsurrey

ryder72 wrote: »

Thanks for flagging this. I wasnt aware the nanny state had legislated for this as well :T:T

OP - there is your answer but I would still recommend putting the tradesman in the picture. After all he has done a job. Maybe settling part of the invoice and doing the rest on completion is fair.

Its just as much to protect the supplier, after 30 day they can take the customer to court.

seems sensible to me, agree your terms, if you don't these are the assumed standard, but they work both ways.