Invoicing Query

Loopy035

Hi, my question may be very easy to answer but can't find anything when searching the internet. I am a disabled person who has recently had a digital steering wheel ball adaption fitted to my car to enable me to drive (privately funded). Before the company would release my car they demanded payment for the works immediately. Should I not be given a set amount of time in which to settle this invoice I.e 28 days? Can they demand payment in this way?

davidmcn

Are you thinking of some specific law about disability adaptations or just generally? Terms for payment are whatever the parties agree to. I'd certainly always expect to pay for work done to my car before I drive off.

Loopy035

I understand what you're saying, I am happy with the work and had every intention of paying, just thought it was a bit harsh to ask for payment up front for such a large amount of money, and like a lot of companies like the one I work for, we give our customers 28 days and thought there may be some form of guidelines!! Not just threatening to keep my car if I didn't pay there and then...just irked me a bit and wanted some guidance on my rights in this situation.

[Deleted User]

Expecting payment immediately is much more common than giving people invoices and hoping they will pay in the weeks to come.

DoaM

B2C (Consumer) contracts are generally pay up front or pay on collection. Payment terms are usually reserved for B2B contracts (which is what you describe by "giving your customers 28 days").

davidmcn

I've got no idea what line of work you're in, but I'm guessing you probably do some sort of checks about how creditworthy customers are (or already know), whereas a garage will have all sorts of punters coming in whom they don't know from Adam (or even have verified home addresses). And probably have past experience of customers being less interested in paying after their keys are handed back. If you need credit you should really ask for that upfront.

BoGoF

Do you ask for 28 days to pay in a restaurant?

Loopy035

Bogof that is a slightly different situation - thanks for your help everyone

BoGoF

Loopy035 wrote: »

Bogof that is a slightly different situation - thanks for your help everyone

In what way? it is a business providing a service

gettingtheresometime

When I worked for a garage, all private customers had to pay before we'd release the vehicle.


Businesses who had an account with us were allowed a month's grace but those that hadn't, again had to pay before the vehicle was released.

bris

Halfords offer a head lamp fitting service, do they give 28 days to pay?


It's basically the same thing