Should I hand over card details before work is done.

Lenkijah

Hi. It seems common practice for large-ish companies that provide services like plumbing or glazing repairs to ask for payment details before work is done. This causes problems as they rarely inform you of the actual cost before charging their work to your payment card. The simple answer is not to give details but when there is an emergency you have limited time to find a tradesman that does not do this. I worry that it will become common practice, with the present climate, for tradesman to charge for a longer time than they have stayed. Are there any tradesman sites where the Unique Selling Point (USP) is that their tradesman never take card payment details until work is done? Something like a Check a Trade etc

dreamypuma

I think the issue is the type of trades persons you are using. In my opinion, any trades person that feels compelled to do this, is one I wouldn't trust. Or would seem to so bureaucratic, that I'd question the efficiency of their overheads and in turn charge-out rates for residential purposes.

Get to know your neighbours and identify trustworthy local tradesmen. You may also have a local Facebook community page, for recommendations.

I take on board, the emergency element of this, and maybe things a different in say places like London. In my experience of home ownership and being a landlord, I've never felt compelled to use more "commercial" types of tradesman.

One the one occasion I did (very early days) I found them incredibly inefficient, and the quality of service was dreadful.

jefaz07

dreamypuma said:

I think the issue is the type of trades persons you are using. In my opinion, any trades person that feels compelled to do this, is one I wouldn't trust. Or would seem to so bureaucratic, that I'd question the efficiency of their overheads and in turn charge-out rates for residential purposes.

Get to know your neighbours and identify trustworthy local tradesmen. You may also have a local Facebook community page, for recommendations.

I take on board, the emergency element of this, and maybe things a different in say places like London. In my experience of home ownership and being a landlord, I've never felt compelled to use more "commercial" types of tradesman.

One the one occasion I did (very early days) I found them incredibly inefficient, and the quality of service was dreadful.

Thats your opinion. Why should a trades person give you credit whilst not knowing a thing about your payment history? It works both ways. 

I have had jobs where I haven’t been paid, like many other tradesmen. And on larger jobs ask for a deposit. It’s nothing at all about overheads. It’s minimising risk! 

davidmcn

I'm sure many tradespeople would be delighted to take cash rather than cards. 

dreamypuma

jefaz07 said:

dreamypuma said:

I think the issue is the type of trades persons you are using. In my opinion, any trades person that feels compelled to do this, is one I wouldn't trust. Or would seem to so bureaucratic, that I'd question the efficiency of their overheads and in turn charge-out rates for residential purposes.

Get to know your neighbours and identify trustworthy local tradesmen. You may also have a local Facebook community page, for recommendations.

I take on board, the emergency element of this, and maybe things a different in say places like London. In my experience of home ownership and being a landlord, I've never felt compelled to use more "commercial" types of tradesman.

One the one occasion I did (very early days) I found them incredibly inefficient, and the quality of service was dreadful.

Thats your opinion. Why should a trades person give you credit whilst not knowing a thing about your payment history? It works both ways. 

I have had jobs where I haven’t been paid, like many other tradesmen. And on larger jobs ask for a deposit. It’s nothing at all about overheads. It’s minimising risk! 

Agreed, works both ways. I don't do credit. Alway cash or transfer on completion whilst the trades person is there.

The benefit the trades person has, is he is already in my property, and knows more about me and has access to more of my assets. 

Those are my terms, if the tradesman can't suck it up, then we can both part our ways amicably. 

It's a balance for both side. 

I mentioned London, as I expect that the cost of travel, parking and risk of no shows would prove a greater risk, In placed like this. As such taking agreed call out fee and payment method, is probably used as a mitigation against no shows.

This is perfectly fine, so long as costs are upfront, and not to the consumers disadvantage. It's upto the consumer if they are happy with this. It's not for me, and I'd look elsewhere. Never had a shortage of good reliable trades people. 

born_again

Lenkijah said:

Hi. It seems common practice for large-ish companies that provide services like plumbing or glazing repairs to ask for payment details before work is done. This causes problems as they rarely inform you of the actual cost before charging their work to your payment card. The simple answer is not to give details but when there is an emergency you have limited time to find a tradesman that does not do this. I worry that it will become common practice, with the present climate, for tradesman to charge for a longer time than they have stayed. Are there any tradesman sites where the Unique Selling Point (USP) is that their tradesman never take card payment details until work is done? Something like a Check a Trade etc

If it is a company that you have googled and has a national or 0800 number then avoid. Especially ones that have a callout fee.
Stick to local companies that have been recommended to you.
Local facebook groups are great for this.
Local glazing co round here take payment after fitting, even when talking thousands. Last plumber I used was the same. 

shaun_from_Africa

I would never fully pay up front for any work. I had a lot of sealed units replaced in a conservatory about a year ago and this cost about £1200. The company that did the work came out and measured up, took templates of the small units that had lead designs then when the units were ready, fitted them. I didn't have to pay anything upfront and only had to settle up when I was happy with the work.