Partial payment

Laura1282

My husband is a self-employed painter and decorator (14yrs in the trade) He has finished a job and invoiced the customer. She sent partial payment and said that he will get the remainder when he comes back to do additional work that she wants done. We have politely asked for payment in full but she has refused. We live in Scotland. Any advice greatly received 

oldbikebloke

did he confirm the job to be done and its price in writing, or is this just a verbal "contract"?
is the additional work actually additional or is she disputing the finish on the work she originally agreed to pay for? Promising to pay when he comes back sounds like a dispute, not extra work?
If additional work, then surely he needs to give her a separate price for it, at which point he can make it conditional on her paying him for what he has already done.

Obviously you can go back and forth as much as you can stomach with letters, appeals and "discussions", but at the end of the day, if a customer does not pay for work completed, then there is only one option, you sue them. Which is why you want a written contract, or if a contract is over the top (which it probably is for jobbing painter), then instead you issue a formal quote that you can evidence the customer has accepted in writing.

Mistral001

You say the the customer has refused to pay.  On what grounds?   Surely if the work is complete then there are no grounds for non payment.  There is more to this than meets the eye I suspect.  Was the work done as agreed?  Was the  right colour used etc?

jonesMUFCforever

Wait Wait Wait - before this thread goes on and on the OP has not been back for 4 days - says it all - first time post an all.

Mistral001

jonesMUFCforever said:

Wait Wait Wait - before this thread goes on and on the OP has not been back for 4 days - says it all - first time post an all.

I agree. There is more to this than wht was posted me suspects.