Paying tradesmen upfront

knightstyle

We have just paid nearly 1/3 of completed job as a deposit for work to be started in 10 days.  But we checked them out and have spoken to their existing clients so trust them to come and do the job.

J_B

Best get some sort of written contract, then everyone's ar5e is covered?

daivid

southcoastrgi said:

He doesn't know you so wants the money for the goods either to pay his supplier or for his time, trust works both ways, what happens if he finishes your job & you don't pay him ?

Go to Curry's & buy a washing machine, you pay for it then & there & get it delivered in a few days or a few weeks, try buying something off of Amazon without paying for it 1st 

Your analogy doesn't quite stack up though, If you go to currys, amazon or any other major retailer you can pay by credit card. If the retailer fails to deliver and won't refund then you charge back with the CC provider. Also paying by credit card you won't actually pay until a month later. If a newly started tradesperson decides to disappear with £2k getting money back will be a long and probably fruitless task (of course the person may be honest and competent, do the work properly and none of this will matter).

I get the concerns on the other side of worrying about a customer not paying up but a decent deposit and/or insistence of payment for the blinds before installation rather than before ordering should suffice. I've never been asked for any payment in advance, on bigger jobs I've payed as each phase was completed but never anything in advance though nothing has ever been bespoke as the blinds seem to be.

bolwin1

I had a couple of local companies around for quotes for plantation shutters (just over £2K) a few weeks ago. Both wanted 50% up front as they are custom made products, no use to anyone else. I checked both thoroughly for reviews & ended up going with one who owner lives about 300 yards away. I did pay with a credit card for additional protection. I think 50% up front is normal practice for this business. 

southcoastrgi

daivid said:

southcoastrgi said:

He doesn't know you so wants the money for the goods either to pay his supplier or for his time, trust works both ways, what happens if he finishes your job & you don't pay him ?

Go to Curry's & buy a washing machine, you pay for it then & there & get it delivered in a few days or a few weeks, try buying something off of Amazon without paying for it 1st 

Your analogy doesn't quite stack up though, If you go to currys, amazon or any other major retailer you can pay by credit card. If the retailer fails to deliver and won't refund then you charge back with the CC provider. Also paying by credit card you won't actually pay until a month later. If a newly started tradesperson decides to disappear with £2k getting money back will be a long and probably fruitless task (of course the person may be honest and competent, do the work properly and none of this will matter).

I get the concerns on the other side of worrying about a customer not paying up but a decent deposit and/or insistence of payment for the blinds before installation rather than before ordering should suffice. I've never been asked for any payment in advance, on bigger jobs I've payed as each phase was completed but never anything in advance though nothing has ever been bespoke as the blinds seem to be.

A lot of tradesmen accept cc now, although the rate you lose can't be added onto the customer