50% upfront payment on decorating job

FaceHead

Brie said:

The red flag to me was that he was willing to dump some other job for yours.  Who's to say he wouldn't then turn around and do the same to you?

Came here to say this. Bet he's thrilled about the prospect of dumping a job that has already paid half the money, to get half the money from another sucker, and probably dump them too when the next inquiry comes in. 

comeandgo

MalMonroe said:

Just to add my NO. 

And the bit that worried me most was the lack of a proper address. 

Does he have any qualifications?  Two of my relatives are professional and qualified painters and decorators and they have served apprenticeships (5 years each). They both have excellent references from previous employers and have also worked on construction sites where they had to pay for their own 'green cards' 

https://www.get-licensed.co.uk/licence/green-cscs-labourer-card

Painting and decorating is not a profession and these green cards are for construction site workers and are the lowest form, ie labourers.  Are you friends trying to dupe their customers into thinking this is something it isn’t?

Section62

FaceHead said:

Brie said:

The red flag to me was that he was willing to dump some other job for yours.  Who's to say he wouldn't then turn around and do the same to you?

Came here to say this. Bet he's thrilled about the prospect of dumping a job that has already paid half the money, to get half the money from another sucker, and probably dump them too when the next inquiry comes in. 

Whilst the overall impression of this trader is not good, the OP said nothing about another client being 'dumped'.

The words used were that it "may be possible to move a job to fit us in".

That by itself is not a sign of a bad trader.  In the building/construction industry jobs get moved round all the time, for example if a project gets delayed.  If the painter was expecting to work on a job next week and it is now looking like that one won't happen (e.g. because the plasterer is a week late starting) then would anyone expect the painter to spend thier days next week twiddling their thumbs not earning money, or would it be perfectly reasonable for them to fit other jobs in to the slots previously allocated to that other job?

The building/construction industry is still in a state of relative chaos due to material shortages, in that situation it isn't necessarily a red flag that this trader may be able to move one job in order to fit in something more urgent.  Even highly reputable traders do this from time to time to make sure that valued customers with urgent needs are not left high and dry.

Section62

SteveVy said:

This reminds me of a painter i encountered a few years ago he quoted around the same price to fully paint a 4 bedroom house. He said he would need 50% up front I said why? he goes I need materials I said I don't feel comfortable paying that much up front. He goes I can't start the job until you pay for the materials so I said how about this...

I'll go with you to buy the materials and I'll pay it all my card? he said no they won't accept your credit card

I said how about I'll go to the bank take out the money in cash and get the materials with you? he said no that won't work

I said okay how about you tell me what you need and I'll buy all the materials at my own cost and then you start the work? he said no.

I am glad I didn't use him!

I know a fair number of highly reputable traders who - on the basis of what you describe - would have put you in the 'too difficult' client category, made their excuses, and decided never to work for you.

Much of the industry works on trust.  I.e. trust that a trader will do a good job for the agreed price, and trust that they will get paid for the work they've done.  You were demonstrating from the get-go that you had zero trust in this trader, so rather than presenting these options (which some people would find rather insulting), you would have been better just saying 'no thanks, I'll get someone else'.

SteveVy said:

The guy was excellent! I've tried several times to contact him again and he doesn't answer! I hate it when you loose a good trades-person!

I'm sure there will be a reason why he doesn't reply to you. Don't take it personally. There are other traders out there.

another_casualty

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