Possible non-paying client

gbu_2

I'm a plumber that was asked to do a job for someone that Ive worked for around 10 times over the past 15 years or so.

They asked me to quote to replace a toilet so i gave them my quote verbally when i went round to assess the job, they accepted the quote then asked how long it would take, i said could take a couple of hours but allow half a day (it shouldn't take that long hopefully but you never know what problems you may face and just in case they had an appointment or couldn't be around that time) 

So they supplied the toilet i supplied the pan connectors and pipework to alter the supply pipe etc

As it happened the job went ok it took just under 2 hours.

So i finished up they saw the work was done to there liking and i left saying id email them the invoice later(which i always do) on that day.

A few hours later i got a text from them saying that seeing as i hadn't taking the half day to complete the job and had only taken 2 hours then the should get a reduced bill on the price i quoted.

I explained i had quoted a price to replace the toilet which was accepted so whether that took me 2 hours or a whole day that would of been the price and that if i took longer then half a day they wouldn't of accepted if i had charged them more.

They have now not replied to any texts, or the emailed invoice and i have a feeling that will not pay, it has only been 5 days but i feel from the lack of communication then they are going to hold out paying the bill so thought id post up and ask here what my options are.

I am working for there next door neighbour next week and was going to knock on there door to discuss it but unsure what to say other then why haven't you paid me yet?

Thanks in advance

Flugelhorn

blimey if it was me I would just be glad that the whole thing had been completed quickly with no glitches. They accepted a price for the job and should stick to it 

how many days do you normally allow? send a reminder at that time

gbu_2

Flugelhorn said:

blimey if it was me I would just be glad that the whole thing had been completed quickly with no glitches. They accepted a price for the job and should stick to it 

how many days do you normally allow? send a reminder at that time

On my invoices it says payment to be made within 7 days, so i will give it the 7 days but im disappointed there's been no communication back to me, i even said as goodwill gesture id take off £20 but still no reply.

Hoenir

Go and knock on the door. 

SuzeQStan

Totally understand that Paperwork is a pain - but proof is tough when it comes to verbal
agreements. Did you have anything in writing - email/text about the Quote cost?

Bit of a shame they are behaving in this way especially as it sounds you have a long standing business relationship with them.  

Have they ever reneged on a previous agreed cost? Are they late payers in the past?

you did your work and deserve paying for the work they agreed to.  What are the stated terms on your invoice? You may find they pay it last minute as a bit of a passive aggressive protest on their part. 

Friendly informal reminders can help preserve the relationship for future work ‘I’m sure this is just an oversight on your part but I don’t seem to have received payment for my invoice number 1234 for install of toilet/supply of spares on xyz date in amount £££. Please advise by reply once payment has been made to maintain your account in good standing’

if they don’t pay then put them on proforma for any future work or bin them off.

gbu_2

Totally understand that Paperwork is a pain - but proof is tough when it comes to verbal

agreements. Did you have anything in writing - email/text about the Quote cost?

Luckily when they texted me to ask for the reduction they included the original quote i gave and they accepted!

Have they ever reneged on a previous agreed cost? Are they late payers in the past?

The last time i worked for them was around 4 years ago and i don't remember if it was late or not but im sure if questioned the bill like this then i wouldn't of done this job.

What are the stated terms on your invoice? You may find they pay it last minute as a bit of a passive aggressive protest on their part.

1. Please make bank transfer payments to:-
*******
A/C ******
S/C ******
2. All payments to be paid in full within '7' days.
3. If paying by cheque please make payable to '*******' only.
4. I reserve the right to claim statutory interest at 8% above the Bank of England
reference rate in force on the date the debt becomes overdue and at any subsequent rate
where the reference rate changes and the debt remains unpaid in accordance with the
Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 as amended and supplemented
by the Late Payment of Commercial Debts Regulations 2002.
5. Any materials delivered or fitted remain the property of "**********" until
full payment has been received.

SuzeQStan

I like the statutory interest charge on overdue payments - might have to borrow that! 

Really good that you have their acceptance in writing.  That should help with small claims court should it come to that.  

There is a fine line between losing a clients business in future and them thinking they can take the Michael and pay you less.  

Bad payers are bad for business - if it was me I’d put them on proforma for any future work tbh.

DullGreyGuy

What does the original quote say?

If you are doing it on a fixed price basis its worth while ensuring that it is clear that is the case rather than it being £X/hr and estimated at 3hrs and so will vary based on the actual time taken

gbu_2

SuzeQStan said:

I like the statutory interest charge on overdue payments - might have to borrow that! 

Really good that you have their acceptance in writing.  That should help with small claims court should it come to that.  

There is a fine line between losing a clients business in future and them thinking they can take the Michael and pay you less.  

Bad payers are bad for business - if it was me I’d put them on proforma for any future work tbh.

I like the statutory interest charge on overdue payments - might have to borrow that!

I got that from another trade i work with on there invoice so i borrowed it as well

Oh ill avoid them in future however i doubt after this they would ask me to do any more work for them again.

gbu_2

DullGreyGuy said:

What does the original quote say?

If you are doing it on a fixed price basis its worth while ensuring that it is clear that is the case rather than it being £X/hr and estimated at 3hrs and so will vary based on the actual time taken

Thats why i now charge and quote per job as many years ago i quoted someone maybe £60 per hour to replace a ball valve and change some bath and basin washers, but i was finished in around 40 mins so he found some other jobs for me to do to make up the full hour!

And in this case i told her what the price was to change the toilet and she accepted it (£200 plus depending on materials used) and it was only as i was leaving did she enquire as to how long it may take and i said allow half a day just in case i hit any problems, at no time was an hourly charge mentioned.

Mistral001

There is nothing much you can do, but keep sending them reminders after the usually 30 days is up.  If they do not pay within say three months then take them to the small claims court.  You might win or you might lose.  It is only business. 

PS.  You might need to adjust what you say to your cleints about the time it takes to do a lump sum job.  Either that or charge by the hour.  Practice changes from sector to sector.  Try to go by what is accepted practice within your sector.