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hammers4spanner

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Got one a landlady whom i am now fed up with always slow paying and latest invoice 50 quid from 10 days ago.

Sent an invoice reminder and text message so the usual has been done.

Not paid by Thursday late payment etc etc email will be sent , however she has said not received email which is rubbish as from my end i can see she has.

What i am asking is i want paying for this not gonna write it off as its a principle thing . If i start a money claims and pay for that do would you suggest sending another invoice with this total on?
 
On average I wait between 21 and 28 days. Not sure you will be able to start a claim after 10 days.
 
I wont start a claim until January now that' if she still hasn' paid.
Curious tho if I do claim should I issue an invoice with extra cost to do this ?
 
I would pay to have a solicitors letter written up

Normally under 20 to have it done

We're in the same boat atm
 
I would pay to have a solicitors letter written up

Normally under 20 to have it done

We're in the same boat atm

Out of curiosity Shaun, where are there any solicitors who will write a letter for ÂŁ20?
In my part of this green and pleasant land, they charge ÂŁ240 all day long for that.
 
Out of curiosity Shaun, where are there any solicitors who will write a letter for ÂŁ20?
In my part of this green and pleasant land, they charge ÂŁ240 all day long for that.

My local one will do it's a standard letter

I would say 240 is too much
 
I'm owed ÂŁ126 by a scatty stresshead mum of 4, I know shes just forgotten with the stress of Christmas, not worried about it as its the daughter of a regular customer. Will remind her mid Jan and make her feel guilty.
 
I'm presuming those who say they allow 30 days mainly do bigger jobs , installs, bathrooms. It seems more reasonable to wait a while for a big payment for a big job (even though it's no different in my opinion.)

My problem comes when people ask me "How do you want paying?" And I mention I'm accept cash, cheque or online transfer. I don't ever remember saying I accept cash, cheque or pay in a few weeks if that's easier for you or you are prone to forgetting or can't really be bothered yet or would rather see how this weekend goes because the girls are over and someone mentioned a big one.
 
I don't/won't wait 30 days. It's payment on completion or plus 5%.
 
There was an estate agent who wanted some work doing. I told them about my terms and they wanted 90 days. The conversation didn't last much longer.
 
I have always given 21/28 days ever since I started out. It’s normal now. I do a mix of big and small jobs. But when they ask about payment I say cash, cheque or bank transfer
 
Me personally, every bill I get I pay straight away that day*, but some people drag it on week after week. It gets annoying, I remember when I started and the first Christmas I slaved up to around 19th Dec on a bathroom job that would land me the couple of grand I so desperatley needed for Christmas as I was totally skint as I'd put everything into that job, I had maybe ÂŁ40 to my name. I finished 5 working days before the 25th and guess when the cheque landed on the doormat? Well into January. :( I was a slave to the letterbox all Christmas and new year "is there any post today" are they working?
Are the banks open?

* I pay my tax last minute on principle, they are only going to give it to that 6 kid chav benefit mum who boasted she spends ÂŁ300 each on presents for them from her benefit money.
 
I pay bills and tax as soon as I can, and, as a reasonably good socialist, I also pay my tax as soon as I can.

And, yes, it -isses me off when people decide to drag a bill out. You know the good people because they are there, chequebook, and teas and biscuits waiting as you clear up. Or an envelope of cash 'let me know if it comes to any more than that and here's some dinner'.

Terms and Conditions to new unknown customers will include a settlement discount (i.e. a public relations version of a penalty for late payment).
 
I've said this a few times already.

Anyone who runs a small business or is self employed needs credit card facilities.
There are fees, charges and commission rates for using the machines, but they are a necessity in today's world.
Any small jobs, one-off jobs or new customers are required to pay on completion.
It's easier to get paid with a credit / debit card than it is to get paid in cash.
Once the transaction is approved - the money is in you bank account later that day.
I couldn't live without my credit card facility
 
Since the customer was not on site when I was working, having card facililities would have made no difference in my case. If he had been, he could have written me a cheque there and then.
 
Since the customer was not on site when I was working, having card facililities would have made no difference in my case. If he had been, he could have written me a cheque there and then.
I get an email address when booking the job in. And invoice straight away.
 
Since the customer was not on site when I was working, having card facililities would have made no difference in my case. If he had been, he could have written me a cheque there and then.

The customer could have given you the card details over the phone.
The machines have the facility of entering the card details manually.
Actually, most of my transactions are done this way.
 
I don't refuse any sort of payment.
Bank transfers off most of my builders and constant clients.
Some people I request credit card payments for on the spot and many other customers prefer to pay me by credit card.
It just makes things easier getting money on the spot for small jobs rather than wasting time on collecting payments for small amounts of money.

Some people have the opinion that small amounts won't be chased.
The amount questioned by the OP, the customer probably thinks he won't bother chasing it.
I would say the amount charged by the OP would be hardly worth attending the job for - on current currency conversion rates.
It would be 10 years since I would have invoiced a job for that amount
 
I'm presuming those who say they allow 30 days mainly do bigger jobs

All sizes of jobs done and all customers get standard 30 days.
Invoice sent via email or post. Very rarely have an issue with non-payers (touch wood). Very rarely have to wait long for payment from private domestic customers, businesses take the 30. Used to have a few 60 day accounts but the paper industry is all but gone now so those factories were the last to do that. It never mattered at the time because it was a constant stream of work and therefore a constant stream of payments.
 
I hate working this time of year. Everyone wants it finished before Christmas but seem to forget to pay you until the New Year. I busted my balls trying to finish a bathroom before Christmas. I sent the invoice on the 23rd and now he's arguing about the extra cost. Having agreed the job, in addition, they asked me to fit 4 downlighters, take down a stud wall and (after a week) move the shower pipework to the other wall. I've never used a contract before but I'm seriously considering it for future big jobs.
 
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