Hi, I'm new here, need a bit of advice: I've replaced a heat sensor in a boiler and the customer is refusing to pay me until I provide him with proof of purchase for the sensor alongside my invoice for the job. Where do I stand on this legally? Am I legally able to refuse, and request immediate payment, or is he entitled to see receipts?
cheers
Your customer has no right at all to see your paper work - if he feels the price being charged for the part is excessive, then he can question what you are charging him for it, but that doesn't mean he has a right to know what you paid for it.
It's quite common for businesses to give a quote for labour, "plus parts", and if the part doesn't have a recommended retail price set by the manufacturer, it can be difficult to say what the part should be charged at.
So first off: has the manufacturer of the component set a RRP for the part? If they have, then there is a clear indicator of what the part should be charged out at. If you've had to order the part and collect it from a merchant, then that would justify an additional amount on top of the Recommended Retail Price.
If there is no RRP, then I think you would be well within your rights to charge what the part generally sells for at the top end of the regular price scale, plus something to cover your collection and admin costs.
However, if you are charging several times the regular selling price of the part, then maybe the customer has a case for challenging the cost to him.
If it ended up in the small claims court, the first thing the Judge would ask is: "what retail price does the manufacturer give for this part?"
If there isn't one, then the next question is likely to be: "what is the regular market price of the part .... highest and lowest?"
I think you would be given the benefit of charging at the higher rate, plus any other associated costs involved with obtaining the part. In fact, I reckon you would get away with charging x2 the higher regular price, because it would be accepted that you are making your living from supplying such parts.
If it goes to x3 +, then I think you would need to have a reasonable explanation as to why the cost is higher than would seem reasonable.
If you've given your customer your Invoice for the work showing labour costs and the price of the part, and your explanation of your charging, then it's up to him to either pay the bill, or risk being taken to the Small Claims Court for recovery of the debt. Which you can set up on-line, (all of which is explained on the relevant website) and it won't cost you much - you don't need a solicitor, all you need is your paper work and an explanation of your side of things.
But if you send the customer a Recorded Delivery letter giving him 28 days to pay, or you will start proceedings in the SCC, it's odds-on that you will get your bill paid well before it gets to that.
