Made a mistake now customer giving trouble about paying

[mylocalplumber]

Right, firstly I've always put my trust in my clients. A lot of the time I'll complete work then send invoice and expect prompt or reasonable payment.

now for the last 2 months I've had about 7 clients, some existing some new taking forever to pay.

so recently I had to declare a gas installation immediately dangerous due to a 7mb drop. He wanted a gas safety cert.

having isolated meter and appliances I quoted on bypassing existing barrel gas pipe by running 22mm surface mounted to appliances.

job was done great but due to a stupid error on my behalf, I ended up drilling through one of his bathroom tiles-my bad no arguments.

The maintenance guy found me some spare tiles (amazing-saving my bacon).

now I was there all day and this guy is a nice guy. As he is having to have the pipework boxed in I suggested that the handyman (who I know)could repair the tile and I'll knock off £70 (handyman quoted £42) which is readonable. 1 tile to replace.

now it's been a week and still no payment. Usually I can wait a lot longer but have the feeling he's waiting for the handyman to repair before he settles up.

if I'd known that I would have done it myself!

so I offered to get my tiler in to repair it but now he says he's away for 2 weeks. Then he says due to work commitments he's booked the handyman in in 3 weeks.

how would you play it?

just have so many customers taking ages to pay up and it's stressful to keep chasing.

im a good tradesman and feel I've done more than enough to compensate him for the chipped tile but should I really have to wait a month before getting paid or start demanding?

i did this guy a favour by getting the work done quickly and have already issued him the gas cert and just think it takes the **** he's being so trivial about a broken tile.

Any thoughts appreciated.

Mo

 

[Masood]

Seriously mate, 3 weeks is nothing. 28 days is pretty standard terms. He's been decent enough by the sounds of it, not making a big fuss about the tile, and you've been prompt and professional in arranging to have it sorted. If he can't get it done for 3 weeks, I don't see that as being vindictive, he's waiting till the job is finished before paying. I don't think that is unreasonable.

 

[mylocalplumber]

Seriously mate, 3 weeks is nothing. 28 days is pretty standard terms. He's been decent enough by the sounds of it, not making a big fuss about the tile, and you've been prompt and professional in arranging to have it sorted. If he can't get it done for 3 weeks, I don't see that as being vindictive, he's waiting till the job is finished before paying. I don't think that is unreasonable.

Thought I responded but hasn't showed up. Anyway..yea you're right. I'm just stressed!

 

[ShaunCorbs]

As above 1-2 month is stnd why didn't you fix the tile yourself esp if it's only one

 

[SimonG]

You knocked money off, so he's paying tiler?

If so he should have paid up. My terms are payment on completion or plus 5%. Then 5% plus admin after 28 days.

 

[gassafe]

Calm down, you've only waited a week... I used to get all stressed up & worried about who's not paying, not anymore, I just leave it a few weeks, maybe 3 before sending out another invoice... Never had trouble touch wood 🙂

 

[ShaunCorbs]

what ever you do, dont do insurance work 😀

 

[Ch4 plumbing]

Thought I responded but hasn't showed up. Anyway..yea you're right. I'm just stressed!

You did it was in another thread, just chill out mate if you get worked up over it your start to get obsessed with it.

 

[newcastle phill]

My terms are on completion, sod waiting or calling back. I generally dont do sub work so invoicing other companies doesnt come into it. I just deal with the end user and make it clear, after a boiler fit the other week and a slow payer - now crystal clear