Slow delayed paying customers

[hammers4spanner]

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?

 

[Harvest Fields]

On average I wait between 21 and 28 days. Not sure you will be able to start a claim after 10 days.

 

[hammers4spanner]

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 ?

 

[ShaunCorbs]

I would pay to have a solicitors letter written up

Normally under 20 to have it done

We're in the same boat atm

 

[Last Plumber]

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 £20?
In my part of this green and pleasant land, they charge £240 all day long for that.

 

[Last Plumber]

10 days ago.

Do you not allow 30 days?

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Out of curiosity Shaun, where are there any solicitors who will write a letter for £20?
In my part of this green and pleasant land, they charge £240 all day long for that.

My local one will do it's a standard letter

I would say 240 is too much

 

[Phil]

I'm owed £126 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.

 

[MOSSEP]

www.thomashiggins.com

£3 for letter before action, Ive used them a number of times and its always worked.

 

[Ric2013]

www.thomashiggins.com

£3 for letter before action, Ive used them a number of times and its always worked.

Worth knowing, as I'm also in the same boat, but waiting until January as currently too busy to entertain the idea.

 

[Chalked]

www.thomashiggins.com

£3 for letter before action, Ive used them a number of times and its always worked.

Another vote for them.
I've used them, had a letter from them chasing a debt and fitted the heating in mr Higgins swimming pool in Wallasey.!

 

[Last Plumber]

My local one will do it's a standard letter

I would say 240 is too much

You're not kiddin too much, I nearly fell off my perch

 

[hammers4spanner]

Do you not allow 30 days?

Not for private customers

 

[Scott_D]

Worth a try for £3

 

[townfanjon]

Bide your time, get the £50 , and sack her , you do not need customers like her

 

[WaterTight]

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.

 

[SimonG]

I don't/won't wait 30 days. It's payment on completion or plus 5%.

 

[SimonG]

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.

 

[Harvest Fields]

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

 

[WaterTight]

Each to their own then. But I'm starting to think when I say bank transfer people hear free credit for x amount of time

 

[Phil]

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 £40 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 £300 each on presents for them from her benefit money.

 

[Ric2013]

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).

 

[oz-plumber]

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

 

[Ric2013]

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.

 

[Harvest Fields]

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.

 

[oz-plumber]

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.

 

[WaterTight]

Do you refuse requests for bank transfers out of interest?

 

[Harvest Fields]

Do you refuse requests for bank transfers out of interest?

Nope. But when I send the invoice on the day it has my bank details on.

 

[SimonG]

My preference is

Bank transfer
Cheque
Cash
In kind

 

[Harvest Fields]

My preference is

Bank transfer
Cheque
Cash
In kind

Get many that offer the last method??😛

 

[oz-plumber]

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

 

[SimonG]

Get many that offer the last method??😛

Only the once.

 

[Harvest Fields]

Only the once.

Social housing. Good old days.😛😛

 

[Last Plumber]

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.

 

[Jock Spanners]

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.

 

[andyplumber]

i have terms set on all my quotes and i list everything that involved on the job so customers can't say "i thought we were having this done or that done " sorry if it not on the quote its not getting done but i do state these terms which i have a full A4 pice of paper off below is just a example of my terms

The company will carry out the whole of the works specified in this quotation at the price quoted during normal hours, which are between 9am and 6pm Monday to Friday. Any variations or additions requested by you will be subject to an additional charge and if the company is delayed or prevented from installing by the agreed date due to delay or default on your part, the company may on written notice to you add additional charges.

and i also state payment on completion if not paid within 7 days 8% late payment fee will be added to invoice total

i usually get paid on completion or on the 6th day lol

 

[firemant]

Do you not allow 30 days?

Do you LP?
My terms are generally pay on the day and a deposit to cover any parts required to he ordered.
TBH, WhenI first started I was under the daft impression that it is more professional to invoice with,say, 14 days.

 

[Last Plumber]

Do you LP?
My terms are generally pay on the day and a deposit to cover any parts required to he ordered.
TBH, WhenI first started I was under the daft impression that it is more professional to invoice with,say, 14 days.

Yes. I put a bit of detail in post 34.
If it’s a commercial job or one worth a fair bit I ask for a deposit then stage payments and I make sure I’m always in front and safe financially should anything go wrong.

 

[Ric2013]

i have terms set on all my quotes and i list everything that involved on the job so customers can't say "i thought we were having this done or that done " sorry if it not on the quote its not getting done but i do state these terms which i have a full A4 pice of paper off below is just a example of my terms

The company will carry out the whole of the works specified in this quotation at the price quoted during normal hours, which are between 9am and 6pm Monday to Friday. Any variations or additions requested by you will be subject to an additional charge and if the company is delayed or prevented from installing by the agreed date due to delay or default on your part, the company may on written notice to you add additional charges.

and i also state payment on completion if not paid within 7 days 8% late payment fee will be added to invoice total

i usually get paid on completion or on the 6th day lol

Andy, that is beautifully written. Sounds friendly and is accessible, but also lays down the law. Did you word that yourself, or did you modify it from a pinched document from somewhere. If the latter, can you point me in the right direction?

 

[andyplumber]

Andy, that is beautifully written. Sounds friendly and is accessible, but also lays down the law. Did you word that yourself, or did you modify it from a pinched document from somewhere. If the latter, can you point me in the right direction?

Me and the Mrs worded the terms as she’s a director and she good with words Lol but I did do some research on the internet when I set up the ltd business to see what other companies were doing regarding payment and additional fees.

 

[Jock Spanners]

Thanks guys. Has anyone got an exemplar contract I could see?
FYI here is the link to a well known plumbing company's terms and conditions - all three sides of A4!

Terms and Conditions :: Pimlico Plumbers

 

[bert large]

I maybe wrong but I'm fairly sure there is little you can do legally to enforce payment before 28 days has elapsed. I remember looking into it many years ago & found some government document stating such.