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customer not paying, advice...

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Discuss customer not paying, advice... in the Plumbing Jobs | The Job-board area at Plumbers Forums

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benfisher

Evening all, i got an outstanding invoice for £480 (£310 is materials) invoice was due on 29/02/2012, sent a reminder but still no luck. My customers are normally great and pay up promptly but this was a new customer, the bloke is a race horse trainer and worth million$ so i don't think cashflow is an issue, never answers his phones to me.
I'll send him one more reminder next week which will include a 2% addition to the invoice for being 30 days overdue (it's in my t&c on the back of all invoices/letters) just wondering what route do people go down to get there money? do i got through the small claims court or use a debt recovery service (or send in big dave and clumsy bob to sort it out for me ;))
 
Next time mate, get a 50% deposit to cover all your costs and the balance payable immediately upon completion.

Don't give credit, you're a business not a feckin charity!
 
system3 said:
Next time mate, get a 50% deposit to cover all your costs and the balance payable immediately upon completion.

Don't give credit, you're a business not a feckin charity!
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Extremely wise words IMHO.

Ask yourself why this cust is a millionaire and your a pauper chasing a 'pocket money' bill!!
 
No seriously though, I'd do as APPlumbing says and go round and meet him, but don't lose it, keep your cool as he could use it against you. Be polite but firm and don't let him talk down to you. You are every bit as good as he is.
 
system3 said:
You are every bit as good as he is.
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You're better than he is. After all, he couldn't do the work himself (or be bothered if he was able).

Communication is the key with all these things. It's more difficult for those with a guilty conscience in a face to face situation.

First things first, though. Ask him if there was a problem as many customers don't pay quickly if they're not happy. If you go in heavy handed he might have been waiting for you to start shouting then use this against you.

Much as I hate it, patience and grovelling is the surest method of extracting funds.
 
Find his stables and wait until there's plenty of people there, turn up and be as loud as you can. Honest tradesman eeking a living and having to chase payment from scumbag customers etc etc etc.

Shame works, failing that threatening letters and failing that sell it to the local thugs (leg breakers).
 
Not sure if any are available but you could try googling a solicitor letter.

Chase this week if you want.

What I do is just leave the matter alone without chasing. When three months is up then I give a friendly prod which I find works wonders. The guilt has set in by then and there can be no excuses for cashflow, pay cheque or anything like that.

I had one customer and I thought of painting a sheet in large type then hanging it over the town's bridge so everyone could see it (and contact the local press anonymously too before the police came along and took it away.) Would have had details of his name, address and then how much he owed me.
 
As DKIA said communication is the key.
I once knew a brickie who built a big wall for a racehorse trainer. He wouldn't pay so they threatened to do this
[video=youtube;avER-t6GL4U]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avER-t6GL4U[/video]
He got the message and paid up the next day :lol:
 
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