Non Paying Customers - How to resolve them

[ambleplumber]

Just done a job and the customer has decided to take off £150 from the bill for whatever reason, this is the first time this has happened to me and i'm not sure how to handle it. Do I name and shame them do I report them to the police or what?

Any advice please??

Cheers

 

[PLUMB111]

Did you give them a quote or estimate for the works to be carried out, if so issue a second invoice for the money asking for invoice to be paid within 7 days.
If they have not paid in seven days, Issue a small claims court process.
Costs about £50.

 

[Deleted member 2053]

Unfortunately it isn't a criminal offence so the police won't be interested. (And even if it was, it isn't a motoring offence so they might still not be interested!) Your only real course of action is the small claims court but even if you win you cannot guarantee getting the money, and you may have to lay out more than the £150 you have lost if you obtain legal help. The best you would get is some mealy mouthed excuse from your customer as to why he withheld the money. If you are anything like me then you probably feel like sending a couple of heavies round to break his legs, but, sadly, that IS criminal. At least make sure that you give the guys details to all the other plumbers you know. Then with any luck the next time he has water pouring through his ceiling he will be told to go and buy an umbrella.

 

[w1nxn]

i like the breaking legs option but unfortunatley the bitter taste of putting it down to experience is how it usually goes )

 

[newbie1]

this is and allways has been a problem in the trade as the customer thinks he can do what he wants when paying
i would ask nicely first reason for withholding payment but be carefull if a cash quote was given as customer may say mess with me and mr vat and tax man will get a call..failing that pop a turd through his letter box not one of yours as dna testing will match it....similar thing my son fitted a toilet and was awaiting a chq and still is 12 weeks later no response from phone or house just had to swallow on it

 

[Avatar]

Prevention is the only cure - for larger jobs (£300+) I have them sign a legally binding contract with various clauses that stop them from weedling out of payment. I also ask for 50% advance on labour and all material costs.

I dont see why I should take all the risk . . .

Bloody 'rogue trader' gtype programs have done real tradesmen with kid to support, a lot of damage.
I am not a 'bob the builder' with 20 limited companies ripping off all and sundry, whilst have having no real expertise myself.

These type of people bring building trades into looking ****e. And your lovely customer are now looking for the smallest mistake to prove that you are one of these 'dogey bodgers', thereby giving them good reason to withold monies from you.

You will have to swallow it, but get yourself a contract next time. And if the custmoer looks like a preeek, then dont do the job . . .

 

[TGor]

A mate of mine was known to parade outside the offenders premises with a sign saying that he hadn't been paid for work done! Only got moved on once by the cops!
I don't think it worked anyway

and/or was known to revisit the premises and remove the installed items quietly.

 

[HTB]

One of my difficult clients (admittedly its rare but it happens) had used his works e-mail address to communicate with me and he was part of a large (semi public) organisation.

I was able to access the organisation chart on their website and e-mailed his boss, his boss's boss, their HR director and some of his colleagues with the story of his unfair non payment plus questioning his morals, ethics and trustworthyness.

Boy was he ****ed off!!! In fact he was so angry and ballistic I let the matter drop since I actually felt I'd hurt him to a greater value than the part non payment.

I would do it again.

 

[Deleted member 2053]

One of my difficult clients (admittedly its rare but it happens) had used his works e-mail address to communicate with me and he was part of a large (semi public) organisation.

I was able to access the organisation chart on their website and e-mailed his boss, his boss's boss, their HR director and some of his colleagues with the story of his unfair non payment plus questioning his morals, ethics and trustworthyness.

Boy was he ****ed off!!! In fact he was so angry and ballistic I let the matter drop since I actually felt I'd hurt him to a greater value than the part non payment.

I would do it again.

I am not surprised he was less than pleased. That kind of character exposure sticks permanently. Nice one!

One of my best friends still owes me over a grand from a refurbishment where he massively overspent. He fully intends to pay me but is now unemployed and ............

I hope he remembers me in his will!

 

[unguided1]

I usually make it clear in my written quotes that any installations remain my property until paid in full, if i,m not paid I take back whats mine. Ive only done it once and sent them a bill for the time it took to remove the items
Also for certain types of customer I also do advance stage payments,this works really well, 1st stage payment in advance pays for materials 2nd and 3rd stage payments pay the labour 4th stage payment If i get it fine if I dont get it im not surprised.

 

[Tim.A]

Take the loss, it's not worth the hassle and time to persue, move on.