Customers paying late

[plumber_UK]

Truth is, once you have their job finished they can decide to late pay you and there's nothing you can do about it, despite if you asked verbally or had it in typed lettering the size of an A4 page asking for immediate payment.
Different thing entirely if you walk out through Tesco doors with a trolley of goods while promising to pay next week, - that's theft!
People promising to pay you for all your supplied materials and time and then not bothering to pay for a few weeks, - that's just a debt owed to you. Sadly that's the law.
What can you do but wait on your money? Taking it to small claims will often just result in slower payment, and that's if you win.
Electricity bill, Gas bill, Mortgage /Rent bill, Car HP, Wife's and kids Christmas presents, Christmas booze are all more important than the plumbers one off bill. He can wait to end of January

Yes it is the law but maybe the law needs to change. id call it theft when someone has got materials which i purchased and they have asked for in their houses and they have not paid for it. It seems all the big companies are covered but nothing for us legitimate tradesmen.

 

[Best]

I would also call it theft. Even if a customer does pay the full bill eventually, they have taken the cost of that invoice as a free loan from you.
The law has no teeth, except where you have a customer who has a good respectable job and stands to be embarrassed and possibly the money taken from their salary by the court if it has to.
Best to always cry poverty to each customer. Also insist on stage payments on bigger jobs. No reason not to be paid for materials and wage each week.
I think you have to accept there will always be some customers who will pay a little late and you just have to allow this.

 

[Masood]

Yes it is the law but maybe the law needs to change. id call it theft when someone has got materials which i purchased and they have asked for in their houses and they have not paid for it. It seems all the big companies are covered but nothing for us legitimate tradesmen.

On anything but the smallest jobs, I always get a deposit to cover all materials and most of the labour.

Clearly stated on the quote - deposit due one week ahead of start date to allow materials to be ordered. No deposit, no start.

Still get slow payers but at least my bills are covered.

 

[plumber_UK]

On anything but the smallest jobs, I always get a deposit to cover all materials and most of the labour.

Clearly stated on the quote - deposit due one week ahead of start date to allow materials to be ordered. No deposit, no start.

Still get slow payers but at least my bills are covered.

Good idea

My problem is i have directed my business to emergency repairs so a bulk of my jobs are under £100, Also I'm unable to get deposits for emergency call outs.

 

[Best]

Good idea

My problem is i have directed my business to emergency repairs so a bulk of my jobs are under £100, Also I'm unable to get deposits for emergency call outs.

A lot of my recent jobs are same - often under £100.
I find it is an advantage being small amounts because you have usually small outlay (if any) in materials and really that is the money you are out of pocket.

 

[dave1]

Have you thought about getting one of those card machines so you can accept payment on the spot?

 

[Masood]

Good idea

My problem is i have directed my business to emergency repairs so a bulk of my jobs are under £100, Also I'm unable to get deposits for emergency call outs.

Get a card machine mate. Seriously, I used to do so much emergency callout work when I first went SE. Card machine meant I got paid before I left. No excuses about no cash, no messing about with cheques, and people are really impressed at how professional it looks.

 

[JCSPLUMBING]

I just got a payleven card machine and also I don't leave until I'm paid. It can get pretty awkward hanging about but if you stand your ground and tell them you require payment they usually fetch it from somewhere. I've even waited in the van while they head to the bank/cash machine. It's not nice but it's the only way sometimes.

 

[plumber_UK]

Get a card machine mate. Seriously, I used to do so much emergency callout work when I first went SE. Card machine meant I got paid before I left. No excuses about no cash, no messing about with cheques, and people are really impressed at how professional it looks.

Yes I think that's my only choice.

Which one did you use?

 

[dave1]

I just got a payleven card machine and also I don't leave until I'm paid. It can get pretty awkward hanging about but if you stand your ground and tell them you require payment they usually fetch it from somewhere. I've even waited in the van while they head to the bank/cash machine. It's not nice but it's the only way sometimes.

If people choose to pay by card do you add the % fee for using it to the bill or just lose it yourself?