Deposits to cover materials

[jase158]

Hi i have a customer who is a bit wary of handing the deposit to tiler and electrician, I think she wants me to take responsibility of the deposit,

My question is....

Is there any way of covering myself of the deposit, i.e. if the tiler or electrician take the money and do not do the work.

Is this covered in insurance or is there any companies out there who will cover it?

 

[Puddle]

I would say if the customer is wary of giving a deposit,she must be wary of them doing the work also,so maybe she should look for someone else to do the works that she feels more comfortable with,however also if she pays the deposit by credit card she would be covered

imho

 

[PlumbBobBob]

who hired the tiler and electrician?

 

[jase158]

excellent point, me i suppose, although i couldn't of done it without them.

 

[SafeGasInstall]

dont get involve in other peoples finance...i would not involve my self !

 

[jase158]

but then i would never be doing big jobs?

I can not tile a complete bathroom or electric under floor heating, I think that it is a shame we can not trust each other.

Isn't it our job as project manager to take control of monies, other trades i.e.

 

[royston]

I use a tiler the same as you to do full bathrooms as he is very good. Before i even start the job i will get a big deposit to cover my materials and most of the tiling work. I have had to pay the tiler before sometimes. I think its a case of do you trust the customer to pay you and also they should trust you and your judgement on other professionals you employ. Just make sure you cover your overheads before you start if possible. If not be 100% sure you trust the customer. In the end if youve all done a good job there shouldnt be a problem.

 

[jase158]

I use a tiler the same as you to do full bathrooms as he is very good. Before i even start the job i will get a big deposit to cover my materials and most of the tiling work. I have had to pay the tiler before sometimes. I think its a case of do you trust the customer to pay you and also they should trust you and your judgement on other professionals you employ. Just make sure you cover your overheads before you start if possible. If not be 100% sure you trust the customer. In the end if youve all done a good job there shouldnt be a problem.

I trust the customer 100% and i trust the electrician 100%, just a bit nervous of the tiler, spoke to the customer and they recommended doing it in 2 parts, so the deposit for the first half is paid and once this is complete we can get paid for that bit along with a deposit for the next part,

this is a bit difficult as buying in bulk is normally cheaper, although i suppose it isn't too bad, gives her the option of not going ahead with the second part should things go wrong I suppose.

Also the first part is 1 bathroom, the second part is another bathroom, so 2 bathrooms in total

 

[SimonG]

Don't do deposits, if it's a big or long job then I organise staged payments before starting. Have a good electrician and plasterer who get paid when I get paid, or who invoice customer direct depending on type or size of job.

As people have said its all matter of trust, but I try not to get involved with finances for others.

 

[jase158]

Don't do deposits, if it's a big or long job then I organise staged payments before starting. Have a good electrician and plasterer who get paid when I get paid, or who invoice customer direct depending on type or size of job.

As people have said its all matter of trust, but I try not to get involved with finances for others.

thats what i wanted to do, get them to invoice customer direct, however, this all went wrong as the tiler i used to use stopped answering the phone, now customer is a bit wary, i think

 

[SimonG]

Its all down to your gut feeling then, which from your posts above, your not happy with it. An executive decision is required. Good Luck

 

[jase158]

well i am meeting on thursday with everybody involved and will get them to write some sort of letter of intent/ contract, i.e. at least that way i am covered on paper. Then give the deposit money a couple days before start of work, less time for things to go wrong. just be careful, hopefully the start of a great partnership between me, the tiler and electrician, its a shame when things go wrong.