non paying customers !

[Harvest Fields]

I wouldn't want to admit how long I have been out full payment of some jobs.
I heard it said that if you have to call at a non paying customers house hoping for money, then try to call when they have guests there some evening.

If he is only outstanding £1000.00 ( no insult intended) then I'm guessing it is for lots of little jobs. Who gets customers to sign agreements for the repair of a tap washer?

 

[jtsplumbing]

Quick phone call or text (7 days) saying your cheque has not arrived have you sent it to the correct address, or I'm in your area tomorrow I will pop in and collect payment,

 

[oz-plumber]

Simple answer - get credit card facilities.

There is no point in being in business for yourself if you can't take a credit / debit card payment.

The facilities cost you, but you have to make allowances in your pricing.

Would you rather pay for the facilities and anywhere between 1% & 4 % transaction fee to have prompt payment.

The time you waste chasing people for small amounts hardly makes the job worthwhile, so get payment on completion the easy way - credit / debit card.

 

[cr0ft]

I'd agree with that 100% OZ. I wish I'd done this sooner. The company we used charged us 0.25% for debit card transactions and 0.9% for credit card transactions. Monthy terminal fee of £25 for the terminals which worked on all networks so very rarely lost signal when taking payment. Ok, so extra costs to pay but how much of my time did I spend each month chasing people for payment? About 2 hours normally, instead I could have been doing a couple of boiler services and earning more than enough to pay for the card machines that month.

Also a lot less stressful too, never have to worry about someone stinging you.

 

[SimonG]

Put their name and address on a postcard. Big red 'OUTSTANDING MONIES' and then the amount, what it was for, your details and stick it through the next door neighbours letterbox.

I changed my t and c's on estimated jobs. Payment immediately on completion or plus 5%. Stops the 'oh I'll post you a cheque', they soon find it when I tell them to add on the 5% then.

Cash flow is king

 

[hammers4spanner]

I done a job for a barrister who deals in exactly this other week.
He said if you invoice and they delay payment . Send a reminder text, if they respond then they have become into contract with that invoice and terms

 

[Chuck]

I done a job for a barrister who deals in exactly this other week.
He said if you invoice and they delay payment . Send a reminder text, if they respond then they have become into contract with that invoice and terms

You'll probably get a bill for 350 guineas for that advice through the post next week...

 

[quality]

I learn`t my lesson a long time ago from builders on a job that was extended by other trades. They took me for about £4500 they went bankrupt and I never saw a penny. The sheriff from the high court came and knocked on my door for monies owed by them> I will say they did not get anywhere.

 

[ukplumbersusery]

If he is only outstanding £1000.00 ( no insult intended) then I'm guessing it is for lots of little jobs. Who gets customers to sign agreements for the repair of a tap washer?

I know writing out a quote for replacing a tap washer is a pain but remember if you are taking an order on a customer's premises it is a legal requirement to provide in writing their right to cancel. If you do not provide this information the customer can legally turn round and refuse payment and the courts will back them. I would just increase the charge to include writing out quotes and invoices.

 

[Harvest Fields]

I know writing out a quote for replacing a tap washer is a pain but remember if you are taking an order on a customer's premises it is a legal requirement to provide in writing their right to cancel. If you do not provide this information the customer can legally turn round and refuse payment and the courts will back them. I would just increase the charge to include writing out quotes and invoices.

That is not what the post I was on about said. It said to get the customer to sign an agreement. Quoting is different. But to be honest if I can fix the job onsite then the quote is always verbal anyway.