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Not paying bills
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As a self employed electrician I'm amazed at the growing culture of people having work done and then not paying the bill. I mean when the job has been done correctly to a high standard and kept to the written quote. This attitude is putting tradesman at risk of going bump. It also indirectly helps the cowboys prosper.Everyone goes on about tradesmans hourly rates being high but don't realise the courses and regular training that the government puts you through to be register.
RANT OVER |
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By *odareyouMan
over a year ago
not far from iceland,,,,,, tescos is nearer though :-) (near leeds) |
"As a self employed electrician I'm amazed at the growing culture of people having work done and then not paying the bill. I mean when the job has been done correctly to a high standard and kept to the written quote. This attitude is putting tradesman at risk of going bump. It also indirectly helps the cowboys prosper.Everyone goes on about tradesmans hourly rates being high but don't realise the courses and regular training that the government puts you through to be register.
RANT OVER "
Get some of the money up front for matearials,..  |
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By *j47Man
over a year ago
limerick |
"As a self employed electrician I'm amazed at the growing culture of people having work done and then not paying the bill. I mean when the job has been done correctly to a high standard and kept to the written quote. This attitude is putting tradesman at risk of going bump. It also indirectly helps the cowboys prosper.Everyone goes on about tradesmans hourly rates being high but don't realise the courses and regular training that the government puts you through to be register.
RANT OVER
Get some of the money up front for matearials,.. "
Which is always good then at least ur suppliers are happy but we still have family's to keep when u don't get a weeks wage |
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"Because of the attitude of entitlement and utter disregard for the rights of others which is now prevalent in western culture."
I agree. We were brought up to- do without it if you cant afford it. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Because of the attitude of entitlement and utter disregard for the rights of others which is now prevalent in western culture.
I agree. We were brought up to- do without it if you cant afford it. "
Yep, now it's "I'll take it if I want it and if I get caught I'll plead bad upbringing/abusive relationship/other sob story" |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"As a self employed electrician I'm amazed at the growing culture of people having work done and then not paying the bill. I mean when the job has been done correctly to a high standard and kept to the written quote. This attitude is putting tradesman at risk of going bump. It also indirectly helps the cowboys prosper.Everyone goes on about tradesmans hourly rates being high but don't realise the courses and regular training that the government puts you through to be register.
RANT OVER "
No consolation i know but I know the feeling...as a general builder tho I always get material money up front...least your not totally out of pocket that way!
G |
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I recently had my bathroom improved. I sourced and bought all the materials then waited until I had a quote I could afford. I wouldn't dream of not paying him though it has left things tight for me.
The work although a necessity could be considered a luxury..it's his livelihood!
He did a brilliant job too |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Tescos were severely reprimanded yesterday for taking up to two years to pay suppliers "
Unfortunately many large companies abuse their dominant position, particularly inexcusable when theirs is a business not offering credit. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"As a self employed electrician I'm amazed at the growing culture of people having work done and then not paying the bill. I mean when the job has been done correctly to a high standard and kept to the written quote. This attitude is putting tradesman at risk of going bump. It also indirectly helps the cowboys prosper.Everyone goes on about tradesmans hourly rates being high but don't realise the courses and regular training that the government puts you through to be register.
RANT OVER "
Take them to small claims court. |
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"Tescos were severely reprimanded yesterday for taking up to two years to pay suppliers "
The company i work for wont carry on supplying if they don't pay in 30 days..and now i do believe you or companies can charge interest after the 30 days...btw we supply Tesco and Asda ect etc |
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"People assume you won't take them to a small claims court.
Companies who contract out work can be just as bad at paying. "
Too true sadly, big business is just as known for it. 
I find a solicitor's letter usually gets payments moving. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Tescos were severely reprimanded yesterday for taking up to two years to pay suppliers
The company i work for wont carry on supplying if they don't pay in 30 days..and now i do believe you or companies can charge interest after the 30 days...btw we supply Tesco and Asda ect etc "
You can charge interest after 30 days if you include those terms on your original invoice.
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Tescos were severely reprimanded yesterday for taking up to two years to pay suppliers
Unfortunately many large companies abuse their dominant position, particularly inexcusable when theirs is a business not offering credit."
Scotrail are one of my clients and I have to say they're brilliant at paying on time. I believe it was one of the conditions of Abellio being awarded the contract that they must pay their suppliers within 30 days and they've stuck to it. It makes it easier for small businesses to work with big ones.
I can't for the life me imagine ever having work done on the house or the car and not paying for it though, that's ridiculous! OP do you invoice people for the work or do they just flatly refuse to pay to your face? |
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"Tescos were severely reprimanded yesterday for taking up to two years to pay suppliers
The company i work for wont carry on supplying if they don't pay in 30 days..and now i do believe you or companies can charge interest after the 30 days...btw we supply Tesco and Asda ect etc
You can charge interest after 30 days if you include those terms on your original invoice.
"
When we negotiate terms there always included as standard practise...if they dont agree...we dont supply..simple...hard though i agree with building work etc etc |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"As a self employed electrician I'm amazed at the growing culture of people having work done and then not paying the bill. . .
RANT OVER
Get some of the money up front for matearials,.. "
We're both self employed and add our support to the OP's words  Wherever possible we try to ensure sales of our "off the shelf" items we make are cash only. We DO NOT do that to hide from HMRC, we do that because ONLY cash is trusted! Where an item is specific to a customer then it's ALWAYS 50% up front to cover material and time investment . . and if the customers makes any other payment suggestion . . he's told how to close the door behind him. We turn jobs away on this basis BUT we have NO credit issues. Tough policy but it works.  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"As a self employed electrician I'm amazed at the growing culture of people having work done and then not paying the bill. I mean when the job has been done correctly to a high standard and kept to the written quote. This attitude is putting tradesman at risk of going bump. It also indirectly helps the cowboys prosper.Everyone goes on about tradesmans hourly rates being high but don't realise the courses and regular training that the government puts you through to be register.
RANT OVER
Take them to small claims court."
Definitely an option although having had to do it over a relatively small amount of money is a major pain in the ass, especially if you maybe have one or two. If you're dealing with a private individual it usually puts the wind up them though. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Tescos were severely reprimanded yesterday for taking up to two years to pay suppliers
The company i work for wont carry on supplying if they don't pay in 30 days..and now i do believe you or companies can charge interest after the 30 days...btw we supply Tesco and Asda ect etc
You can charge interest after 30 days if you include those terms on your original invoice.
"
And you lose your contract or never see work from them again |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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This is not new, remember my father begging the bank not to put him out of business, while being owed enough to cover all debts and live a good life, resorted to offering 10% discount if paid in 3 months, 15% if paid in 1 month. That helped, but didn't solve it.
My business is generally cash on the nail, but I am often £100,000 + in debt to banks and suppliers until the event date. The stress of that debt is sometimes hard to carry. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"This is not new, remember my father begging the bank not to put him out of business, while being owed enough to cover all debts and live a good life, resorted to offering 10% discount if paid in 3 months, 15% if paid in 1 month. That helped, but didn't solve it.
My business is generally cash on the nail, but I am often £100,000 + in debt to banks and suppliers until the event date. The stress of that debt is sometimes hard to carry."
WOW! |
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"As a self employed electrician I'm amazed at the growing culture of people having work done and then not paying the bill. I mean when the job has been done correctly to a high standard and kept to the written quote. This attitude is putting tradesman at risk of going bump. It also indirectly helps the cowboys prosper.Everyone goes on about tradesmans hourly rates being high but don't realise the courses and regular training that the government puts you through to be register.
RANT OVER "
It's a constant problem, until the law about payment is changed it will carry on.  |
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"Tescos were severely reprimanded yesterday for taking up to two years to pay suppliers
The company i work for wont carry on supplying if they don't pay in 30 days..and now i do believe you or companies can charge interest after the 30 days...btw we supply Tesco and Asda ect etc
You can charge interest after 30 days if you include those terms on your original invoice.
And you lose your contract or never see work from them again"
That depends tbh...on how strong your company is...and how popular your product is...The 30 day rule was brought in just for this reason..to ensure cash flow keeps on moving..Tescos will get fined for taking so long i'll bet on it |
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self-employed / small business owner here too.
What are these "terms" you speak of, if you want to borrow money for 28 days go to a bank, if you want to buy a service from me it is payment at checkout same as any shop.
Not even interested in all the "business" I am "losing" as a result, if you do not have the money you are mot a customer, just a dreamer.
It's why I won't take plastic, *I* don't get paid until 3 or 4 working days later, and *you* won't be happy paying by plastic, seeing the money go from your account, and me not releasing the goods until I see they money up to a week later.
Don't get me started on the HMCE website now they have closed all the local offices and all you can do is sit on the line listening to muzak for 45 minutes at a time. |
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By *j47Man
over a year ago
limerick |
"Tescos were severely reprimanded yesterday for taking up to two years to pay suppliers
The company i work for wont carry on supplying if they don't pay in 30 days..and now i do believe you or companies can charge interest after the 30 days...btw we supply Tesco and Asda ect etc
You can charge interest after 30 days if you include those terms on your original invoice.
And you lose your contract or never see work from them again
That depends tbh...on how strong your company is...and how popular your product is...The 30 day rule was brought in just for this reason..to ensure cash flow keeps on moving..Tescos will get fined for taking so long i'll bet on it
This is probably true but such a large company withholding on so many when their buisness is cash on demand so to speak is inexcusable. If the withold enough the interest gained will more than Cover the fines "
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Try working in the arts 3 to 9 months I've waited before getting paid. "
Yes, that's not unusual in the magazine sector.
I had a potential new client approach me recently looking to hire me as a freelancer. They were looking to pay on terms of six months *after* publication date. You generally have to submit articles two months or more before publication date. So that's around nine months from completing the work until payment - as standard (and they're likely to delay payment too). And an article can take over a month to research and write. So basically I'd be agreeing an article with an editor over a year before I got paid for it. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Tescos were severely reprimanded yesterday for taking up to two years to pay suppliers
The company i work for wont carry on supplying if they don't pay in 30 days..and now i do believe you or companies can charge interest after the 30 days...btw we supply Tesco and Asda ect etc
You can charge interest after 30 days if you include those terms on your original invoice.
And you lose your contract or never see work from them again"
Why would you want to work for someone that doesn't pay? |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I am a carpenter this is one of the reasons why I won't go self employed again.
A number of years ago I did a job for a guy in Wembley fitting shelves and cabinets to bedrooms, 3storey house five bed's.
On the last day of the job he refused to pay saying I had not painted them, he and I had agreed he would do the painting to save money.
It was even in the quotation.
He started crying claiming he was skint and didn't have any money, but if I came back next week he would give me half.....
I went upstairs to first room and proceed to destroy first shelf with my hammer.
I had purchased the mat's myself he had not payed.
He then ran into room and told me to stop.
Pulled out a wad of rolled fifty pound notes, he must have had at least two K.
He payed me what he owed.
He admitted he was trying it on and said once I had left I would never have been payed.
At which point I assured him him 40 thousand pound merc would have born the brunt of my wrath had he not.
He thought it was highly amusing.
Lesson learned, get a %of money upfront and never trust anyone.
Btw I did fix the shelf before I left. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"We need a system whereby money for services is held in escrow and paid when due if the job is done to the required standard."
We use a website called upwork for this. The downside is they take a fee (8.75%) but depending on how well you know the customer it might be worth it. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I am a carpenter this is one of the reasons why I won't go self employed again.
A number of years ago I did a job for a guy in Wembley fitting shelves and cabinets to bedrooms, 3storey house five bed's.
On the last day of the job he refused to pay saying I had not painted them, he and I had agreed he would do the painting to save money.
It was even in the quotation.
He started crying claiming he was skint and didn't have any money, but if I came back next week he would give me half.....
I went upstairs to first room and proceed to destroy first shelf with my hammer.
I had purchased the mat's myself he had not payed.
He then ran into room and told me to stop.
Pulled out a wad of rolled fifty pound notes, he must have had at least two K.
He payed me what he owed.
He admitted he was trying it on and said once I had left I would never have been payed.
At which point I assured him him 40 thousand pound merc would have born the brunt of my wrath had he not.
He thought it was highly amusing.
Lesson learned, get a %of money upfront and never trust anyone.
Btw I did fix the shelf before I left. "
Gosh what a rat. How do people like him look in the mirror? Haven't they got any self respect |
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By *izzy.Woman
over a year ago
Stoke area |
Think this is true for many people. My brother is a self employed lecturer and often he is chasing Universities to get payment months after completing the course.
With bills to pay, you can't sit around for several months waiting for big companies to pay you. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I've had rows with customers over payment and I hate it .once paid won't go back .pointed out to one woman who owed me money ,she doesn't get her nails/hair done and say I'll pay you whenever so why should I be different . |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Late payments are very common in the construction industry and sadly the bigger entities will almost rely on the delay causing a problem. The amount of sub contractors I have dealt with in administration due to such delays is frightening.
In terms of interest, the late payment of commercial debts act is what you should look to. It is not necessary to specify that you will look to recover interest if not paid on time as the term is implied by the statute itself.
I do however accept that claiming interest is not always the answer if you want to maintain relationships. I guess you just have to find a balance |
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By *abphilMan
over a year ago
sheffield |
"As a self employed electrician I'm amazed at the growing culture of people having work done and then not paying the bill. I mean when the job has been done correctly to a high standard and kept to the written quote. This attitude is putting tradesman at risk of going bump. It also indirectly helps the cowboys prosper.Everyone goes on about tradesmans hourly rates being high but don't realise the courses and regular training that the government puts you through to be register.
RANT OVER "
Fault with all tradesmen.
They always charge to the hour rather than saying with travel etc etc its £30 1hr 5 mins you charge £60 for 2hrs |
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