Indeed. I will never pay any tradesman in full until the job is completed.
If you complete a job and the customer fails to pay, we have a thing called the Small Claims Court for just such a situation. If it's a really big job, then you should perhaps negotiate staged payments with the final payment not being due until all the certificates etc have been provided. That way if the customer is going to default the most you stand to lose is one stage payment, which you can recover as above.
I run my business how I feel fit. It has helped me on a few occasions get the monies I am owed. Had a couple of customers who had work done on extensions with building control involved.
I had part payments along the way but the last invoice was ignored. Phoned and emailed sent letters and was about to go the leagal route when the customer contacted me asking for the Certificate as buliding control wouldn’t sign the house off. I said pay the last invoice and u will have them that day. Sure to say that day invoice was paid and Certs emailed over to them everyone happy. Did some work for the builder on another job and apparently he had the same issue the customer never paid his last invoice. And the builder was taking it to court.
What happens when you get a MOT on your car?
The garage don’t give you the certificate and keys till you payed.
If the job is a big job it’s staged payments and once the final invoice is paid they get a copy of the certification. To be fair most customers are not bothered by having copies.
All work is completed and I make sure the customer is happy before leaving and issuing the invoice. I carry out the testing and the certification for my records and always complete a test cert. so if any regulatory body wants to see them they are there to inspect. I am mearly not forwarding a copy to the customer until I have payment Or the final payment if it’s staged payments
The world revolves around having to pay before you get a service/ product so why should we be any different.
You don’t do your online shopping at Tesco and get then to deliver it to your door before paying
I buy a house I have to pay for it and pay solicitors the monies before I get the keys to the house.
You don’t say I’m not paying anything till I have the keys in my hand and I’ve looked around the house
Or buying anything online
You can look at it however you like. But the jobs are complete it’s mearly a small bargaining tool I use just incase. I would prefer not to have to do it at all but a fact of the world not all people are honest. I clearly state in my terms that alll certification will be forwarded once payment has been taken.
As said there are different thoughts on the matter and different people run there businesses differently. I choose to do that and other tradesmen choose to hand everything over before payment. Neither is right or wrong.
