customer does not want to pay plumber

[honestplumer]

I need some advice.
I have recently done some work for a new customer and now he does not want to pay me. I would call him every time I went to his new property and told him what I was doing , now he is querying every thing even the cost of materials. All of a sudden he is busy at work and can not take my calls. I am just starting out so do not have a lot of capital, i am obviously concerned.
Has this happened to any one before ? any ideas on what I can do or how I can prevent this happening again

[chris_king435]

Hey,

Call him and inform him that you are going to be coming round next ***day to pickup the money and to have it ready. Give him ample warning and be very polite. It's very easy for people to avoid someone over the phone or internet however if you are there face-to-face with him then it's a different story.
Just make sure you are very polite and don't get into arguments.

If he still won't be fair then you can take him to VCAT (Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal) - or your state equivalent. Or you could call debt collectors and add that to his fee.

Good luck,

Chris

[Karen Wardle]

Hi

I agree that it is easier for people to avoid you over the phone. As suggested, I would pay him a visit, be civil but firm. There have been many threads posted here in the past about getting customers to pay so maybe you could have a look through the 'money matters' forum also.

It has been said that when customers are struggling financially they come up with all sorts of excuses for not paying, including questioning your work, and that they pay those who make the most noise. So I would keep at him.

Ultimately if he doesn't pay you will need to weigh up the cost involved in continuing to chase him. If it is for a larger amount then as suggested maybe you could get a debt collection agency onto it and add it to your fee. If it is for a smaller amount then the effort may not be worth it and you should just concentrate on protecting yourself from this in the future - as much as you're able to.

Have you provided him with any paperwork outlining the work that you have done. If it is all verbal maybe he just needs to see some evidence.

As far as what to do in the future;

Did you provide any written quotes etc. It probably isn't practical to do a written quote for every job. But for jobs over a certain amount I would make sure that I did a written quote and have them sign as accepting it.

If you're a new business you should set up some systems now so that you can reduce this occurring in the future.

Let us know how you get on.

[honestplumer]

Originally Posted by chris_king435

Hey,

Call him and inform him that you are going to be coming round next ***day to pickup the money and to have it ready. Give him ample warning and be very polite. It's very easy for people to avoid someone over the phone or internet however if you are there face-to-face with him then it's a different story.
Just make sure you are very polite and don't get into arguments.

If he still won't be fair then you can take him to VCAT (Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal) - or your state equivalent. Or you could call debt collectors and add that to his fee.

Good luck,

Chris

thanks for the info re the VCAT I am going to try and meet him next week, he seems to have been... TOO BUSY this week, funny that !!!

[honestplumer]

Originally Posted by Karen Wardle

Hi

I agree that it is easier for people to avoid you over the phone. As suggested, I would pay him a visit, be civil but firm. There have been many threads posted here in the past about getting customers to pay so maybe you could have a look through the 'money matters' forum also.

It has been said that when customers are struggling financially they come up with all sorts of excuses for not paying, including questioning your work, and that they pay those who make the most noise. So I would keep at him.

Ultimately if he doesn't pay you will need to weigh up the cost involved in continuing to chase him. If it is for a larger amount then as suggested maybe you could get a debt collection agency onto it and add it to your fee. If it is for a smaller amount then the effort may not be worth it and you should just concentrate on protecting yourself from this in the future - as much as you're able to.

Have you provided him with any paperwork outlining the work that you have done. If it is all verbal maybe he just needs to see some evidence.

As far as what to do in the future;

Did you provide any written quotes etc. It probably isn't practical to do a written quote for every job. But for jobs over a certain amount I would make sure that I did a written quote and have them sign as accepting it.

If you're a new business you should set up some systems now so that you can reduce this occurring in the future.

Let us know how you get on.

Hi Karen
thanks for the info.He has seen the paperwork and this is what he is querying, I dont think he listened when i told him the work involved. We are going to attempt to meet up next week, I will deffo think about doing more written quotes in the future. Thanks for your info

[mtpocket]

Been there, done that... unfortunately.

I guess it was a big job, next time collect payment as you go.
Write up a contract and payment at stages, -very important.
If no payment you don't start with the next stage, because -as you can see- you can get burned.
The next typical movement from this type of people that they say, if you do this and this I will pay the whole lot at once - so they getting you sucked in with more work to recover the money that you already worked for.
The other is when they start drip feeding you and they say: here is xy and now you do this and this when finished give you some and they say now you do this and give a bit again, but you always behind.
I don't do it anymore. In this case what I would do I will show up at the property and start removing stuff which I have payed for - if you still have access to the site.
I am a plumber as well.
Where are you located?

[Nealst]

Hi,

Don't you just love customers!! Can't live with them, can't live without them.

Whilst it can be a pain to write up quotes and when accepted have something in writing to provide evidence of a contract, that really is your best way of covering your backside. It may not have all the features to stand up in the Supreme Court, but it's a goos start

For future jobs get yourself one of those receipt type books that have two copies of each page - write up the job when you quote and get the customer to sign it when they give you the go ahead. Its not iron clad but it is better than nothing.

You need to have something to be able to refer back to that says "This is what we agreed - give me my money!"

I can appreciate not having the spare cash to have a solicitor or a small business consultant advise on every aspect of you business, but you need to consider just this in the future - employment contracts, supplier contracts, insurance... the list is long and each one could put you out of business.

For your current problem, I like the 'go and see him advice' from the other members, but it can be tricky catching him. You could consider writing a letter demanding payment within 7 days or you will refer the matter to your solicitor.

I have written demand letters on letter head on behalf of clients, and nothing scares like getting one of those in the post when it looks official - I stress here that I am not a lawyer, but a letter advising that quotes the correct legislation advising imminent legal action will often get a result, even if it is from your accountant!

Good luck! I hope this helps!

Darren

[honestplumer]

Originally Posted by Nealst

Hi,

Don't you just love customers!! Can't live with them, can't live without them.

Whilst it can be a pain to write up quotes and when accepted have something in writing to provide evidence of a contract, that really is your best way of covering your backside. It may not have all the features to stand up in the Supreme Court, but it's a goos start

For future jobs get yourself one of those receipt type books that have two copies of each page - write up the job when you quote and get the customer to sign it when they give you the go ahead. Its not iron clad but it is better than nothing.

You need to have something to be able to refer back to that says "This is what we agreed - give me my money!"

I can appreciate not having the spare cash to have a solicitor or a small business consultant advise on every aspect of you business, but you need to consider just this in the future - employment contracts, supplier contracts, insurance... the list is long and each one could put you out of business.

For your current problem, I like the 'go and see him advice' from the other members, but it can be tricky catching him. You could consider writing a letter demanding payment within 7 days or you will refer the matter to your solicitor.

I have written demand letters on letter head on behalf of clients, and nothing scares like getting one of those in the post when it looks official - I stress here that I am not a lawyer, but a letter advising that quotes the correct legislation advising imminent legal action will often get a result, even if it is from your accountant!

Good luck! I hope this helps!

Darren

hi ya
well thanks again for that info, I will deffo take your advice ! I should have known better but he really did seem like a genuine guy. I told him verbally what I was doing and when and he was like... just go ahead thats fine.... his will not happen to me again ... thanks again

[honestplumer]

Originally Posted by mtpocket

Been there, done that... unfortunately.

I guess it was a big job, next time collect payment as you go.
Write up a contract and payment at stages, -very important.
If no payment you don't start with the next stage, because -as you can see- you can get burned.
The next typical movement from this type of people that they say, if you do this and this I will pay the whole lot at once - so they getting you sucked in with more work to recover the money that you already worked for.
The other is when they start drip feeding you and they say: here is xy and now you do this and this when finished give you some and they say now you do this and give a bit again, but you always behind.
I don't do it anymore. In this case what I would do I will show up at the property and start removing stuff which I have payed for - if you still have access to the site.
I am a plumber as well.
Where are you located?

Hi
thanks for that I deffon think that is the way to go in the future, I would normally do this if I think there may be a problem however this guy just seemed like a decent guy who after me telling him verbally would not have a problem paying, should have known better.
I am on the gold coast
thanks for your imput