bad customers

[buzzlightyear]

any body had bad customers not paying .

 

[dansk]

I don't mind late payment as long as it's agreed beforehand. It's the customers who think it's a try before you buy type service! that annoy me.

best way of avoiding late payment is to be transparent as you can. have as much agreed in writing before the job starts.

it's the daft little things that usually cause the problem.

 

[Octopus]

I don't mind late payment as long as it's agreed beforehand. It's the customers who think it's a try before you buy type service! that annoy me.

best way of avoiding late payment is to be transparent as you can. have as much agreed in writing before the job starts.

it's the daft little things that usually cause the problem.

Hit, nail and head spring to mind

 

[David M]

You wouldn't go into Tesco fill your trolley with goods then go to the checkout with some excuse either not to pay or suddenly decide you will pay when it suits you!

Pee's me off when some customers think that's acceptable behavior!

Fortunately I've only had a few like that.

 

[Midwest]

I've only been doing this self employed thing for the last few years. All my work is domestic, but I've been somewhat amazed on how long people take to pay invoices. There are the odd few, who are anxious to pay you as you leave the door, but most seem to take at least a week. I've had to chase a few, and got the 'didn't get your email' trick.

Seems I've been lucky, from what I've read on this forum about the subject. I might try it next when I go shopping in Sainsburys, or take my van for a service.

 

[David M]

Reminds of one time I did a bathroom re-furb for a client. At the end of the job the fella asked me if I wouldn't mind re-fitting an alarm door contact which had been removed when he'd had a new front door fitted a while back.
The door was brown and he preferred a brown contact to match so I headed off to my supplier got one. When I returned I went to power down the alarm panel and found it already isolated and battery removed. He told me it had been like that since the original contact had been removed.
I proceeded to install the new contact (20 minute job tops) then re-energized the panel ready to test the system. The panel would not respond, I checked all the PCB fuses, all intact. I messed about trying to get it going to no avail.
The fella got shirty and accused me of damaging the system! I explain that all I'd done was re wired the contact as previously done and the connected the battery in the panel and re energized the supply to it. He was having none of it and tried to place the blame on me saying I would have to supply and install a new panel @ my own cost.
He knew what he was doing! Come to think back now he'd played the game all along because during the bathroom install he had constantly asked one of us "can you just" mostly minor things but never the less they all mounted up to a decent load of freebie jobs done.

 

[Davisonp]

I always check the fridge light before starting a job (advice of college tutor who had been caught out by customer wanting a free fridge), I have had a client claim I broke their fridge. They phoned me four days after I did an EICR to make the claim (I had only unplugged the fridge to Zs test and the light in the fridge and motor was confirmed as working before I left). It was a furnished rental, so I passed them onto the landlord.

 

[chudson]

Google Moneyclaim online. Have issued several CCJs over the years via that site. Think the costs start at £30

 

[dansk]

Google "izettle" and get yourself set up with one, its one of the best things ive done, keep a carbon copy invoice book in the van and get your prices from the wholesaler when collecting goods, then take 5 mins write up the invoice and get paid on the spot. No excuses then - believe me its brilliant and some customers are shocked when i whip out the chip & pin reader!! "ohh you can take card now??" "oh yes love no problem" it even accepts Amex!

No startup fees. No training. No hassle. | iZettle - https://beta.izettle.com/gb/card-reader