C.U change covering letter

giio · May 17, 2011

essentially on your contract you should cover most items but even then if somebody does not want to pay you they won't, even going to a small debts court they can argue the big bad spark argument and even if the court decides in your favour then they will ask for installments , then stop paying after two payments, you then need to go back to the small debts court and on and on and on it goes, if your instincts tell you that the customer is dodgy do not do the job,
the best bet is in your contract with them to write in stage payments and before you put in the consumer unit and any expensive items have it written in the contract that there will be a penultimate final payment and put all the gear onto that, do not pull off the job as legally they can get someone in to finish it and charge you the earth,
I don,t even think according to NICEIC rules you can hold back a certificate for non payment at least it used to be that a few years back.
trust your instincts and find out if anybody else has done work for them, to be honest we are at their mercy fortunately most people are ok, I generally try and befriend myself to them during the job

dim_bulb · May 17, 2011

thanks for replying that was really informative I have a better understanding now of what should be done

cheers giio

vitoboy · May 17, 2011

i just say...this quotation is based on the existing cabling being of a suitable standard for reconnection...

giio · May 17, 2011

dim_bulb said:
thanks for replying that was really informative I have a better understanding now of what should be done

cheers giio

I was in a bit of a rush before,
basically set the contract out in stages ( no matter what size the job is)and stage payments, so you really want the payments weighted in your favour, so say first fix 70%, mid fix 15% and remainder on completion , set this out in the contract that they will be signing to say they have accepted your terms, get the percentages right for yourself, also stipulate that any extras (agree and get them signed for) must be paid in the fix that they were done in, so 10 extra socket would go into the first fix payment etc etc.
make sure you get the extras agreed signed for, don't do any until it has been agreed,it's in the client and your favour to do this,they do not get a big extra bill shock at the end and you get paid,

the getting the extras signed will take 10 minutes of your time ,getting paid for them if not agreed and signed could take days of your time, set it out like I've said and it gives a more professional touch from you to the client

always put on any quote unless a complete re wire that the pre inspection you carried out did not include anything within the fabric of the building and any inaccessible locations,the item you quoted for is the only work you will carry out unless agreed in writing otherwise

morph · May 17, 2011

giio said:
I was in a bit of a rush before,
basically set the contract out in stages ( no matter what size the job is)and stage payments, so you really want the payments weighted in your favour, so say first fix 70%, mid fix 15% and remainder on completion , set this out in the contract that they will be signing to say they have accepted your terms, get the percentages right for yourself, also stipulate that any extras (agree and get them signed for) must be paid in the fix that they were done in, so 10 extra socket would go into the first fix payment etc etc.
make sure you get the extras agreed signed for, don't do any until it has been agreed,it's in the client and your favour to do this,they do not get a big extra bill shock at the end and you get paid,

the getting the extras signed will take 10 minutes of your time ,getting paid for them if not agreed and signed could take days of your time, set it out like I've said and it gives a more professional touch from you to the client

so on a c/u change do yuou ask for some cash at 11 am and at 2.30 pm then ? with a final payment at 5 pm