Dealing with the NON Paying client?

[La Poste]

When I rang him last night he said he's got other work coming up that he wants me on, seems like dangling a carrot to keep me sweet to me.

This must be the oldest blag in the book.

I've heard it used so many times.

 

[mattmoo1974]

You can write what you like in T@C if there not going to pay there not going to pay!!!!
Ask for a % of the materails upfront and X amount after the first fix, To many cowboy builder programs have scared people to death..
It seems all the cowboy firms seem to get 20k upfront!
Explain your costs at the start IE 3k job 1500 parts, A good costumer will pay upfront(If you ve got the job thru word of mouth)
Losing your man hours is bitter but paying for the parts as well!!!!!

 

[Rockingit]

I always ask for 30% of the estimate value up front, that way at least you cover your materials if it all goes pete tong.

And I always supply the certificates etc to accompany their receipt of payment, not before.

 

[maddog130280]

why can't we hold certs until all monies are paid? legislation says we have to provide certs on completion, completetion doesn't take place until the contract is completed, which means its not completed until you get your money. as far as threatening to take materials back, your also entitled to do this, so long as you do not force entry, or cause unreasonable damage in retrieving your property. suppliers remove meters when payment hasn't been received, the only difference is that they can lawfully force entry.

 

[fuzzydunlop]

Simple procedure, customer doesn't pay - give them seven days then issue proceedings, they don't turn up you get judgement then either whack a charge on their house (which accrues interest at bank rate + 8%) or sell it on to a debt collector who will make their life hell

 

[La Poste]

I'm going through the small claims procedure at the moment seeking compensation from a firm of car clampers.

The procedure is simple but what I will advise is to get terms etc agreed at the outset of the job.
It will make your case at court a lot easier to win.

Once you win as the above poster states, you can make their life hell.

The only time this will not work is against a LTD company who can use and abuse the system with complete impunity.

 

[fuzzydunlop]

I'm going through the small claims procedure at the moment seeking compensation from a firm of car clampers.

The procedure is simple but what I will advise is to get terms etc agreed at the outset of the job.
It will make your case at court a lot easier to win.

Once you win as the above poster states, you can make their life hell.

The only time this will not work is against a LTD company who can use and abuse the system with complete impunity.

Depends on the status of the LTD company, a proper one will pay up eventually.

A fly by night merchant who sets them up for whatever scam he has in mind won't

 

[ruskie]

Try debt recovery companies.. There are a few good ones, legal.. They wont charge you to recover the debt.. But add their fees onto non payer.. Ill try and remember the name!

 

[La Poste]

A fly by night merchant who sets them up for whatever scam he has in mind won't

They're the ones I am talking about.
They can use and abuse the law without any comebacks if they know the system.

Whenever I see so and so builders LTD alarm bells always ring inside my head.

 

[ruskie]

Try debt recovery companies.. There are a few good ones, legal.. They wont charge you to recover the debt.. But add their fees onto non payer.. Ill try and remember the name!

 

[i=p/u]

as moo says , if its thru word of mouth, there normaly ok customers and will sort you out upfront for materials... i never pay for materials.. never.. i agree with 30% upfront 30% first fix 40% completion...... no certs till pay not that they ask for them in this neck of woods

 

[fuzzydunlop]

They're the ones I am talking about.
They can use and abuse the law without any comebacks if they know the system.

Whenever I see so and so builders LTD alarm bells always ring inside my head.

You can enforce judgement just takes more time and effort than the debt is usually worth, which is why they do it. But, if you do catch them it's worth it

First rule on taking on any job is google search the clients name/email address/home address (you'll be surprised the amount of info you can find)

Then get a % of payment up front (even friends and family one rule for all) and have water tight T&C's

 

[La Poste]

I would just like to add that the clamping company that clamped me is a LTD company and has over 50 CCJ's and is still operating.

After a while they will morph into a new company and all debts will be written off.

LTD companies, beware of them people.

 

[Cyberprog]

I would just like to add that the clamping company that clamped me is a LTD company and has over 50 CCJ's and is still operating.

After a while they will morph into a new company and all debts will be written off.

LTD companies, beware of them people.

That's why you don't just sue the clampers, you sue the people they are acting for - the landowner, who crucially, own an asset, the land.

 

[La Poste]

That's why you don't just sue the clampers, you sue the people they are acting for - the landowner, who crucially, own an asset, the land.

Yes I agree but this was just an illustration.

When it comes to builders what you gonna do?

They are directors of their LTD companies and hence not liable to their LTD companies debts.

You cannot put a claim on their house, you can only go after the assets of their company and usually their company has no assets.

It's the biggest scam ever.

Talk about the law protecting the rich, Jesus this is taking the ----