refusal to pay up, bugger!!

[scrubmuncher]

Had a bit of a problem last week. Client refusing to pay full whack for the job agreed. Apparently a decorator went into the job afer me, the client somehow got to talking with him about the job I'd done obviously got an opinion of how much he thought the job was should be. After agreeing with me and being overjoyed at the finished job claims now he wants to only pay me £300 for a job I quoted £478 for. I've just been on the phone to them and they are not budging. In return I've said legally the adheasive under the tiles is mine and if I dont have my money within the month I'll be around to rip the tiles up and reclaim my property (adhesive, I wouldn't but hey). Whether this is a correct way to handle it I dunno but I've a bit of a temper for idoits like this and couldnt help myself.
Anyone come across this much?
How did you intimidate (being the only way to get them to pay up I feel) them into paying up? Obviously not gunna work being nice to them.

[Dave]

The thing is scrub mate..once materials are on customers job .i.e. fixed... they then become their property so removing them is no option...
If there is no talking to them then ..involve your liability insurance . you should have legal cover...if only this is advise...maybe i solictors letter may work....or you could sell the debt to a debt collection agency............dave...

I think your tactic of taking back your property (adhesive) is the right one. Even if DH is correct and you can't do it they won't necessarily know that. If that doesn't work then small claims court would be an option. If I remember rightly all you have to do is to prove that they owe you money. It is then up to customer to explain to the courts satisfaction why they haven't paid.

[Dan]

This is silly. How could a decorator know what the tiling jobs is worth, and then only say ohhhhh about 300 not 450-odd..... those prices are just too close for comfort, he should have said I'd have quoted 300 but maybe as I'm not a tiler there was something involved I didn't know about. And left the customer feeling as though he hasn't bee ripped off, which he hasn't!

I'd be getting a solicitors letter out Monday morning to both the customer for non-payment and the decorator for interfering with customer perception and causing the customers non-payment, which is just as serious in legal terms. he could be competition and that also has legal issues. I'd say he's touting for work by damaging your rep which is a serious issue but I'm unsure if it'scrime.

[devonmark]

i'd find out where the decorator lives and pay him a visit....he won't be able to do much work without his van/car or even both...for legal reasons this is for information only...lol

[wivers]

Van and car.. if i went to see him he'd find it difficult decorating with no hands!!

Theres 2 options here mate.

1. Do as DH says and get people involved that can settle it legally.

2. (and this is what i would do IF it was to happen to me) Go round to the customers house and speak to them face to face so they can see u aint to be messed wiv. Tell them that you understand what the decorator has said, but tilng aint his bussiness so how would he know, and that you had an agreement before the idiot opend his mouth and you would hope the customer is man enough to honour the agreement. If this don't get you anywhere politely inform the customer you know where they live and if you dont recive your money in one way you will take it in another, be this in 2 weeks 4 weeks or 5 months, make it known you WILL get your dough. If they start waffling on about threatening behaviour and calling police and all that bollox thats when i personally would stick it on em coz i hate all that crap.

Mugs need to be dealt wiv like mugs, and if that means a quick slap or a hammer to the fingers so be it!!!

[Dan]

For what reason did the decorator say he thinks it's only worth £300? When your price seems a very accurate price including the 8 quid and all. Surely the home owner can see the decorator is just touting for ork in which case the customer has been taken for a mug! Explain that to him when you nip round with the hammer.

[scrubmuncher]

Well I've defo not overcharged, £478 for 16mtr crmcs, with a small amount of levelling to do. I was a bit between 2 prices for this job as I wasnt sure on the probs I would have with a few things, usually if I'm a bit unsure between price I'll split the difference, here I was £450 or £500. Like my method?, lol.
I've been quite agressive with him so far and its not done much good. I did tell him last time this happened I ripped out the clients entire bathroom (I didn't and this hasnt happened before).
I'll pay the decorator a quick visit on monday I think, while he's at the property, will make him feel very awkward.
I'll be covering myself in future somehow, thats for sure. I've heard tales from plumbers before about not getting payed but never happened like this directly to me.

[Dave]

you stick to your guns mate.....you'll get paid one way or another!.....i'm sure...lol.....dave......

[grumpygrouter]

Your customer only has the right to demand a lower price if it is proven that the goods/service was faulty. In you case this would appear not to be the case. hav"e a look at this legislation The Sale and Supply of Goods to Consumers Regulations 2002 for guidance - Sale and supply of goods and services to consumers 2002"

If there was nothing wrong with what you did and they refuse to pay you can sue under this type of legislation.

I find a letter from a reputable firm of solicitors can have a remarkable effect!!

Good luck.

Grumpy

[Fekin]

+ adding onto the bill the solicitors bill too.

[scrubmuncher]

well thats the thing, after the job was complete they were bigging me up loads, telling me how they were glad they went with a slightly higher quote than some of the others they had, and got a better job done ( the job couldnt be done any better by anyone). next thing, decorator gets involved and all of a sudden......................
Thanks for the link mate, I'm sure he's just trying it on.

Cheers all.