Clean It Up
UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Colin Day on December 21, 2009, 12:00:47 pm
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I've just cleaned an EOT oven and dropped a printed invoice wth the estate agent.
I usually have problems getting the money from estate agents and the tennants, so I decided to add an £8 Credit Charge which is deductable if the outstanding bill is paid withing 7 days.... Is this too harsh, illegal or detrimental to my business doing this?
I got the idea from the newpaper I advertise in who add a credit charge on and if I pay the bi monthly bill within 14 days, they deduct it. It actually urges me to pay up ASAP to avoid the charge, so I hoped it would have the same effect on estate agents and "Their" customers!
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People will still pay you late, and also knock the £8 off....Then what will you do...
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People will still pay you late, and also knock the £8 off....Then what will you do...
Well, what would you do ???
I can be just as awkward as a none paying customer ;)
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Depend's on how much work you get through the agent, if it's not much then you've not lost much. Also, if your work is better than other's be up-front and tell them that's what you intend to do from now on. If they value your work they will want to keep you.
Remember an agent is just that, an agent. It's not actually the agent your working for, it's the tenant/landlord. The agent has no legal responsibilty to pay you unless they receive the money from the tenant/landlord.
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I suppose a more positive way is to add the price in, then offer a deduction if paid on time.....
I did a job for an estate agent 2 weeks ago and they wanted the job done for yesterday as usual, I obliged and when I produced a bill they were all saying "Well we're not paying the bill, it's not our responsibility" ??? ??? ???
Hence the new angle of approach ;D
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People will still pay you late, and also knock the £8 off....Then what will you do...
Well, what would you do ???
I can be just as awkward as a none paying customer ;)
I insist on payment on completion, no messing around the day i finish i want paying, i stipulate this before i commence any work, if they wont then i dont work for them. This works very well for my business.
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I
I did a job for an estate agent 2 weeks ago and they wanted the job done for yesterday as usual, I obliged and when I produced a bill they were all saying "Well we're not paying the bill, it's not our responsibility" ??? ??? ???
A MUST be asked quetion at point of quote or request to clean.....who sgould the invoice be made out to? If not the person/business who is asking,then get contact details fo who is and check with them :)
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Got to agree as i dont do any more work for estate agents etc as i also found them hard paying or they passed the buck saying i will get the tennent to pay.
Am fortunate to have regular work now bt did the agent work years ago and what a nightmare to get payed so now i ask for payment after i have done the job.
Lets face it why not ask for payment after..
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Most higher profile agents have payments on 30 days terms & also have an accounts dept to deal with all the out going payments, so i dont think an early payment incentive would work with them as it still has to go through the system.
We normally chase them after the 30 days and then add a late payment charge then, which is not very often, but when we do it normally does the trick to speed things up.
Another thing to think about is factoring in the delayed payment problem into your agency prices so it makes the waiting worthwhile.
Steve
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Estate/Letting agnecys are a night mare, i add 15% onto any job i do for them now, offering them a 10% discount if funds are cleared with 10 working days. Seems to work for most, one has just paid his invoice from October minus the VAT, called to tell them and got told we only stopped the net amount from the tennant. Not my problem, they have since sent the VAT. we wait & see. Makes you wander if its really worth the hassle working for these people.
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The way I see it who ever calls you in has to pay the bill unless they say the owner/tenant will pay you! Have a fantastic relationship with mine; all pay on return of keys. :-X
Len
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As per our Sherco - cash or chq on completion - I always state it upfront - I never have any troubles - even with my lovely local Civic Centre Jobs !
Happy days :)
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If you start putting demands on your invoices to the agents it will probably result in you getting little or no work from them in the future.
Most letting agents are totally genuine but there is the minority that are nothing but cowboys and will try every trick in the book to delay payment,you soon get to know who they are and drop them,they are just not worth it.
Agents have a rent account for every property on their books and you are either paid promptly from the outgoing tenants deposit or from the rent account if there is no deposit left to cover your bill,sometimes you may have to wait until there is sufficient funds for the agent to settle your invoice,if you have a good working relationship with the agents this is not a problem.
They expect to work with the normal 30 day period but normally pay much sooner.
John
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I've found my Holy grail, the only letting agent in town that gives me regular work, pays in good time and doesn't take the mickey.
First job for them about 12 months ago and haven't looked back since, still can't believe it after all the crap and wild goose chases for other agents I've had over the years!
I'd suggest to anyone else that finds a good one to keep them sweet ;)
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It's the only way to go, get paid when the job's done. Estate agents get the same terms as any other customer with me , that is payment on completion. They can take it or leave it, and the good ones will pay, the rest I could'nt care less about.
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I suppose a more positive way is to add the price in, then offer a deduction if paid on time.....
I did a job for an estate agent 2 weeks ago and they wanted the job done for yesterday as usual, I obliged and when I produced a bill they were all saying "Well we're not paying the bill, it's not our responsibility" ??? ??? ???
Hence the new angle of approach ;D
tidy il bear that in ,mind thank u