need advice....non payer

[Andy Allen]

im so angry with these plumbers, i did a bathroom for them about 7weeks ago, some of you might remmember it.. it was the tiles from hell and i worked my nuts off to get the job done for them, spent £200 on materials, and the ammount they owe me is £1000 in total.

after weeks of texting them, ringing them, emailing them i still haven't been paid, i managed to get hold of them today and they said thay haven't been paid themselfs due to 'issues' with the trim....first ive heard about this, they then go on to say there client has had someone in there replacing it all, and it looks unlikey they will get paid , which means i wont get paid due to my shoddy work!! i told them that if there had been any issues with my work then i need to be told about it so i can check it out and be given the opportunity to put it right.

reading between the lines, i think its some work they did there thats not up to scratch, i know that they tiled the boxing in , and added more tiling round the shower as i was unable to return to do it, and lets face it if there client would not pay due 'shoddy' tiling would you not be stright on the phone to the tiler demanding its put right?

i feel a court case looming and need to know if anyone has gone through this process and can give me any advice.

 

[macten]

I'd go round to the customers house and have a word, that way you would at least be armed with the facts.
Best of luck Andy, these threads make my blood boil!

 

[Andy Allen]

not as easy as that, the home owner, or should i say mansion owner looks up on us trades men as something hes stept in..

the way it is ....is this, the mansion owner employed a designer to oversee the renovation of his mansion, the designer employed the plumbers to do the bathrooms and they subbed the tiling out to me, so realy im only interested in the plumbers ...there my clients.

 

[Del W]

If you could see the (bad work)it might help.Hope you get it sorted.

 

[Rich]

Oh you poor bugger, sorry to hear this mate. I have used those tiles in the past and the only way of working with them is to swear constantly!

It is so horrible when this happens, I have had it once and I had to kiss good bye to the money but that was down to my own stupidity. I assume that it was all through the books and not cash in hand? Have you looked at getting legal advice? I dont think it matters if the plumbers are paid or not, they are responsible for the work as they subbed the work out to you. I think that is how it works but I am by no means a lawyer.

 

[Andy Allen]

If you could see the (bad work)it might help.Hope you get it sorted.

can't see the so-say bad work as apparently its already been sorted by the builders....with out me even knowing anything about it....something fishy going on me thinks....just cant get to the bottom of it.

 

[doit4u]

Have used the small claims court a couple of times and its easy to do. It can mostly be done on line. I would have a go for the small fee it would cost you, which you get back if successful. If you would like to chat PM me and I will give you my number.

 

[Stewart]

Plumber has to pay you regardless if someone else had to fix something and the customer hasn't paid him. Your contract is with the plumber and not his customer. Do you have any paper work regarding the agreement between the two of you?

 

[Andy Allen]

Oh you poor bugger, sorry to hear this mate. I have used those tiles in the past and the only way of working with them is to swear constantly!

It is so horrible when this happens, I have had it once and I had to kiss good bye to the money but that was down to my own stupidity. I assume that it was all through the books and not cash in hand? Have you looked at getting legal advice? I dont think it matters if the plumbers are paid or not, they are responsible for the work as they subbed the work out to you. I think that is how it works but I am by no means a lawyer.

its all above board mate, no cash in hand ........thats the way i read it to ,weather they get paid or not, is not my concern, iv'e done what i quoted for and want paying, if there was ever a problem with my work then i need to be told about it and given the opportunity to correct it , not just be told ....your works crap, its been fixed, were not paying you.

 

[Andy Allen]

Plumber has to pay you regardless if someone else had to fix something and the customer hasn't paid him. Your contract is with the plumber and not his customer. Do you have any paper work regarding the agreement between the two of you?

i have the written quoation and they have a copie too.

 

[Stewart]

I would let him know you plan to take him to the small claims court if you don't receive full payment within 5 working days and that he'll be liable for cost's and interest. Send it recorded delivery. For future reference... you should have your terms and conditions, including payment terms printed on the back of all your paperwork and get them to sign off on the estimate/quote saying they accept the terms...... Although in the past i've normally just turned up at their house to ask for payment directly from the one that's owe me it and that tends to work!

 

[White Room]

Like others I would try to have a word with his customer for some facts..

 

[jay]

you need to know both sides of the story

 

[Andy Allen]

just remembered, there a limited company, dose that make any difference should it go to court.

 

[Pebbs]

Andy I remember this job of yours, how dare they try and withold the payment. Whether they get paid or not, its not your problem, issue a 7 day winding up notice Andy, dont even mess around with this crap about chasing them. If someone dropped a 7 day notice on me, Id be on their doorstep with the cash in hand. Its the financial kiss of death for a limited company. Ring them tomorrow tell them you want paying immediately or your be issueing a 7 day notice. If they dont pay up it goes to a CCJ, and with that all their credit accounts with their suppliers goes out the window.

Dont mess around get on it, and hit them where it hurts.

Lynn