Ideas/thoughts/opinions needed please

[sherrardk]

Himself has his own business supplying/installing wood burning stoves. People are so slow in paying that his cash flow (and mood) are suffering. I think he should offer a discount for same day payment by BACs and he thinks he should just stand there until he gets a cheque. Which method do you think would be most effective or have you got a different idea? (PS - all ideas gratefully received as I am fed up of his moaning.)

[sherrardk]

Hi Welsh, I've suggested that too - but he is being stubborn (obviously he knows better than everyone else). He's been in a right mood about it for weeks now and he brings the mood home with him. Sure it will sort itself out and it is kind of satisying when I get the money out of the customers! He has threatened that he will take the stove door away with him if he doesn't get a cheque there and then though.

[Maydup]

Could he think about staggering the payments?

When we bought our windows we had to pay 25% at the time of order as they were going to make them to measure. Then we had to pay the balance on the day of fitting. I remember giving a debit card to their office over the phone form work, while OH was at the house with the windows out and the new ones abou to go in. It made us pay on the spot! The windows were perfect and the service great but had we had a problem then maybe I'd have been happier if I had 10% held back unti afterwards.

So how about 3 payments? One on order, one on delivery and one on invoice to be paid within 14 days of installation when the certificate and all accessories will be delivered with thanks.

[welshlibranr]

sher, my Oh is the same, won't ever listen, then I have to sort it!....he will learn eventually!.......tell him to add at least 10 per cent, and then give a discount of that amount for payment within 7 days!.......it works, trust me!....

[sherrardk]

Hi Welsh and Maid up - I have given up to be honest. Anyway, I am now working on him letting me type up the quotes as I could easily do them and it would take some of the press off him (and give me something to do). Supposed to be showing me his (overly complicated) system tomorrow, I won't hold my breath (how the lass in the showroom puts up with him I will never know! - I have never met her and have had loads of conversations with her about how exasperating he can be). But to be fair, he is trying really hard to make a go off things.

[welshlibranr]

good sher, when he gives the quotes to you just add the 10 per cent, and add that payment within seven days will earn a 10 per cent reduction!....should work a treat!...........don't tell him!........

[Rik-H]

I think adding 10% and then offering 10% off is a really good idea.......might just try that one myself! (and you know the b@st'ds still won't pay!)

[sherrardk]

I phoned one bloke to get the money out of him to find out he was on holiday - brilliant, can afford to go on holiday but not pay your bills! He soon coughed up after my 'persuasive' text!

[Rik-H]

Threatened to 'send the boys' around?

[sherrardk]

I said if he didn't pay by the close of business I would take it to the small claims court (himself has threatened to go round and take the stove back). Himself is not a tradesman by profession (we are both ex-teachers) and we have already lost everything (on a different failed venture) and he has done brilliantly to get this far. Never mind, loads of people have far worse things to worry about.

[vulcan]

Be careful of adding and then offering 10% off, my boss used to do that and then found the customer deducted 5% when paying. In most cases chasing that 5% wasn't worth it, so in the end my boss lost out. He eventually stopped doing it.

[welshlibranr]

don't get that vulcan, if he added 10 per cent, and the customer deducted 5 per cent from th bill?.......he could have deducted 10 per cent if paying on time, so why the 5 per cent!....

[ladybirder]

I must be very naiive sher as I always pay on completion especially to a self-employed person. I've had bespoke oak doors made and hung plus a new solid oak floor laid and a kitchen tiled and lots of other things throughout my life and have always paid in hand on completion. It never occurred to me to do it any other way and I certainly wouldn't want to be owing folks any money. If I were him I would want payment on completion.

[vulcan]

My boss added on 10% to the original invoice and then offered the customers this amount off if they paid quickly, ie the price is now back at the original figure,.However some of the customers found out what was happening and deducted a further 5% when paying, which as I said wasn't worth the hassle of the small claims courts.

[sherrardk]

Hi all - we had a new boiler fitted about two weeks ago (we rent, but we have paid for it and we won't pay rent until it all catches up - all agreed by the landlord) and I paid him there and then. I just don't get people.

[Rik-H]

Worry is worry though! My brother used to say that worry was a mountain that had to be climbed (he's a vicar - so most things he says aren't worth listening to! :-) ) With the danger of being squashed, and who am I to suggest anything - only signed up tonight!, why not deal with the worry and not the cause of the worry... Get him drunk, it won't solve anything, but it'll take away the stress. Take his mind off it (OK - that's a blokes solution - but it works. I was in the RM for 5 years, when we were stressed out or one of the guys were - we got them slaughtered (well we all got slaughtered lmao)) Sometimes a couple of hours with no stress lets you cope with the next truck load coming at you.

[sherrardk]

Hi Rik, this is nothing, we have had far worse (honestly, this is the good times for us). He is being a bloke about it all - he will see the error of his ways.

Ps - welcome to AB, he you enjoy!