topic Re: Paying before services are finished in Community Chat

Paying before services are finished

Shorty2U — Tue, 16 May 2017 05:13:09 GMT

Ok I guess I am living in the old days. But when my family had their businesses, people paid once the service was complete. When did things change? lol

I thought of this today because Friday we had a guy come by (from a reputable door place) to measure for new French doors. (Badly needed and finally getting, should have had them 5 years ago even though this house was built in 1995, things dont last like they used to). Example; my home in the city, the doors lasted 100 years! lol.

They called today and gave the exact quote. Our French doors need to be specially ordered because they're an odd size. (DH and I believe this).

So we got the exact price for the French doors and installation (as in the ENTIRE BILL) and DH had to make the payment over the phone. They then emailed him 15 pages of the entire contract with everything itemized and that they received payment. PS we also need vinyl trim and the bottom piece under the doors.

Well I don't get why we had to pay when the French doors aren't even installed yet. lol. (I could see making a down payment to order them as in JUST for the door purchase and then pay the rest when they're installed?).

DH says well maybe they don't want to get hung by us if they order it and we don't pay. True but what if they mess up installing it? They have our money! DH says well everything will be fine, but if it isn't done right they will fix it OR we will see them in small claims court. Alrighty then.

Anyway it made me think, lots of "services" need to be paid for first now days. One other example, even Doctors charge us upon arrival not after we are seen. lol. Why?

So what happened to paying after the service is complete? Am I living in the past?

Re: Paying before services are finished

sunshine45 — Tue, 16 May 2017 05:28:56 GMT

for something like you are describing, i am used to paying in thirds. one third when signing the contract, one third about halfway through completion, and then one third at the time it is all finished. i have no problem paying it this way. i would never pay all of the money up front and if a company did that then i would find another company to deal with.

Re: Paying before services are finished

Kachina624 — Tue, 16 May 2017 05:30:26 GMT

I just signed a contract for a new roof. I paid half at signing and will pay the other half when the job is finished.

Re: Paying before services are finished

Janey2 — Tue, 16 May 2017 08:05:15 GMT

I have never paid in full for any work done in my house. If it is something that needs to be ordered I give a deposit and when the job is completed I pay the remaining amount. What if the company goes out of business before you receive the doors, you are left with nothing.

Re: Paying before services are finished

qualitygal — Tue, 16 May 2017 08:47:24 GMT

1. people cut out and don't pay

2. work ethic has changed

Re: Paying before services are finished

NickNack — Tue, 16 May 2017 09:02:10 GMT

I'm having new siding put on my house. I paid a down payment when I signed the contract and will pay the balance when completed. I wonder if your husband had said he didn't want to pay in full if they would have agreed to a down payment.

Re: Paying before services are finished

ID2 — Tue, 16 May 2017 09:31:08 GMT

Maybe its because they were custom. What on earth do they do with the doors if you backed out of the deal? Safeguard for them I guess.

Re: Paying before services are finished

Cats3000 — Tue, 16 May 2017 10:01:32 GMT

We had the same thing happen with a company that we called to measure and install new window shades. They wanted 75% of the total bill up front. We voted with our feet.

The most we'd ever pay is 50% with the order and the other half when the job is done. On a large scale job, we'd only pay maybe a 1/3rd at regular intervals as the work is completed. Otherwise, there's no incentive for the job to be completed and you're left holding the bag. In your case, I would also have voted with my feet.

I can't answer for doctors, because we're on Medicare and charges are done a whole different way. I can say that our dentists give us the bill only after the visit is complete.

Re: Paying before services are finished

Montana — Tue, 16 May 2017 10:18:49 GMT

I would never pay in full for services up front. There is no leverage in case there is a problem. I feel partial payment is adequate protection for both sides.

Re: Paying before services are finished

drizzellla — Tue, 16 May 2017 10:29:29 GMT

When we had our kitchen done - we paid 1/3 deposit, 1/3 middle of job, 1/3 end of job. We did not have custom cabinets and the rest was pretty much standard.

But we did happen to go to a sale at a local home improvement company last week. The company had replaced numerous windows at our house. The sale was in a huge warehouse. The place was filled with doors, windows, flooring, carpeting etc. And much of the stuff were custom made. I am sure they got "stuck" with alot of the stuff. There were even decorative glass that had to be hand made design.

It is tough - you want to make sure they do a good job and they don't want to have to deal with a custom made door, if you change your mind.

We also deal with that where I work. We do the services and expect payment and suddenly the homeowner only wants to pay half the argeed upon money.

Re: Paying before services are finished

Desertdi — Tue, 16 May 2017 10:43:16 GMT

Your contractor has a payroll and supplies to pay for......so he will NEED progress payments.

Re: Paying before services are finished

hoosieroriginal — Tue, 16 May 2017 11:27:31 GMT

Could be because they are custom made and if you renege - they can't resell them. I always pay 1/2 up front for any work being done - nothing more, nothing less. If they don't agree, I'll find someone else. A reputable person will accept that, unless there is a big cost of materials, then that can be different - pay for materials plus labor to equal 1/2 payment.

Re: Paying before services are finished

CelticCrafter — Tue, 16 May 2017 11:35:23 GMT

It's too late now since you already made the full payment...I would have only paid for the doors since they are a custome order and paid the balance when the job was complete.

Re: Paying before services are finished

Bri36 — Tue, 16 May 2017 12:26:15 GMT

Since the doors are custom, it's appropriate to pay for them up front.

I wouldn't have paid for the labor until after installation. Not giving them all their money upfront gives them some incentive to actually completely the job in a timely manner.

Re: Paying before services are finished

151949 — Tue, 16 May 2017 12:31:43 GMT

On our Pa. home we had extensive remodeling done - new kitchen, new bathroom, new roof, new siding, 2 windows put in, new deck. We paid 1/4 when we signed the contract, 1/4 at a point , another 1/4 at the next point of progress and 1/4 at the end. The points where we paid the 2 times during construction were clearly defined in the contract. Also, we agreed to pay additional if it was done before a certain date , and the contractor agreed to forgive the final 1/4 if it wasn't completed by a certain date.

Re: Paying before services are finished

Kitlynn — Tue, 16 May 2017 12:39:55 GMT

We are in the middle of a remodel on our master bedroom and bath right now. We ordered carpet and had to pay half up front. Now this I understand on special order items and I have no problem with that. Now paying for a job in full up front I would have to question. I would have to say I would not be willing to do that. I would pay half up front and the balance when the job is done. We have always done that. I have never had any one ask for the full amount up front. The balance is always paid when the job is done and you are satisfied with the job is pretty much the norm.

Re: Paying before services are finished

Sunshine Kate — Tue, 16 May 2017 12:44:29 GMT

Several weeks ago a person came out to give me an estimate on window tinting on my home for 5 huge windows that face west.

I agreed on the price and he said, "We will be out in 2 days to do the job. I just need payment from you for $X,XXX.XX.

I was shocked he wanted full payment up front. So I said, "I don't do business paying up front. I'm a homeowner and will pay when the job is completed.

He said, "Okay". (True Story)

The way I look at, only respectable businesses will ask for payment when the job is completed to satisfaction.

Re: Paying before services are finished

Marp — Tue, 16 May 2017 12:47:49 GMT

@Shorty2Uwrote: So we got the exact price for the French doors and installation (as in the ENTIRE BILL) and DH had to make the payment over the phone. They then emailed him 15 pages of the entire contract with everything itemized and that they received payment.

Personally I would not have paid a cent until I had read the entire 15 page, itemized contract and it was fully executed.

Re: Paying before services are finished

Mj12 — Tue, 16 May 2017 12:59:38 GMT

@Marp wrote:
@Shorty2Uwrote: So we got the exact price for the French doors and installation (as in the ENTIRE BILL) and DH had to make the payment over the phone. They then emailed him 15 pages of the entire contract with everything itemized and that they received payment.

Personally I would not have paid a cent until I had read the entire 15 page, itemized contract and it was fully executed.

@Marp exactly. And when I did pay after the contract was executed, it sure wouldn't be full payment. It would be 25% or 1/3.

Re: Paying before services are finished

RespectLife — Tue, 16 May 2017 13:02:45 GMT

You mentioned you paid over the phone....I am assuming you used a credit card?

I think you will be fine. If anything goes wrong, you can file a dispute with the credit card company.

We needed a replacement window. Custom size, total w/ install $900. We had to pay up front. All went well by the way.

I used Discover with no fear as they have an excellent customer service department, are U.S. based and will investigate and resolve disputes.