When should we pay?

[banoras]

In February, 2013 our neighbour's pool pump was submerged after lots of rain. It was the first big downpour since pool installed. 

He called a plumber, and asked if we minded the plumber coming on to our property and also checking our drainage outlets for any blockages, as ground/roof water off our property may have been adding to the problem. 

No problem with us, gave permission. There was a blockage which he fixed. The neighbour also had drainage problems, and combined (us and the neighbour) probably caused the pool pump damage. (which actually dried out OK and was going again without damage) 

We did ask the plumber to come back and do a simple job for us, preferably before end of May 2013.(that was to suit him, as he said his son, who worked for him,  was leaving)  We wanted an account for the work just done, but he said "wait until I come back". He didn't give any indication of the cost of the work just done. It was about 1/2 hour labour x 2  (he and his son) plus use of vibrator thing to locate the blockage, 10mins vibrator. 

The neighbour got his bill soon after though. 

He never came back to our house.    Earlier this month, Sept, six months later,  we finally got an account for $374, and addressed with wrong surname, because he never bothered to actually take our particulars.  Must have asked neighbour our name, and he's got it wrong. 

Because the account took six months to arrive, we had not budgeted for it, and so immediately paid $74, and asked if we could have six months to pay the balance...ie $50/month.  

We were told that that accounts are 7days terms only, and interest would be charged. We have been asked to pay $100/month for next 3 months, and if not, the account will be sent straight to a debt collector, after which we will be required to pay extra fees for the debt collector + interest. 

Would like to know our rights in this matter, CS posters are usually right up with this sort of thing. 

We have always paid our bills right on the dot, or before, but this time we're feeling just a tad bullied. 

[*elizabeths-mum*]

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@polksaladallie wrote:

The days of written quotes for everything are gone, I find it is cheaper without a quote.  Most give a discount for cash, or ask for a pensioner discount. 

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Cash payments and no written quotes can be very convenient for tradies who don't want to trouble the tax man.

[polksaladallie]

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@*elizabeths-mum* wrote:

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@polksaladallie wrote:

The days of written quotes for everything are gone, I find it is cheaper without a quote.  Most give a discount for cash, or ask for a pensioner discount. 

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Cash payments and no written quotes can be very convenient for tradies who don't want to trouble the tax man.

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Of course, the black economy is as huge as it ever was.  GST was supposed to all but eliminate it.    Ha!

It is very convenient for the poor also.

[twinkles**stars]

With a requirement to issue a certificate of compliance cash jobs are really a thing of the past.

Lots of tradies don't pay for work (swap jobs / barter) and that is legal. 🙂

I hope the OP pays up and moves on....my mechanic was hopeless sending his invoices but I knew I had to pay and did.

[i-need-a-martini]

Yeah the tradie was slack with his invoices. But one man operations often don't get to their bills and invoicing for months at at a time. So this isn't unusual.

But I agree with twinkles - they did the job so you should pay up. It's not as if it was inconvenient for you that he didn't send a bill straight away so I'm not sure why everyone thinks he is being 'rude'?

[azureline**]

perhaps they thought they were not going to get a bill?

[polksaladallie]

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@twinkles**stars wrote:

With a requirement to issue a certificate of compliance cash jobs are really a thing of the past.

Lots of tradies don't pay for work (swap jobs / barter) and that is legal. 🙂

I hope the OP pays up and moves on....my mechanic was hopeless sending his invoices but I knew I had to pay and did.

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What is a certificate of compliance?

I can assure you that cash jobs are very alive and well.  Well, they were a month ago.

[*elizabeths-mum*]

They usually try and get it done in the same tax year at least, especially a February job. Maybe the contractors we deal with are unusual.

[punch*drunk]

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@polksaladallie wrote:

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@twinkles**stars wrote:

With a requirement to issue a certificate of compliance cash jobs are really a thing of the past.

Lots of tradies don't pay for work (swap jobs / barter) and that is legal. 🙂

I hope the OP pays up and moves on....my mechanic was hopeless sending his invoices but I knew I had to pay and did.

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What is a certificate of compliance?

I can assure you that cash jobs are very alive and well.  Well, they were a month ago.

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This is for Victoria, but I assume other states have simlar rules. If you've had plumbing work done and havent received a c of c, you probably should change plumbers, they may not be licensed.

You, the Licensed Plumbing Practitioner, must issue a compliance certificate for all plumbing work that falls into the following types:

• Where the total value of work, including materials and any appliances, labour and GST, is more than $750 (material costs must be included, regardless of whether the materials, or appliances, were supplied by another person)
• The installation, relocation or replacement of any Type A gas-using appliances, regardless of the cost (Compliance Certificates do not apply to Type B gasfitting work)
• The conversion of a gas-using appliance for use with a different gaseous fuel
• The installation, modification or relocation of consumer gas piping (other than work carried out on behalf of a gas company)
• The construction, installation or alteration of any below ground sanitary drain or associated gullies
• The construction, installation, alteration, relocation or replacement of a cooling tower or of any other part of a cooling tower system (including the installation or replacement of any associated device or equipment.

[twinkles**stars]

http://www.pic.vic.gov.au/consumers/why-is-a-compliance-certificate-important

Compliance Certificates are issued by licensed plumbers to certify that their plumbing work complies with all regulatory requirements. You should receive a Compliance Certificate for most plumbing work, including:

• Where the total value of work, including materials, labour and GST, is $750 or more (material costs must be included, regardless of whether the materials were supplied by another person)
• The installation, relocation or replacement of any Type A gas-using appliances, regardless of the cost (Compliance Certificates do not apply to Type B gasfitting work)
• The conversion of a gas-using appliance for use with a different gaseous fuel
• The installation, modification or relocation of consumer gas piping (other than work carried out on behalf of a gas company)
• The construction, installation or alteration of any below ground sanitary drain or associated gullies
• The construction, installation, alteration, relocation or replacement of a cooling tower or of any other part of a cooling tower system (including the installation or replacement of any associated device or equipment. 

You should receive your Compliance Certificates within five days of completion of plumbing work. Only a licensed plumber may purchase and issue Compliance Certificates. 

All work subject to a Compliance Certificate carries insurance to protect the consumer against defective work of the plumbing practitioner. You should retain your Certificate for six years as evidence of cover.

Registered Plumbing Practitioners are not able to issue Compliance Certificates and must either work under the supervision of a licensed practitioner or limit themselves to plumbing work that does not require a Compliance Certificate.

[punch*drunk]

Its not unusual for one of the plumbers we use to invoice us months after the job. Often he is contacting us weeks later for the address that we sent him to, it is fustrating. My husband is the opposite, he rarely leaves a property without payment and would only leave without have written out an invoice if he forgot to take his invoice book.

It sounds to me like there was some sort of miscommunication, he told you he'd call you about the other job, but perhaps he thought you were meant to call him. Its the kind of misunderstanding that coul easily happen and that could explain the delay in invoicing.