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. 

[joz*garage]

so why the Pedantic comment if you feel the same?

[joz*garage]

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@azureline** wrote:

That's right............. I did read it.

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were you being Pedantic?

[azureline**]

no, I wasn't. Like I said, I would pay the bill immediately.and that was the answer to the OP Title

[joz*garage]

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@azureline** wrote:

no, I wasn't. Like I said, I would pay the bill immediately.and that was the answer to the OP Title

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im sure the OP would like to too if they had the bread

[toon_town_nutter]

You got the service now pay for the service you got. Your financial circumstances are of no concern to the plumber. If you couldn't afford to pay him you should not have invited him onto your property to rectify problems.

[*ibis]

now pay for the service you got. Your financial circumstances are of no concern to the plumber

and if they havent got the money what do you suggest they do?

pull it out of their butt

[azureline**]

The OP already said they can pay today if they wanted to, they just wanted the plumber to wait for it, as they waited for the bill. Then later they said a relative offered to pay it.

[*elizabeths-mum*]

He came onto their property with their permission to see if something on their property was contributing to their neighbours problem, which it was and was fixed with half an hours work during the same callout to the neighbour. The plumber was asked to return to do some further work and never came back. The neighbour was charged $200 for the work done, the op was told he would not get a bill until after the second visit, which never occurred.
That is what I am reading from the OP. Possibly I have misunderstood something?

Given the period of time lapsing, if I were the OP I probably would have called a different plumber who might actually attend and would have assumed that the money paid by the neighbours was the total. I certainly wouldn't be expecting a bill nearly twice that of the neighbours, 8 months later with no extra service.

[joz*garage]

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@azureline** wrote:

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@joz*garage wrote:

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@*ibis wrote:

b-sew did the plumber say in his verbal contract that he was going to bill you in nine monts?

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i dont think a total was included in the vebal contract either

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I don't think b sew said that.................

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yeah so what, still means the same, the OP didnt know the costs from the begining? it took 6 + months for the OP to find out what they were up for. which included threats to pay.

[jimmy*part4]

I am a tradie and would NOT send a bill 6 plus months later. But if I did, I would have accepted the OPs terms. Occasionally we get that sort of request from time to time.

Also...$375 for a half hours work! (was it on a sunday?) An hourly rate takes into account....driving time, gas, vehicle maintenance, insurance, etc. The plumber was already at the site and should have billed actual time....1/2 hour. It sounds as if the plumbers sloppy billing department mixed up the bill. (the neighbour got the OP's bill)

And considering the OP wasn't having any drainage problem....didn't call the plumber....did the neighbour a favour by letting him onto the property....if I was the neighbour I would have told the plumber to put it on my bill (which would have been billed at actual time).

And yeah....waiting over 6 months to bill and then threaten to send to collections if not paid in 7 days...I'd call that bullying. Actually I call him something else!