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. 

[**meep**]

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@banorasew wrote:

Yes, it was the length of time, never the $ or work done came into it. You would have known that, had you read the OP fully. 

OK, what if every tradesmen took so long to send out accounts? Imagine the state of the economy. 

A family member has offered to pay it immediately for us, but that was never the point. 

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I assumed it was about $$$ based on this:   Because the account took six months to arrive, we had not budgeted for it

[*ibis]

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@polksaladallie wrote:

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@*ibis wrote:

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@polksaladallie wrote:

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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.

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

really?

how was GST supposed to elimate the black economy?

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Don't ask me.  Ask John Howard and co.   That is what they were saying as part of the promotion.

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thanks for that clear and concise evasion

[freddie*rooster]

Ibis, if you look back at when Howard was drumming up support for the GST, his claim was that by introducing a Goods and Services Tax it would stop all loopholes for the payment of tax for those services, eg people working for cash in hand. However tradies are well known for offering services cheaper for cash payments without a receipt, or they will offer a receipt from a bodgey receipt book.

[the_hawk*]

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@*ibis wrote:

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thanks for that clear and concise evasion

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It was only ever spin in an attempt to sell the idea to the sheeple, there is no way it was ever going to stop cash work, in fact it made it even more attractive because the self employed sudenly had a 10% price advantage

[*ibis]

no i dont remember that

link or it didnt happen

[cherry*135]

Are you the poster that had leaking roof after gutter guard installation?

Would you have had $374 upfront if you got the bill at the time the work was done?

Plumbers charge $100 call out fee here, $374 doesn't sound bad for the work he had to do.

  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. 

That sounds reasonable $25 p.w. Customers can't dictate the terms they will pay accounts/bills even if the bill was late in arriving. You have benefited from having the work done. The plumber has met you 'half' way and is not demanding total upfront .

[polksaladallie]

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@*ibis wrote:

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

really?

how was GST supposed to elimate the black economy?

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Don't ask me.  Ask John Howard and co.   That is what they were saying as part of the promotion.

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thanks for that clear and concise evasion

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Why do you think it is an evasion?  That's what they said.

I am not an economist.  I have no idea how what their reasoning was.

But I did know that it would never happen.

[banoras]

Gosh, wasn't going to weigh into this anymore LOL The question was answered quite early on. 

About GST, I would say, on the whole, any tradesman we've engaged since 2000, has asked which price we'd like, book price inc. GST or cash price.  We take the GST price everytime, for various reasons. bu 

And, we make it a practice never to go to markets, you see them somewhere every weekend. How many are legit businesses paying GST?  I'm sure they do come under scrutiny from ATO people, but the logistics of that must be enormous. 

Another thread on GST v black economy!?   I don't think I'm brave enough anymore!

[cherry*135]

After GST was introduced Business owners are required to do GST returns (BAS) to the ATO , and  recording all their income (GST collected) and purchases/expenses (GST paid).

Before that requirement  it was easier to slip the cash in the pocket and not record it as income. No periodic reporting to the ATO of their income/outgoings.

Some business owners  (mostly small ones) still manage to have their own 'cash economy' since the introduction of GST though.

[polksaladallie]

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@*ibis wrote:

no i dont remember that

link or it didnt happen

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Don't know why others have to do your searching for you.

May 16 2003

The Federal Government said the GST would eliminate the black economy. But the truth is it's blacker than ever. William Birnbauer reports.

The GST, introduced in July 2000, was supposed to maim, possibly kill, the cash economy

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/05/16/1052885380731.html