Yep e-mails flying back between us now, just received:-

 

 

"Unfortunately as long as you are in breach of our terms of trade and are not adhering to the payment arrangements we have offered you, we can refer to debt to the agency at any time.

We look forward to receiving your payments as promised.'

 

 

 

I have replied that, Yes you will absolutely receive payments" as promised". (ie $50/month)

 

6 months to send a bill? Never had THAT happen in our lives! And our combined years are 130!

 

OP, I was told earlier this year that if you are contacted by a debt collection agency and agree to a repayment plan and stick to it, you will not have a bad mark put against your name. This is in Victoria. Phone him up and tell him you will repay $xx per month, don't make it redicously low.

 

Twinkles if a tradie can't be bothered to send a bill for six months, they can wait longer than 7 days for payment! Don't give me carp about being self employed, and too busy etc. Its pure laziness

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@banorasew wrote:

Yep e-mails flying back between us now, just received:-

 

 

"Unfortunately as long as you are in breach of our terms of trade and are not adhering to the payment arrangements we have offered you, we can refer to debt to the agency at any time.

We look forward to receiving your payments as promised.'

 

 

 

I have replied that, Yes you will absolutely receive payments" as promised". (ie $50/month)

 

6 months to send a bill? Never had THAT happen in our lives! And our combined years are 130!

 

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If they are that concerned about terms of trade, they should of told you before agreeing to do the work!

It seems odd that you owe $375 and the neighbour was only charged $200.

You need that clarified.

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@happyroo_bunji wrote:

OP, I was told earlier this year that if you are contacted by a debt collection agency and agree to a repayment plan and stick to it, you will not have a bad mark put against your name. This is in Victoria. Phone him up and tell him you will repay $xx per month, don't make it redicously low.

 

Twinkles if a tradie can't be bothered to send a bill for six months, they can wait longer than 7 days for payment! Don't give me carp about being self employed, and too busy etc. Its pure laziness

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Too busy? Did I say that, no.

The neighbour told us he "called out a mate plumber he knew" maybe thats why he got charged less! Although I doubt that. I think his was fixed in a few minutes

 

If only the neighbour also knew that the plumber told us he was extremely annoyed that "his mate" called him at such short notice, and really expected immediate action. AND also  told us "he was mad that our neighbour (mate) did not get him to do the pool plumbing".   (we didn't divulge that to our neighbour)

 

 I didn't think a professional tradie would EVER badmouth a client to another client.  Do they? 

 

 

Thank you for all the posts. 

 

so, ask for an itemised bill and then check with another plumber. Hope you resolve it.

Ideally they shouldn't bad mouth clients to other clients, but it's not an ideal world.
In a brief period that I had a cleaner, who a couple of friends hired as well, I was appalled at some of the things she told me about them and have no doubt she passed on juicy bits about me too. It was a relief when I couldn't afford her soon after.