- Original Poster
- #1
Hi all, newbie here looking to drawing on your wisdom 
My other half has been working as a subbie for a large contractor most of this year in between other works. They were great at first, he did the work, it was signed off and invoices paid after 30 days, then they would call him and say we have another job, tell him what’s involved and he would give them a price, they’d say fine, it needs to be done by x date and so on.
Now a problem has happened and they haven’t paid for several jobs, they owe around £15k for 5 invoices and work is near completion on another £10k job. There was no problem with the quality of my workmanship and they are not disputing it or asking for any rectification works, it just got to the 30 days and they didn’t pay, left it a few days and then asked when it was being paid and was told oh it will be paid in a few days - let me look into it etc.
They haven’t given a pay less notice and now some of the invoices are 30 days late. I emailed on my OH behalf and they have said the invoices are under review as they believe them to be too high for their margins. However they are at the agreed price. They have asked for a meeting where I believe they are going to apply pressure to reduce the prices, they know he has a small business and struggling with cash flow as he into them for nearly £25k so getting desperate. My OH has paid his lads and some suppliers but owes HMRC and other suppliers so we need the money quick and fear we haven’t got time to pursue them through courts, which I think they know and that’s why they will apply pressure for him to reduce invoices for fast payment. We have told them until they pay we cannot work for them as need to work where we will get paid but am worried they will use it against him if he doesn’t work on the current job and complete by deadline but I also know at the end of the job they will do the same with that invoice so feeling trapped between rock and hard place, any advice?
My other half has been working as a subbie for a large contractor most of this year in between other works. They were great at first, he did the work, it was signed off and invoices paid after 30 days, then they would call him and say we have another job, tell him what’s involved and he would give them a price, they’d say fine, it needs to be done by x date and so on.
Now a problem has happened and they haven’t paid for several jobs, they owe around £15k for 5 invoices and work is near completion on another £10k job. There was no problem with the quality of my workmanship and they are not disputing it or asking for any rectification works, it just got to the 30 days and they didn’t pay, left it a few days and then asked when it was being paid and was told oh it will be paid in a few days - let me look into it etc.
They haven’t given a pay less notice and now some of the invoices are 30 days late. I emailed on my OH behalf and they have said the invoices are under review as they believe them to be too high for their margins. However they are at the agreed price. They have asked for a meeting where I believe they are going to apply pressure to reduce the prices, they know he has a small business and struggling with cash flow as he into them for nearly £25k so getting desperate. My OH has paid his lads and some suppliers but owes HMRC and other suppliers so we need the money quick and fear we haven’t got time to pursue them through courts, which I think they know and that’s why they will apply pressure for him to reduce invoices for fast payment. We have told them until they pay we cannot work for them as need to work where we will get paid but am worried they will use it against him if he doesn’t work on the current job and complete by deadline but I also know at the end of the job they will do the same with that invoice so feeling trapped between rock and hard place, any advice?
