Paying up front

[SnappyJen]

I am having a headache with outside consultants that I am hiring to do essential work.

I have just lost £500 because I paid someone up front to do a server swap. Needless to say, they did not complete the job and I had to pay someone else over £600 to complete.

I said 'never again' however I have found what appears to be a competent company who have sent me a proposal for a specialist IT job. Guess what? They want full payment up front.

What are your views on paying for work up front?

 

[its CC]

Damn, I'm sorry to hear that you got conned. I think paying up front for certain services are the norm (Depending on the Service). I guess my only advice is to choose companies or individuals you can trust and or hold accountable.

 

[SnappyJen]

Damn, I'm sorry to hear that you got conned. I think paying up front for certain services are the norm (Depending on the Service). I guess my only advice is to choose companies or individuals you can trust and or hold accountable.

Yes, but trust is built over time and is a two way street. I understand why they might need to ask, but I don't feel I can pay up front because we have never worked together before.

It seems like the rotten apples on both sides of the fence affect decent businesses really badly.

 

[StevensOnln1]

It's not unreasonable for someone to want paying up front when they're providing a service, so can't get anything back if they don't get paid. You may find they're more prepared to offer credit terms after the first job, when they start to get to know you and your business better.

 

[SnappyJen]

It's not unreasonable for someone to want paying up front when they're providing a service, so can't get anything back if they don't get paid. You may find they're more prepared to offer credit terms after the first job, when they start to get to know you and your business better.

What about me paying up front and not getting the work done I asked for?

Also, one of the bigger issues is that as soon as you pay someone the full amount, their motivation to complete the job can disappear. All of a sudden you are low down the list of priorities.

 

[simon field]

Offer them 50% upfront, 50% on completion.

If they want the work they'll do it, if not, they won't.

Can't get fairer than 50/50 (although if being picky you could argue that they're gonna do all the work for half the money)

 

[Comedora]

A reputable business will issue a written agreement with all job particulars and provide you with they terms and conditions of business. This should outline details of what exactly they agree to do. This way both sides will be covered.

 

[SnappyJen]

A reputable business will issue a written agreement with all job particulars and provide you with they terms and conditions of business. This should outline details of what exactly they agree to do. This way both sides will be covered.

Thanks for the advice and I do agree written agreements are important, but they are fundamentally useless for smaller amounts of money.

Are you really going to enforce a useless contract on a freelancer over a small amount like £500? It would cost more in legal fees.

 

[Comedora]

You can add legal expenses to your claim.

 

[Gecko001]

Needless to say, they did not complete the job and I had to pay someone else over £600 to complete.

They at least started the job then. How exactly did they mess up and not complete the job?

 

[SnappyJen]

They at least started the job then. How exactly did they mess up and not complete the job?

They agreed to a date, never did it, apologised
As above 10 more times
Tried to rush the job - broke my site
Reset everything
Agreed a date to try again
Never did it

 

[Pd_hendry]

If I was you I would speak directly with the management of the company, as they are just trying to cover there own back.

Perhaps paying a call-out charge to be taken off your final bill as a way of showing your intent to pay for the completed works could be an option. Simply they have probably had alot of people run away from payment. If you paid a call out charge (20 % of the final price) this would give both parties involved a declaration of intent. You can be happy with the knowledge that you won't pay the entire amount until the work has been completed to to a satisfactory standard and they can be intent on no-ing that you mean business.

If this doesn't work, perhaps you could negotiate a different option with the company directly, if they are stubborn find someone else, it is you that needs the working doing and will get it done, they are the ones that will loose out.

 

[Psl]

A reputable business will issue a written agreement with all job particulars and provide you with they terms and conditions of business. This should outline details of what exactly they agree to do. This way both sides will be covered.

And based on the above no reputable firm should charge you upfront.

 

[vvaannmmaann]

I have heard that some people when unhappy with work done or lack of promised services,go onto the Facebook /twitter page that these companies may have and tell everyone else about the problem.
It sometimes gets things sorted!

 

[KM-Tiger]

And based on the above no reputable firm should charge you upfront.

Not true.

When you have been burned a few times, you learn that doing work you don't get paid for is not worth doing.

Compromise at 50/50 is always possible though.

 

[Gecko001]

There could be a problem with getting all your money back as you called in someone else to finish the job. It seems the logical thing to do when you get fed up with someone's apparent incompetence, but the law does not always work the you think it should.

 

[noo81]

I think it would be reasonable to ask for a 50 upfront 50 on completion deal. Most companies would be happy to compromise if you are showing willing. Get a written agreement from them.