Husband is a plumber. Always issues with customers paying.?

Question

My husband has a plumbing business for a good 4 years now. I don't really get involved and let him deal with it on his own but ever since he has been running it, he's had issues with customers not paying on time or not paying the amount originally agreed upon.
When I ask about it this he gets defensive and says I don't understand how a business is run. I've been a manager for 10 years and maybe I don't fully know about the plumbing business but this just seems strange to me.

Answer 1

Plumbers fees can be exorbitant. Most of us have no idea how much money they charge. Many Plumbers visits are unplanned emergencies. The service needs to be detailed in writing with the work expected to be done, when it will be completed, the cost of any parts added, and the cost of labor. The customer needs to know if they can afford this or not. Be sure that you tell them also in writing that if further damage is discovered requiring more work or parts, the Plumber will notify the customer in writing of the additional work and expense in advance and make his own decision case by case what payment terms he will accept. Everything in writing protects BOTH parties. If terms are in writing, the customer must pay AND the plumber must do the work promised with some warranty that it works!

Answer 2

Well, you can tell who is in business and who is not. Your husband should be paid, in full, when the work is done. He should present the bill and stand there waiting while the customer writes the check, period. A useful thing is to take credit cards for those who might be cash poor. One option is called "Square" and lets you take credit with your smart phone. If your husband has monthly accounts then those accounts should get statements by the 5th and those should be paid in a timely manner too. If they run into a habit of paying late then talk to them. If that doesn't fix it, then dump them. Your husband is not the problem, it's people (like some of these answers) who think they don't have to pay him. Try to get your husband to understand this - "I came, I worked, you pay. Now." It's not a game.

Answer 3

Without knowing all the details, I can only give you my observations as to what I think is happening here. You sound like you have a logical, goal oriented approach to business which works best in many situations, but you have to understand the other side.



People often call a plumber for unexpected emergencies. Water can do a lot of damage quickly and these calls can be quite expensive. For people on a budget they may not have the money right away to pay on time. For people with other money issues, they may not have the money to pay the full bill. Because plumbing is a service industry, your husband has learned the importance of helping people in need out of compassion and in order to establish a long term relationship with his customers, who will then recommend him to their friends. Apparently this has worked for 4 years. Your husband's way of doing business is not wrong, just different than yours. Sometimes using your heart can be better for business than using logic.

Answer 4

when you first start a business you print up forms, like estimates, receipts and such. He may not be working with an (good for 30 days) estimate. And he may not be working with a form that initially he fills out when they ask for service, he gets them to sign it or initial it prior to doing the job, and on there it says how much they will owe. Once their approval signature is on there well if the job is done and they don't pay then he takes them to court. But what about method of payment? Does he have the machine wherein he runs their credit card across, or does he call in the credit card for approval first (like Domonies does, or Avon does) and if it's not approved then he asks for other means of payment? Therefor they must not just pay timely, they have to pay while he's there or else he takes them to court.

Perhaps he sees money flying out of his business if he has to take them to court so doesn't follow up, or he decreases the amount they owe. In those cases it's a personality flaw and not business decisions, and that could be why he gets defensive. Could be because the guy has a heart, and if that's the case then he's building up jewels in heaven but isn't going to get rich on his hobby, and you're not going to be able to talk him into a real business.



The SBA has SCORE if he wanted to call in and ask someone who has been in business but is now is retired as to how to handle any situations he's experiencing. But SBA also has short courses (a few hours here or there) he could attend to brush up on something (maybe like forms and contracts and collections).

Answer 5

Where I live you can't sign a lease until you're 18, so did she lie, show a fake id, or did someone co-sign for her. Knowing which would give us a better idea of how to answer your question.



She can leave if she wants to but then you go to the landlord and say she left and you need someone to take her spot so can you send applicants to be approved to the landlord. usually they say "yes". So find someone you want in there and send them to the landlord to get approved and for them to pay a non-refundable application fee. Then if that person is approved then you and your remaining roommate would have to write up a contract with that person on when you want the rent paid, how they should conduct themself, how to handle the key and guests, what to do with household duties, where to sleep, what about drugs and noise, should include cable and internet and electric, etc. So then that 3rd person would pay you or your roommate and then the rent from all 3 of you would be delivered to the landlord in a timely fashion when rent is due.

Answer 6

He should have a service/work agreement before commencing work. This contract should include payment terms (for example, a deposit). Accept credit or debit cards. Make it easy for customers to pay at the time of service (Not after plumber has left the work site). Clearly he needs help doing this.

Answer 7

One of the main causes of small businesses failure is poor credit control and bad debts. A friend of mine who had a plumbing business lost everything when one big customer ran into financial difficulties and could not pay a bill that had not been paid for several months. Unfortunately you cannot tell most people, they have to learn from their own mistakes.

Answer 8

My brother has his own business. Customers pay when the wife calls. Say things like this money is needed to pay the mortgage and the kid's food bills. Offer to help your husband take care of the books.

Answer 9

I would have the customers all sign paperwork first that shows the agreed upon price and lists the work that will be done. That should always be agreed upon up front after he does the estimate and before he does the work. Jmo.... but that way everything is known up front and they sign it which shows they know the cost. People have to pay for the work.

Answer 10

Have customers sign a legal service agreement contract that will stand up in court, and if needed sell of the unpaid debts to collection agencies.



Not wise to repossess the work, causing damage in the process.

Answer 11

He needs to put a lien on the building if he isn't paid or get a credit card before he starts the service.

He could also be holding out on you, accepting cash then spending on himself instead of recording it for the business. Try helping him collect and see if they claim they paid cash.

Answer 12

Help him start accepting credit cards. That will help people pay, because many people don't have enough money to cover a plumbing emergency.

Answer 13

Your husband's way of doing business is not wrong, just different than yours. Sometimes using your heart can be better for business than using logic.

Answer 14

He is a soft touch. if his customers know this they'll rob him blind. he needs to take one or 2 to court for none payment I'm sure it will get around he is not to be messed with.

Answer 15

He does not seem to understand that an essential member of staff, for any business, is a credit control clerk. Running a business needs different skills to being a plumber.

Answer 16

The essential to unlock the electrical power to make income from house is obtaining the appropriate online interface for writers

Answer 17

Unfortunately people not paying is a common problem.

Answer 18

It won't let edit my question on the phone.



I want to know if this is normal.

Answer 19

Pay upfront

Answer 20

So what's your question?

Answer 21

I would go to small claims court or Sue (wherever you are)

Answer 22

Good luck with the leaky pipes. Let us know if you have a question.