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Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2016 3:25 pm
by Forestboy1978
I've had it with chasing customers for money. It's one of those things that really ****** me off. I'll never understand the mentality of it. It's clear in my quotes 72 hours but 1 in 5 people delay. What's annoying is that if there's a delay I'm left wondering each time if I am never getting paid at all. Best case scenario, I've got to take time out of my day to make a phone call that I find uncomfortable and I'm sure the recipient does too.
So, out of you guys who use portables, how do you find them and what rates are you paying?
Many thanks
Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2016 3:28 pm
by Forestboy1978
I'd like to add.. when I go to a store to buy something I don't go there and make a purchase without having the facility to pay. I would never dream of not, upon assessment of any work I had carried out, immediately pay the contractor. Just would not dream of it. What goes through these peoples heads to assume it's fine to take a week or more to make a payment???? Grrrrrrrr
Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2016 3:52 pm
by rxbren
Got an izettle although don't use it there is around a 2% charge for using it. Last time I used it, it takes a while to get your money aboutva week or so and at the time if someone paid American express you had to wait a week then you would get 1k then over the next few days get 1k a day till the remaining balance was cleared
Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2016 4:09 pm
by Forestboy1978
rxbren wrote:Got an izettle although don't use it there is around a 2% charge for using it. Last time I used it, it takes a while to get your money aboutva week or so and at the time if someone paid American express you had to wait a week then you would get 1k then over the next few days get 1k a day till the remaining balance was cleared
Ta for the feedback.
Nope, not paying 2% for someone to then hold my money for at least a week. I find that almost as offensive as customers who drag their heels.
Gotta be something better.
I'll pay 2% but I want the machine for free and transactions to be instant.
Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2016 4:19 pm
by Dave_L
Don't think you'll get a free machine with instant monies available.
Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2016 6:08 pm
by Forestboy1978
I need to figure out whether my biz account will then also charge me for the transaction. I think not. I seem to recall electronic transactions are free.
Might bite the bullet on getting a delay then. Don't like it but at least I will know I've been paid. That's the main thing. God, I'm slowly becoming an angry pi**y individual gah
Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2016 6:46 pm
by rxbren
Doesn't matter who you use there always someone getting a cut even the proper card machines have a monthly cost before you pay a percentage.
Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2016 7:32 pm
by GB_Groundworks
dont paypal do one plugs into smart phone?
Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2016 8:16 pm
by rxbren
Same as the izettle but depending in how much you use it rates 2.7% down to 1.5% then you got to deal with all the bs that PayPal has will they just be judge jury and executioner like they are for eBay related problems giving people refunds with no comebacks
Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2016 10:30 pm
by lemoncurd1702
Forestboy1978 wrote:I've had it with chasing customers for money. It's one of those things that really ****** me off. I'll never understand the mentality of it. It's clear in my quotes 72 hours but 1 in 5 people delay. What's annoying is that if there's a delay I'm left wondering each time if I am never getting paid at all. Best case scenario, I've got to take time out of my day to make a phone call that I find uncomfortable and I'm sure the recipient does too.
So, out of you guys who use portables, how do you find them and what rates are you paying?
Many thanks
If you take payment by bank transfer I think it's a case of "I'll do it this evening mate", then evening comes and the PC is not fired up or it simply gets forgot about due to other distractions.
I prefer bank transfer as it saves a trip to the ever decreasing banks but sometimes a cheque on job completion at least feels better.
I've never asked for a deposit on acceptance of quote or on commencement of job but of late I'm thinking at least cover the material cost. After all why should I fund the clients project.
Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2016 11:04 pm
by Forestboy1978
lemoncurd1702 wrote:Forestboy1978 wrote:I've had it with chasing customers for money. It's one of those things that really ****** me off. I'll never understand the mentality of it. It's clear in my quotes 72 hours but 1 in 5 people delay. What's annoying is that if there's a delay I'm left wondering each time if I am never getting paid at all. Best case scenario, I've got to take time out of my day to make a phone call that I find uncomfortable and I'm sure the recipient does too.
So, out of you guys who use portables, how do you find them and what rates are you paying?
Many thanks
If you take payment by bank transfer I think it's a case of "I'll do it this evening mate", then evening comes and the PC is not fired up or it simply gets forgot about due to other distractions.
I prefer bank transfer as it saves a trip to the ever decreasing banks but sometimes a cheque on job completion at least feels better.
I've never asked for a deposit on acceptance of quote or on commencement of job but of late I'm thinking at least cover the material cost. After all why should I fund the clients project.
Yeah me neither. I have it written in my terms that we take payment on completion of the job. Specifically not after materials are dropped as improper use of materials can often render them useless. If the job is large we break it into stages.
I've thought about removing that and getting payment for materials cos otherwise being reviewable and having taken zero payment until completion of the job gives the customer sooo much leverage, they can be as much of a pain in the ass as they like and they know it.
Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2016 11:50 pm
by rxbren
Delayed payments suck especially if you have a few jobs on at a time now anything we carry out over £1000 unless theyre a days work are either 40% to be paid before work starts or depending on the job staged payments.
I know programmes say dont do it and when I started of I didnt, but I pay for all my materials up front when someone decides they're going to avoid paying a few k a month late it puts strain on everything why should I fund someones project an risk my own house on the chance of getting paid at the end
Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2016 7:00 am
by Donk
Take a large lump up front when the blocks are delivered so they can see they are not just handing cash over for nothing. Something like 60%, make sure this is clear up front. No work starts until you have it. Then the day before the job is complete give the final bill. Sometimes it's easier to have someone else to do the money chasing (the mrs) as they are a neutral person and the client is more likely to let on if there is a problem or they dont like something you have done as it avoids confrontation. Remember us brits dont like to complain directly we take to trip advisor etc and moan.
Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2016 7:02 am
by dig dug dan
I have a portable machine for the crusher side of the business. It uses all mobile networks to find a signal, I can do transactions over the phone.
but I pay £25 a month plus vat for the machine, then 1.2% debjt cards and 3% credit cards, it takes three days for funds to appear.
bear in mind that if a customer goes to his card issuer to quibble the payment, they get it back, you get the funds withdrawn no questions asked, leaving you twisiting in the wind.
izettle or the paypal one is face to face only, amd expensive on fees.
bank tansfer is the best way for you.
Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2016 8:29 am
by rxbren
That's the biggest issue with card payments
I have the first izettle card reader which doesn't have the keypad not sure if it still even works the izettle was the cheapest option for me at the time but fees are 2.7% unless you put thousands a month through