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Sept 21, 2023 17:34:08 GMT
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What's your thoughts on this then. A chap contacted me to do some work on this fuel tank for a HotRod (big bucks HotRod). I Pinstriped and added painted of playing cards for the agreed price of £100, cheap (previous to this he tried to barter the price with some tat Lambretta parts). He then adds extra lettering of which he wanted me to add to the car at a later date, so I've added £80 onto the job, he's now refusing to pay!! Bearing in mind if I went back to do the work on a later date it would have been charged on a day rate. So do we think £180 is out of the way for this job?
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Sept 21, 2023 18:41:36 GMT
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Wipe it off with some thinners and tell him to do one
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awoo
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,506
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Sept 21, 2023 18:58:10 GMT
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Or offer to sand it off with 40 grit sand paper if he no longer wants it.
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Last Edit: Sept 21, 2023 18:58:45 GMT by awoo
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vulgalour
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 7,244
Club RR Member Number: 146
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Sept 21, 2023 20:07:38 GMT
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Sounds like an awkward customer, they happen. The only way I found of dealing with them was to switch to a pay-in-advance model which while not exactly competitive does mean I never get shafted for work I've spent hours on. Some repeat customers I'm happy to do the work and get paid later because I can trust them and for the last few years this has worked pretty well for me, certainly a lot less stressful and usually weeds out the people that are just going to be hell to work for.
You can ask them why they don't want to pay for the work, maybe there's a compromise.
If not return the item to them and take the loss, make a note of them so you know they might pull this sort of stunt in the future.
Alternatively, remove the work you've done if you can do so without damaging the item it's on and return said item to them. Explain that because they didn't want to pay for your work, they don't get your work. Then make a note of their details and refuse future work from them.
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stealthstylz
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,935
Club RR Member Number: 174
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Sept 21, 2023 20:35:28 GMT
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I've stopped playing nice now. If I do work for somebody and they don't pay I literally put their stuff on eBay as a BIN for the outstanding balance. Money soon turns up.
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Sept 21, 2023 22:26:14 GMT
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Seems cheap enough really at the prices you've said? Anyway just wanted to complement you on your lettering, it's nice that.
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Sept 22, 2023 8:02:45 GMT
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Here's the Rod he's building, as you can see not a cheap motor
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norm75
Part of things
Posts: 667
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Sept 22, 2023 8:15:05 GMT
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Tell him that’s less than an hours rate for a solicitor
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Sept 22, 2023 8:22:43 GMT
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Seems very , very reasonable for the skill etc. As others have said cash with order unless known and trusted customer….
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mrbig
Part of things
Semi-professional Procrastinator
Posts: 494
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Sept 22, 2023 8:38:18 GMT
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All of that for £180 and he's arguing about it. Tell him to pay or you wipe/sand it off. Or write "cheapass" in pink letters over the top.
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1969 German Look Beetle - in progress
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Sept 22, 2023 8:42:26 GMT
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Here's the Rod he's building, as you can see not a cheap motor The people with the most money are often the least inclined to spend it Also Maybe he can only afford such a nice car by being a weasel all the way through the build
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Dez
Club Retro Rides Member
And I won't sit down. And I won't shut up. And most of all I will not grow up.
Posts: 11,786
Club RR Member Number: 34
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Sept 22, 2023 9:42:46 GMT
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He put radials and disc brakes on a fenderless car, that should have been your warning 😉🤣
I think the job you’ve done is reasonable for the price. Obviously there’s some element of imperfection, but that’s kind of the point of hand done lettering and pinstriping isn’t it? If you wanted it millimetre perfect with no flourish you’d get a cad/cnc sticker cut.
Tbh one of the reasons I got into working on hot rods is there’s a lot less of this going on than in other scenes. People tend to be fairer, stick to their word, like to spend money and don’t try to cheap you out. Sounds like this guy is the exception to the rule though.
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norm75
Part of things
Posts: 667
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Sept 22, 2023 10:38:47 GMT
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Have you invoiced the customer? If not it might be an idea to give him an invoice, breaking it down cost of materials and hours spent in labour. That way he may realise the amount of work gone into and the actual labour cost and that he isn’t being ripped off (which he clearly isn’t imo by the way)
Failing that, there are laws regarding late payment. If it isn’t settled within 30 days of receiving an invoice, or the goods if one hasn’t been issued, you are legally entitled to charge late payment fees. This is 8% plus the Bank of England base rate.
Anything up to £999 you can also charge £40 for debt recovery fees, sending reminder letters etc.
Therefore his £180 charge for your services could easily become £230 or more if there is a failure to pay up on time.
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Sept 22, 2023 11:31:45 GMT
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I think that's worth 180 quid, all day long. If I ever need owt signwriting I know where to come!
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Sept 22, 2023 11:55:52 GMT
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He put radials and disc brakes on a fenderless car, that should have been your warning 😉🤣 I hadnt seen it that complete before I started then spotted exactly that when I posted the pic on here 😂
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Sept 22, 2023 12:30:52 GMT
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had already taken the car ? if so that’s a sneaky move and he’s probably done it before
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Sept 22, 2023 15:30:29 GMT
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Did you do the work at your gaff and in which case do you still have possession of the tank with your work on? If so as this is s civil matter I assume this would be the same if a garage works on your car and the customer argues and refuses to pay for the work, in which case the customer doesn’t get their car back and you keep the tank for a reasonable time in order for the customer to pay the outstanding bill and if no joy you sell the tank to recoup your costs & storage costs!
Has he offered any explanation on refusing to pay?
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Sept 22, 2023 17:01:17 GMT
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Did you do the work at your gaff and in which case do you still have possession of the tank with your work on? If so as this is s civil matter I assume this would be the same if a garage works on your car and the customer argues and refuses to pay for the work, in which case the customer doesn’t get their car back and you keep the tank for a reasonable time in order for the customer to pay the outstanding bill and if no joy you sell the tank to recoup your costs & storage costs! Has he offered any explanation on refusing to pay? Yeah tank still at mine and he literally just said "I'm not paying that"
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Sept 22, 2023 17:08:22 GMT
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Tell him that’s less than an hours rate for a solicitor or 5 minutes for a Dentist
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Sept 22, 2023 17:24:48 GMT
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Let’s be honest, the bridges are burned now aren’t they? So whatever you do you’re kinda on a loser. I’d ask him how much he thinks it should be & if it’s anywhere near your happy place just take it & move on.
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