When is it too late to send an invoice?

[Midnight plough boy]

Had a decent sized job done by a builder (circa £17k) back in the summer which was all invoiced and paid for during work and on completion. There were a few extras he did for me at the same time - I’d guess between £350 and £600. I want to get this paid, and a line drawn under the whole job.

I’ve chased him for this last invoice at least every fortnight up until now with various excuses coming back as to why he hasn’t done it yet, mainly “I’ve been a bit busy”. Is there a deadline past which I don’t have to pay - Not that I don’t want to pay, he’s done the work fair and square, just that I want a bit more leverage to get the invoice out of him. His payment terms on the rest of his invoices have been by return if that makes any difference.

 

[Sharpy]

6 years iirc.

 

[bobajob]

Why not just set aside say £750 and put it in another bank account. And use it to pay him when his invoice eventually comes in, save you worrying about it.

 

[dubs]

after 5 years i think it is ?

 

[Steevo]

Or just pay what you think is likely, send him that sum as a cheque with a note saying you had been expecting and had chased but would like it sorted. This is the sum you thought was about right.....and then the ball is in his court to come back to you. If he doesn’t see it as priority to send an invoice for the full amount he will likely see even less urgency in asking for £100 more or so if he thinks it is worth chasing given you have paid a reasonable sum.

 

[Goweresque]

He's got 6 years as mentioned above. He's probably getting close to his Vat exemption limit or doesn't want to rack up even more income in this tax year so is using you as a piggy bank. There's nothing you can do about it really, unless you've got some sort of leverage via another issue. If you have the money just put it aside and wait.......

 

[JeepJeep]

If and when it lands pay it... I never bother by head until an invoice is presented then it's happily paid soon as after.

 

[icanshootwell]

This must be a 1st. The customer waiting for the builder to send a bill. Makes a nice change, it's normally the builder demanding payment. Lucky you I say.

 

[Spud]

If you know with some certainty what the amount is, just send him a self bill with your payment. Job done.

 

[Exfarmer]

What is it about Builders? Ihave one, I have been waiting for an invoice, fora couple of years. It was work done in a tenated property, I have no idea what time it took, but it was fiddly, probably2-3 hours but could be lot more, and he dropped everything to get me out of a hole. He wont even give me an idea on the phone as to how much I owe, as I would stick some cash through his letterbox.

 

[Steevo]

What is it about Builders? Ihave one, I have been waiting for an invoice, fora couple of years. It was work done in a tenated property, I have no idea what time it took, but it was fiddly, probably2-3 hours but could be lot more, and he dropped everything to get me out of a hole. He wont even give me an idea on the phone as to how much I owe, as I would stick some cash through his letterbox.

Plenty of trades are allergic to paperwork I find.

The only paperwork they seem to like has pictures of the queens head on.

 

[MRT]

It is really unfair to the customer and puts me off using someone again. We have had lots of trades who don't bill or even indicate the price and then turn up even years later expecting payment of £2000 on the day as if they have done you a massive favour by not billing - they haven't. Another pet hate is back dating of the invoice to imply you had not paid when it is them who did not bill

 

[SRRC]

If you know with some certainty what the amount is, just send him a self bill with your payment. Job done.

This is what I do so that my paper trail is correct, but never when there's VAT likely to be involved. I can't see HMRC being too bothered unless they think there's a VAT scam going on.