Posting here as it's more related to payment and tax than actual 'Home and Garden'. Happy for it to be moved if needed though.
Had some paving and landscaping done by a paving company I found online recently. Let's call it Paving R us. At outset of the job, there was no agreement to pay in cash, he seemed very professional while quoting, and although he didn't produce a professional looking quote, because it was a routine job I was happy with his verbal quote.
The work was carried out well, if seemingly not managed tremendously well. I'm happy with the end result and the timescale was reasonable, so no major qualms, but he lied about when he'd come round - it was mostly his operatives doing the work who didn't speak english so made questions during the job very difficult, and was very elusive. Anyway, job is now done.
Ever since the matter of payment has come up, he's been a nightmare. He asked for full payment in cash, saying that as a builder it's much easier for him to pay suppliers with cash etc. I said well if I pay you via bank transfer, you can surely just withdraw it from the bank and you've got the cash in your hand. And I could pay him sooner via transfer than cash in hand so the matter of cash flow didn't stand to reason. He assured me it's 100% legit and nothing to do with tax, but had no answer for my query why a bank transfer wouldn't work. I wasn't mad on withdrawing over £4k in cash and then getting the train home, followed by a 20 minute walk in the dark - I'm based a commute away from home and obviously the bank is closed once I get nearer to home.
So I said please send me a company invoice detailing works done and with bank details and I can pay immediately. Just finally tonight (6 days after first discussion of payment) he's come round and given us a written receipt (upon which he's signed that we've paid in full, oops!), but not an invoice. I then said, we need bank details to pay you, and he sent us details via text of another company, let's call them 'Driveway upgrades Ltd'.
Am I being too picky or is it completely not legit that he isn't able to do the simple task of producing an invoice that bears his company name, the works carried out, price and his bank details - of the actual company? The company is a limited company, not just a small one man band or anything.
It seems like a total tax dodge to me, and although I will pay him for services rendered, I'm inclined to not do so until he gives me a proper invoice. Where does that stand legally? Am I being a nightmare customer or is this fair enough?
Had some paving and landscaping done by a paving company I found online recently. Let's call it Paving R us. At outset of the job, there was no agreement to pay in cash, he seemed very professional while quoting, and although he didn't produce a professional looking quote, because it was a routine job I was happy with his verbal quote.
The work was carried out well, if seemingly not managed tremendously well. I'm happy with the end result and the timescale was reasonable, so no major qualms, but he lied about when he'd come round - it was mostly his operatives doing the work who didn't speak english so made questions during the job very difficult, and was very elusive. Anyway, job is now done.
Ever since the matter of payment has come up, he's been a nightmare. He asked for full payment in cash, saying that as a builder it's much easier for him to pay suppliers with cash etc. I said well if I pay you via bank transfer, you can surely just withdraw it from the bank and you've got the cash in your hand. And I could pay him sooner via transfer than cash in hand so the matter of cash flow didn't stand to reason. He assured me it's 100% legit and nothing to do with tax, but had no answer for my query why a bank transfer wouldn't work. I wasn't mad on withdrawing over £4k in cash and then getting the train home, followed by a 20 minute walk in the dark - I'm based a commute away from home and obviously the bank is closed once I get nearer to home.
So I said please send me a company invoice detailing works done and with bank details and I can pay immediately. Just finally tonight (6 days after first discussion of payment) he's come round and given us a written receipt (upon which he's signed that we've paid in full, oops!), but not an invoice. I then said, we need bank details to pay you, and he sent us details via text of another company, let's call them 'Driveway upgrades Ltd'.
Am I being too picky or is it completely not legit that he isn't able to do the simple task of producing an invoice that bears his company name, the works carried out, price and his bank details - of the actual company? The company is a limited company, not just a small one man band or anything.
It seems like a total tax dodge to me, and although I will pay him for services rendered, I'm inclined to not do so until he gives me a proper invoice. Where does that stand legally? Am I being a nightmare customer or is this fair enough?
