Payment Terms - Pay everything upfront?

[Mulberry View]

We're dealing with Norrsken and RK Doors at the moment. Both want full payment of the contract balance prior to release of the products for delivery and installation. Is this normal?

 

I feel a little uncomfortable with that.

 

ID System (Sunflex) allow us to retain 10% for payment upon completion.

 

What has been your experience?

 

[SteamyTea]

9 minutes ago, Mulberry View said:

feel a little uncomfortable with that

Do they take credit card payment.

A quick look at the Companies House website, well I just looked at Norrsken, shows everything quite normal. Not that it shows everything.

[Mulberry View]

10 minutes ago, SteamyTea said:

Do they take credit card payment.

A quick look at the Companies House website, well I just looked at Norrsken, shows everything quite normal. Not that it shows everything.

 

Yes, we'll always push for that where possible. But what incentive do companies have to provide top service if they've already been paid in full?

[saveasteading]

20 minutes ago, Mulberry View said:

what incentive do companies have to provide top service 

A well known business like that will dread any bad publicity.  And many / most businesses are perfectly honourable.

[JohnMo]

We had similar for our roof, no materials would be delivered until full material payment had been received.  We agreed I would pay when the lorry arrived and before it entered the gates.  A bit of back and forth, this was agreed upon by all parties. It all worked that, lorry arrived, I did a bank transfer, they check and released the lorry to be unloaded.

48 minutes ago, Mulberry View said:

contract balance prior to release of the products

Push back, say install balance will not be given until install has started and agree a payment schedule. Buying things is a two way street, you have just as much control, you have the money.

 

If you don't get what you want move to another supplier, their loss, generally a few tens of thousands.  My windows and doors were all paid on completion of works, except a 10% deposit.

[Mulberry View]

8 minutes ago, saveasteading said:

A well known business like that will dread any bad publicity.  And many / most businesses are perfectly honourable.

 

I think that both Norrsken and RK Doors are quite reputable, but the gut-wrenching experience with our Zinc Roof has left us a bit scarred!

[Bramco]

FWIW - we had no problem with RK Doors - very good, in terms of getting the spec right etc. - can't remember the payment details but everything was delivered on time as promised.  Also v pleased with the door.

[Tony L]

1 hour ago, Mulberry View said:

 

Yes, we'll always push for that where possible. But what incentive do companies have to provide top service if they've already been paid in full?

 

The prospect of a Section 75 claim, if your contract allows for payments to be made by credit card.  Has anybody here ever made a Section75 claim?  How did it go?

[crispy_wafer]

14 minutes ago, Tony L said:

 

The prospect of a Section 75 claim, if your contract allows for payments to be made by credit card.  Has anybody here ever made a Section75 claim?  How did it go?

Yep, albeit on a pre-plumbed HW cylinder that never appeared.  Easy and painless for me once I'd opened a claim and forwarded any communications I'd had with the supplier.

 

[marmic]

On supply and install contracts there's no way I would agree to pay everything up front - has to be something left on table.  They do have to balance their risk too of course.  As JohnMo said it's a two way street - they want your money probably more than you need their services.  But ensure agreed in advance - don't negotiate later.  No names but a number of suppliers were crossed off my list just for being unreasonably demanding on payment terms - problem is most people tend to be compliant and do as they are told - and many companies know this. The sooner everyone gets a bit tougher with these types of suppliers the better!  One company (not windows and doors) I recall was demanding unreasonable payments and also wanted the most ridiculous contract I've ever seen signed - straight in the bin. Was a throwback to 80's/90's double glazing!  Appreciate us self builders have less clout than prinicipal contractors, but the PO in my book has to be the primary contract and usually is.  Thankfully we're now at the stage of smaller packages and day rates with local trades we know and trust..............and then it will be lots of DIY weekends for stuff that can take longer................ 

 

if you haven't commited already strongly suggest talking to Simon at Nordica.  They can supply the same product.

[Nickfromwales]

3 hours ago, Mulberry View said:

 

Yes, we'll always push for that where possible. But what incentive do companies have to provide top service if they've already been paid in full?

Norrsken just installed on my current clients project (via Elite).

 

Excellent team of fitters, great work ethic, everything foamed and sealed meticulously.

 

The masonry was difficult to read and that resulted in the sliders needing pushing out one side by <10mm to square them up (you’d have seen it with the EWI so I pushed for them to return to make the adjustment).

 

A bit of push / pull at the outset of the request, where they escalated it back to Norrsken.

 

A nice lady called up to get the issue understood from their point of view, and then Norrsken paid Elite to return to sort the issue out.

 

All dealt with very quickly, efficiently, and effectively, with the minimum of fuss.

 

You have nothing to worry about here afaic. This client made the final payment a couple / few days before the delivery was due.

 

Delivery was smooth and went well, with Elite supervising and taking full ownership of the delivery / logistics / manual handing etc.

 

10/10 from me.  

[MikeSharp01]

We used Norrsken and had the same basic worries so we split the contract so that no single part was above the 30K limit on the Credit card protection which made me feel better. As with Nick they did a grand job and came back promptly to fix an issue with one of the seals jumping out of its slot.

 

[Mulberry View]

4 hours ago, MikeSharp01 said:

We used Norrsken and had the same basic worries so we split the contract so that no single part was above the 30K limit on the Credit card protection which made me feel better. As with Nick they did a grand job and came back promptly to fix an issue with one of the seals jumping out of its slot.

 

 

Ah, so they let you pay with Credit Card OK then? I was planning to ask this tomorrow.