Landscaper changing mind through project

My normal practice is to get you to order materials to your address through your bank account so you know what your paying for and your getting it to you not to me and onto snigger job I did a job where the lady was ripped off by cowboys she was to trusting I told her what I think I needed went through it all with her her then told her that I can go to the builders merchant and order the gear for her but she would need to pay for it and then get it delivered to her address I told her we will not exceed the materials as to not waste anything and if we needed more then we get the odd piece of decking or wood there after to complete the job This work out very well for her but not for me as I didn't quite complete the job as fast as I wanted to However I had a happy customer so that is what matters the most and I do all her work now with a few changes I say never trust anyone when it comes to money there's a lot of cowboys fraudster out there only out to see you off be careful and vigilant

Cash isn’t king you need a paper trail a deposit should have been discussed prior to starting the job on high value jobs reputation of the contractor should bee looked into as well as customers being ripped off it can equally happen to contractors and having clients with no experience dealing with materials and ordering isn’t cost effective and that’s what you pay your contractor for, you should always be 30% behind the stage if the job as my rule of thumb to keep client happy and never ever pay a job until it’s completed to your satisfaction, the fact someone only wants cash should be a red flag

Material cost paid by customer with receipt provide, this must be stated in invoice prior to accepting the tradesmen, if any other costs are asked for this is a breach of contract and doesn't sound professional, there are too many cowboys and they need to be vetted, another bit of advice always look at the reviews prior to agreement, I always say this to customers as mine never move off 5*

I would question his change. We would ask for a deposit for skips and initial materials which are then delivered to customers property. Any further payment for large jobs are then spread over the period of the job as as each stage is completed. This would all be listed in the initial quote so it’s clear for. All parties

I wouldn’t be comfortable with this. If the agreed price was £5,000 and you were told there would be no payment until completion, asking for £1,450 for materials partway through the job and then another £1,450 three days later is a significant change to the original agreement. It’s not necessarily proof that anything dodgy is happening, as genuine material costs can arise, but I would stop making further payments until you have a clear written breakdown of what the money is for, receipts/invoices for the materials already purchased, and confirmation of exactly what remains to be paid. I’d also avoid paying large amounts in cash.

When we provide a quote we outline when payments are due before you confirm the project. All reputable;e companies can finance the materials and if they can't they should not be quoting. That said as contractors we are not a bank, thus when the materials arrive they should be paid for that day. As work progresses depending on the size of the project there may be interim payments but the client would always be ahead. But as stated this information should be included in the quote prior to you confirming. This approach protects everyone, but it is also wise to look at a companies reputation before hiring. Hope that helps.

Hello from Elite Total Maintenance, Please always ask for quotes in writing with a signature Also ask for a terms and conditions form, if they are a proper company or contractor they will do everything possible to make sure everything is documented by law

Asking for partial payments which were not agreed at design / pricing stage suggest the company has cash flow issues. I would be asking why they need they intern payment and why they did not plan it in advance. Expect a story. It's not normal to ask for extra payments which you were not warmed about before the work.