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16/11/2007, 12:44 denbag Joined on 14/11/2007 Posts 3 Re: Invoices from French Business (operated by an English couple) Thanks for your reply (and the others).  I have not tackled him about the invoice yet. My initial reaction was that it was a complete rip off, based on the other work he has done over the last 6 years (including exactly the same job at our previous house in the same village). It is often best to sit back and take a more balanced view of things after the initial shock of receiving the invoice, rather than responding immediately and falling out. As we are neighbours in the same village, we have to get along. I think you have hit the nail on the head, in that previous jobs were always for cash, but this one is going through his business (which he formed probably 18 months ago). From what you all tell me, there are lots of costs involved with running a business in France. I never intended doing anything other than paying him in full, and that is what I shall now do. If he does any future work for us I will now, of course insist on un devis. Thanks again,   Denbag      Report

16/11/2007, 21:10 J.R's gone native Joined on 16/07/2006 Picardie, Sussex Posts 1,695 Re: Invoices from French Business (operated by an English couple)  zeb wrote: Also, I really object to the sexist comment one of the other posters made, even if it was in jest, it was totally unecessary. OK I put my hands up, I guess the sexist comment was mine so I apologise. Its just that it has happened to me several times in the past in business with people (male) that I had always enjoyed a long and mutual relationship with based on trust, I never hassled them for prices unless it was something out of the ordinary and never got any nasty surprises when the invoices came. It changed dramatically in each case when the person got their partner involved in the business and whenever I queried the amount they were genuinely embarrassed and every time gave me the aforementioned quotation verbatim, trying to follow i up with their partner was usually met with suspicion and a total unwillingless to negotiate. Good luck to them I say, it may have been the end of our particular mutual trust but I am sure that they were overall more profitable by involving their partners, after all not all clients were as understanding as I who was happy to pay more than the agreed price when the particular circumstances dictated. I guess I should not have used gender and said partner instead of wife and hope that you accept the apology.    Report

17/11/2007, 7:42 Georgina Joined on 23/08/2004 29 Posts 599 Re: Invoices from French Business (operated by an English couple) If you want an honest answer, my bet is that he has decided that he is going it straight with you and does not want any more work, hence the full monty.  I would pay up and put it down to experience, if you start picking, you are going to fall out big time, is it really worth it.  Just pay up, and don't ask him again. You must know that you should have had a devis first, there is enough information about this. So put it down to experience. Georg    Report

29/11/2007, 17:19 jeanht Joined on 29/11/2007 Posts 2 Re: Invoices from French Business (operated by an English couple) If he is registered you can go to the Chambre d'Artisans.  They are there to help in disputes (as well as other more joyful things of course!).    Report

29/11/2007, 17:28 woolybanana Joined on 27/08/2007 Posts 1,019 Re: Invoices from French Business (operated by an English couple)  J.R. wrote:  zeb wrote: Also, I really object to the sexist comment one of the other posters made, even if it was in jest, it was totally unecessary. OK I put my hands up, I guess the sexist comment was mine so I apologise. Its just that it has happened to me several times in the past in business with people (male) that I had always enjoyed a long and mutual relationship with based on trust, I never hassled them for prices unless it was something out of the ordinary and never got any nasty surprises when the invoices came. It changed dramatically in each case when the person got their partner involved in the business and whenever I queried the amount they were genuinely embarrassed and every time gave me the aforementioned quotation verbatim, trying to follow i up with their partner was usually met with suspicion and a total unwillingless to negotiate. Good luck to them I say, it may have been the end of our particular mutual trust but I am sure that they were overall more profitable by involving their partners, after all not all clients were as understanding as I who was happy to pay more than the agreed price when the particular circumstances dictated. I guess I should not have used gender and said partner instead of wife and hope that you accept the apology. I dont think your comment was sexist at all. Close to the truth in my experience.    Report

29/11/2007, 21:33 Nick Trollope Joined on 23/08/2004 Broons, Dept 22 Posts 2,449 Re: Invoices from French Business (operated by an English couple)  jeanht wrote: If he is registered you can go to the Chambre d'Artisans.  They are there to help in disputes (as well as other more joyful things of course!). If you mean the Chambre de Metiers, then no they are not. They are a registration and training body for Artisans.   Nick www.aplaceinfrance.com    Report

29/11/2007, 23:04 Russethouse Joined on 23/08/2004 Forum Moderator Posts 9,495 Re: Invoices from French Business (operated by an English couple) Goodness Wooly, This tale reminds me of when I discovered that a client of ours regularly lent on my OHs good nature, to either peg the price or reduce it - I volunteered to take the client to the local Waitrose with me and see if could persuade them to peg or reduce their prices too. Needless to say we kept the client  and he paid the going rate....... IMHO Its a big mistake to diss the wife because they look after the figure work...... www.quimperclub.org 99    Report

01/12/2007, 22:39 BIG MAC Joined on 25/02/2006 53 Mayenne / Hants Posts 297 Re: Invoices from French Business (operated by an English couple) Its a big mistake to diss the wife because they look after the figure work......   Ahhhh the old double entendres are the best!...teary eyed in Blighty..... BIG MAC The frying Scotsman    Report

01/12/2007, 22:52 woolybanana Joined on 27/08/2007 Posts 1,019 Re: Invoices from French Business (operated by an English couple) Bless you my lovely RH, I hope I wasnt dissing 'er indoors. In my experience she is the one who holds the enterprise together. I rather felt that the earlier post about it being sexist was a bit silly to be honest. Talking of sex, how is your knee by the way?    Report

01/12/2007, 23:32 Russethouse Joined on 23/08/2004 Forum Moderator Posts 9,495 Re: Invoices from French Business (operated by an English couple) The knee is improving, but slowly ! There isn't much thats sexy about a support bandage :)... www.quimperclub.org 99    Report

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