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French Artisans
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 16/11/2007, 9:39
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zeb
Joined on 23/08/2004
31
Posts 1,307
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Re: Invoices from French Business (operated by an English couple)
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Yes, we've done work for friends and neighbours in the past and the relationship (for us) is always awkward. We usually give a heavily discounted day rate (they are not usually long jobs) and ask them to buy the materials, but they always know how long, and therefore how much, they are going to have to pay. (Obviously for some close friends we just work on a very loose bartering system!!)
Denbag, I suggest you just have a chat with your friend and ask for a breakdown, and in future, ask for a written estimate first. Maybe in the past he hasn't declared the work so charged you less than the going rate making this recent bill seem very high. Don't forget that artisans (or indeed any self employed business in France) have huge cotisations to find so job rates can seem very high to those you have no knowledge of this. It really is a killer!
Also, I really object to the sexist comment one of the other posters made, even if it was in jest, it was totally unecessary.
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16/11/2007, 12:44
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denbag
Joined on 14/11/2007
Posts 3
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Re: Invoices from French Business (operated by an English couple)
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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
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16/11/2007, 21:10
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J.R's gone native
Joined on 16/07/2006
Picardie, Sussex
Posts 2,005
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Re: Invoices from French Business (operated by an English couple)
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 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. |
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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.
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29/11/2007, 17:19
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jeanht
Joined on 29/11/2007
Posts 2
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Re: Invoices from French Business (operated by an English couple)
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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!).
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29/11/2007, 17:28
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woolybanana
Joined on 27/08/2007
Posts 1,370
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Re: Invoices from French Business (operated by an English couple)
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| 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. |
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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.
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I dont think your comment was sexist at all. Close to the truth in my experience.
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France Forum » Owning/Running ... » French Artisans » Re: Invoices from French Business (operated by an English couple)
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