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22/06/2007, 21:02 Jura Joined on 28/11/2005 Posts 761 Re: Be prepared to pay a deposit if you want work done in France Deposit or not, we have had one major plumbing and one major electrical disaster occur on a Sunday here. We called ALL french plumbers and electricians, each time, within a 30 km radius only to hear them all just hang up on us. Even those who advertise their service as being 24/7.  Just because it was Sunday. We no longer employ French workmen as a result. We have found 'backup' in the form of a Dutch fellow who works whenever he is needed, is reliable, and I can recommend him to anyone who lives near Olet. In Dec 2004 we had the local electrician in to give us a quote for work and he said he would be back to start work in a week. He returned exactly a YEAR to the day later (Dec 2005) and expected to start the job there and then. We told him where to walk!. I will pay a deposit WHEN the work has been started. I agree that self employed artisans should not work for free, but with regards to the laidback attitude of the French, how does the 'employer' know where he stands?. I will pay for work carried out...and they want to be paid before they start...what do you do?.        Report

23/06/2007, 11:55 J.R's gone native Joined on 16/07/2006 Picardie, Sussex Posts 1,828 Re: Be prepared to pay a deposit if you want work done in France Wen I accepted a devi (from an artisan who sub-contracts to a French friend) to enduit all of my property, he said he would do the work in May, interestingly on the devi it asked me to specify when I wanted the work done, I indicated May, I also wrotre a covering letter asking him to confirm receiept of the signed devi, to say whethe the work could still be done in May and in any case to give 2 weeks notice of the start date so that I could transfer the money to my French account. I received no reply, I have left a dozen messages on his phone which he has not responded to, I have also made my friend leave messages which have again been ignored. May has come and gone, I applied pressure to my friend who returned to me the message " it could be done in September - peut-etre" citing Les vacances, by this time I had lost patience and confidence, my friend said that he would try to get them to improve on this, all I had ever wanted was some communication. This week an equipe (I believe sub-contracted to the guy) turned up unannounced wanting to start work straight away, I was suspicious because it was pouring with rain and they said that they couldn't work on their other site, I explained that they could commence but that I did not have the 50% accompte (as I had not had advanced warning as agreed) but could draw 400 euros per day from the ATM until the money had been transferred. They phoned the boss man who told them to leave, possibly to find someone who would pay 50% to them to compensate them for not being able to work in these weather conditions? - Who knows? The next thing was that my friend appeared angrily remonstrating with me for having turned them away. I should point out that my French is very good and there has been no misunderstanding. I have again waited in vain today for a roofer, this is the 3rd time that he has been to drink an aperitif, promise to come at the weekend and fail to arrive, I only engaged him after giving up on the local company were paid (with my money by my so called friend!) for work that they didnt do, after many failed appointments they once again promised to come after I sent them a final legal letter accuse de reception, but of course they didnt. So this new roofer who is the brother of another friend offered to do the small repairs but only if I let him fit 4 veluxes for a very high cash price, after 2 years of frustration I wasnt going to argue, guess what? He did the veluxes in 1.5 hours each but wanted to come back to do the roof repairs, as I said today is the 3rd time that he has promised to come and not. Editted: The roofer arrived after lunch so I feel very silly now After 2 1/2 years I have to accept that this is the way of things around here, what sticks in my throat is the way that there never seems to be any sense of  acknowledgement or regret. So now I will do everything myself even if it is work like the rendering that I am not skilled at or enjoy doing.    Report

23/06/2007, 16:35 Framboise Joined on 29/11/2006 At home in the Orne Posts 501 Re: Be prepared to pay a deposit if you want work done in France Having read the above, all I can say is thank heavens I have my own very skilled builder on hand for everything that needs to be done because  I think I would drive myself crazy waiting about for "Artisans" to honour me with their presence! Sometimes being married to a Builder has its advantages.    Report

23/06/2007, 17:42 Catalpa Joined on 23/08/2004 Southern Manche - 50 Posts 1,514 Re: Be prepared to pay a deposit if you want work done in France You and me both, Framboise. We went through hell with our stonemason who took 17 months to complete what he told us was 3 months work but since the major structural work has been complete, it's been down to us.    Report

24/06/2007, 22:21 sid Joined on 16/12/2005 Deux-Sevres [79] Posts 500 Re: Be prepared to pay a deposit if you want work done in France We have had major work carried out over the last 18 months. We have accepted devis from a mason, electrician, plumber, chaufagiste and plasterer. None of them asked for a deposit. Sid I came into this world with nothing; by careful management I've still got most of it left!    Report

25/06/2007, 13:21 plod Joined on 17/05/2007 Posts 200 Re: Be prepared to pay a deposit if you want work done in France Just like Sid we have had two plumbers, two electricians, a builder, a plasterer and a stove-fitter - never did any of them ask for money in advance.     Report

25/06/2007, 21:20 Le Plombier Joined on 25/06/2007 Posts 74 Re: Be prepared to pay a deposit if you want work done in France I always ask for a deposit, usually about 10% of the contract value with a more substantial payment upon delivery of material, which is when I commence the installation work On the majority of my contracts I supply all of the material, once I place and order with a supplier I have an obligation to take the goods or face possible charges in the event of cancellation I consider the deposit to be some insurance for me in the event the client changes his mind and attempts to cancel the contract Very few of these problems would arise if clients checked contractors properly and generally sought only those companies on whom they are able to obtain good references from satisfied clients Le Plombier    Report

11/07/2007, 13:50 Andyphilpott Joined on 23/08/2004 Kent and Collobrieres Var Posts 208 Re: Be prepared to pay a deposit if you want work done in France All very true of course Le Plombier. If everyone played by the rules what a wonderful world it would be. Problem is that often they do not, hence the stories of waiting for ages to get something done. Friends of mine have regulalrly encountered that but since they insist on using the same builder, and his father before him!, they only have themselves to blame. To be sure he does a good job but as someone else said, he has their job in his pocket and will fit it in when he has nothing better to do. I take a rather different approach and have never had any problems even though mine is only a holiday home. The secret is to know who is in the know in the village and enlist their support in arranging the work. After all they are there all the time, drink in the same bars and in many cases are related to the builders etc. and they badger them until the job is done. Not only have the jobs been done in good time, and not only have I never been asked for a deposit, but it often takes months to get the bill! Most of my chasing seems to be to pay the bill! Andy    Report

02/10/2007, 16:15 Richard & Tracy Joined on 14/09/2007 Posts 35 Re: Be prepared to pay a deposit if you want work done in France We have only recently joined the forum as part of our research towards coming to live in france so please excuse this being some months after the other posts on this topic. Is it just the British who get treated like this or do french artisans mess about their french customers too? I am self employed in the UK with my own business in domestic wall and floor tiling and plastering. Does anyone know what sort of money I could earn assuming that if and when we come over, our french will be good enough. I would want to work in the whole community, not just for expats. At the moment we are thinking of Brittany, not coastal, somewhere reasonably populated. Vannes is on our list of possible places. Specialist Wall and Floor Tiler    Report

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France Forum » Owning/Running ... » French Artisans » Be prepared to pay a deposit if you want work done in France

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