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French Artisans
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 24/05/2007, 13:34
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Val_2
Joined on 23/08/2004
Posts 3,060
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Be prepared to pay a deposit if you want work done in France
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Had the annual meeting with the bank yesterday and they warned us that no one should be taking on work without a deposit of at least 30% up front these days especially the self employed artisans as too many people are taking longer and longer to pay their bills and many are not paying up at all leaving people in debt here.This was one of the big banks by the way.
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24/05/2007, 20:55
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aj_dr
Joined on 23/08/2004
Posts 133
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Re: Be prepared to pay a deposit if you want work done in France
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Quite agree with you Val but....we had a devi, signed acceptance and paid a 30% deposit with agreement the work would start in May unfortuately the date was not in writing. To date he has never presented the cheque or started the work (when I would expect to pay another 30%), he's a french artisan who I can't contact on the phone, he never returns calls. As I have signed acceptance of the devi any ideas what I can do??
aj
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24/05/2007, 21:29
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Panda
 
Joined on 06/02/2007
Charente, Vienne, Les Arcs
Posts 527
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Re: Be prepared to pay a deposit if you want work done in France
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Hi
We had the same issue some years back, I took advice and threatened the artisan with legal action to cancel the devis, he turned up two days later, they are working on the fact that you are a job in their pocket so to speak, they can chase other work but yours is always there to fall back on. I would find someone who can speak french and get them to make the call, it may work wonders!
On the deposit front, I think most brits would expect to pay, it's how things are done in the UK where I came from, no issue as long as the devis and timescales are honoured.
Panda
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24/05/2007, 21:29
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cooperlola
Joined on 05/05/2006
72 - Sarthe - home of les 24 heures du Mans
Posts 6,361
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Re: Be prepared to pay a deposit if you want work done in France
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I had a similar problem. However, when he finally made it (getting on for a year late!) the price was unchanged. So at least I had secured a firm cost for the work if nothing else. And it's superb now it's finished.
Healthcare Issues Site
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30/05/2007, 9:23
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Sunshine
Joined on 20/11/2004
Cahors
Posts 174
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Re: Be prepared to pay a deposit if you want work done in France
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I have paid a roofer a deposit in June, in good faith with a signed devi to start last october, His pet slug has died his pet snail, its too wet its too hot. he assures me the price will not change when he does start....
My french neighbours tells me the french pay the deposit the day they start the work.
This is how I will employ my artisans in future.
Sunshine
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30/05/2007, 10:12
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naps
Joined on 07/03/2005
Posts 313
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Re: Be prepared to pay a deposit if you want work done in France
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It's not all doom and gloom. We contacted a local builder to quote for a few odd jobs around the house, he came, tackled one there and then and prepared a quote for us. It arrived a week later than planned, but all looked good, so we contacted him and asked how he wanted to proceed.
He simply said, I'll be round next week to start (no signature required, no deposit). Ok, so he didn't turn up a few times, but he did fit us in here and there when he could. Only waiting for one part to fix the roller shutter and he'll be back to install that and finish off a window sill. No a cent has exchanged hands yet, and all in all he's completed all the jobs within 4 weeks, worked like a man posssessed and cleaned up after every job.
All that's left is the invoice and to see how much it may have drifted from the original quote as there were a few changes along the way.
Naps
79 Deux Sevres
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30/05/2007, 11:26
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somme man
Joined on 30/05/2007
Posts 15
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Re: Be prepared to pay a deposit if you want work done in France
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It is a difficult time to get work done with most artisans having full diaries, some of my contractors are spending a couple of days on my house and then returning the following week.
I am however quite lucky, I have no practicle skills at all and on the recco of the surveyor used the architect as a project manager.
All work is being completed on time and I have paid no advance payments however I am required to make staged payments in line with the % of work completed as per the schedule of works.
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22/06/2007, 21:02
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Jura
Joined on 28/11/2005
Posts 715
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Re: Be prepared to pay a deposit if you want work done in France
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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?.
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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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