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Floor fitters asking for full payment upfront

  • 11-08-2025 09:56PM
    #1
    steph79
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22 ✭


    hi all , there’s a flooring shop where I live , they sell all sort of floors and also do fitting etc ,

    We got a quote from them and are interested in getting the job done , however they need 100 % of the payment before the floor fitting even begins ,

    Is this a common practice?
    im afraid that if they don’t show up or don’t do it properly, ill have no comeback .



Comments

  • #2
    TheSunIsShining
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 600 ✭✭✭TheSunIsShining


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058421770/floor-fitters-asking-for-full-payment-upfront

    Pay by credit card?



  • #3
    steph79
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22 ✭steph79


    we don’t have a credit card currently, only debit but that wasn’t really my question, I wanted to see if anyone had any experience with this and if this was common practice for a floor shop to ask to be paid in full before any supply and fitting occurred.



  • #4
    denismc
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 1,577 ✭✭✭denismc


    100% payment for the boards upfront would be normal, but paying for labour upfront wouldn't be.

    Are you sure they are not just asking for payment of the materials?



  • #5
    steph79
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22 ✭steph79


    they want 100 % of the quote they gave us for supplying and fitting the floor , the full amount upfront



  • #6
    con747
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 10,138 ✭✭✭✭con747


    I would never give anyone 100% payment before they start any work. Find a way to safeguard the money if they do a bunk. Debit card charge back might be a way if you have no credit card. Maybe get a credit card just for this and cancel it if all goes well.

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  • #7
    steph79
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22 ✭steph79


    thanks for the advice



  • #8
    BorneTobyWilde
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 38,258 ✭✭✭✭BorneTobyWilde


    If it's a shop, using its only fitters then I can see why it's paid.

    Should just review the store, make sure they're good



  • #9
    con747
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 10,138 ✭✭✭✭con747


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123714938#Comment_123714938

    I had a bathroom/tiling shop in my nearest town a while ago who wanted full payment before starting work, I told them where to go. A month later they shut down which would have been before doing my work.

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  • #10
    ergo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 941 ✭✭✭ergo


    Paid full amount in advance recently for flooring - the place was part of a chain of shops so maybe that gave me more security

    - when the floor is down could be hard to get money out of the odd person I'd say



  • #11
    steph79
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22 ✭steph79


    okay thanks for your input , I don’t what to do , I really dislike the practice , it’s not a huge job either but I don’t like the idea of being left with no leverage if anything goes wrong,

    Many other trades you would never have to pay 100 % upfront,

    And everyone in many other trades could say once the service has been accomplished it’s hard to get the money of an odd person , it doesn’t mean they are getting paid upfront.



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  • #12
    con747
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 10,138 ✭✭✭✭con747


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123715003#Comment_123715003

    Tell them you will pay for materials but want to see the final result before releasing the balance, that's fair IMO.

    Edit

    Also get a contract so you are both safeguarded.

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  • #13
    DoctorEdgeWild
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 6,173 ✭✭✭DoctorEdgeWild


    Totally depends on the circumstances for me - If this is a local, reputable business with a bricks and mortar shop and solid rep, I wouldn't think twice about it. We've all been burned by non-payers so it's fair enough to be cautious.

    Same goes for you though, if you have any doubts or worries then there'll be plenty of other options.

    My decisions almost always come down to history/longevity, if a service provider/shop has a solid history then I'm way more likely to trust.



  • #14
    Eoinbmw
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,175 ✭✭✭Eoinbmw


    I would find another supplier/fitter!



  • #15
    Tomw86
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 967 ✭✭✭Tomw86


    Materials upfront and amount for fitters on the day it is done - that's how Des Kelly worked for us if I recall properly.



  • #16
    Witcher
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,482 ✭✭✭✭Witcher


    Find a new fitter so



  • #17
    denismc
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 1,577 ✭✭✭denismc


    Have you considered doing the work yourself?

    I presume it's tongue and groove type flooring which is pretty straightforward if you're anyway competent at DIY



  • #18
    CalamariFritti
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 6,464 ✭✭✭CalamariFritti


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123714977#Comment_123714977

    Ye but on the other once the full amount is paid it can be hard to get problems fixed. Or have the agreed time line adhered to. Next job gets started on and 'we cant come back until next week'. Speaking from experience.

    It goes both ways really.

    Personally I think it's a good and fair practice to pay something upfront. To make clear you're serious about the job and you're not being kacky with payment. Especially when it comes to paying for material which are really tailored to your specific job.
    But I'd always insist on paying half or a third at least when it's all done. Just to keep them interest to actually finish the job and come back to fix anything that goes sideways.



  • #19
    Fann Linn
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,160 ✭✭✭Fann Linn


    Pay for the materials and tell them you'll pay for labour when the job is complete. You'll have a difficult job trying to get recompense if they do a sh1t job.



  • #20
    JVince
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,305 ✭✭✭JVince


    If its a retail store and the fitting is within the next 2 weeks, this would be normal.

    Very few will do full fit without payment as there are far too many people out there that will say "I'll pay next week" and they say that for months on end.

    Payment by any card with Visa or mastercard symbol gives you protection.

    Many years ago when debit cards were "laser" cards, the protection / insurance that VISA & Mastercard provide did not apply. But that's no longer the case and any mastercard / visa transaction, debit card or credit card, is covered under their chargeback rules.



  • #21
    steph79
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22 ✭steph79


    I have actually cancelled the job , we are not bad payers , never have not paid for something that was due or anything , but the idea of paying 100 % before any work has even started does not seat well with me ,

    If they have all of the money, one would think they wouldn’t care about the job as much as they already got paid for it ,

    They also could come back to me mid job and demand more money, etc


    When I asked why would they need full payment before having the job done , they couldn’t not give me a straight answer,

    I would say they are probably loosing a fair amount of business over this ,

    You get your car fixed , you pay after it’s fixed

    Go to the restaurant, pay after you eat

    Get the plumber , pay after the work is done ,

    Anyway thanks for all the replies



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  • #22
    Eoinbmw
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,175 ✭✭✭Eoinbmw


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123719149#Comment_123719149

    You made the right call couple of years back we had significant bathroom job done from a company that supplied material and supplied all labour it was pay 50% total upfront very fair!

    Job was finnished but there was a few issues not that strange it was a big job, Company owner wanted a few more quid or remainder before snags were sorted i decided to give the another few grand in good faith!

    They never returned for the snags but rang me asking for outstanding bill i said finish the job and you will be paid!

    Im still waiting lol!

    The long and the short of it the outstanding balance i had to have someone else come in to sort the snags!

    Never ever pay in full up front!



  • #23
    mykrodot
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,063 ✭✭✭mykrodot


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123719149#Comment_123719149

    dead right. I think you'd be out of your mind to pay 100% upfront for anything.

    I moved house last year and had electricians, plumbers, bathroom fitters, kitchen fitters, tilers and fencers all doing jobs at one stage or another. Not one of them asked for 100% up front. The bathroom fitters got 50%, kitchen guys materials paid for, that's it.



  • #24
    AndrewJRenko
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,894 ✭✭✭✭AndrewJRenko


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123715277#Comment_123715277

    We've all been burned by tradespersons who don't show up on schedule and do poor quality work when they do show up. If you've paid up front, you're screwed if they don't do everything absolutely right.



  • #25
    DoctorEdgeWild
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 6,173 ✭✭✭DoctorEdgeWild


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123720496#Comment_123720496

    Same the other way around. Lots of terrible customers. Sounds like the OP has solved their problem and found someone they're happy with. Very few 'one size fits all' services out there. Thank Grud for choice!



  • #26
    scwazrh
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 2,905 ✭✭✭scwazrh


    Edit - deleted - didn’t notice it’s an old conversation



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