cadas
Full Member
Posts: 107
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Post by cadas on Sept 30, 2008 15:15:08 GMT
After three years of trying to work here in France we have thrown in the towel and decided to do something else.
The high taxes and bureaucracy are hard enough, but what has been the hardest throughout are the UK clients.
We only get paid on time perhaps 1 time out of 6, a typical example was a recent staircase.
The deposit was paid after three weeks, fine because I don't book the work until it is cashed. Day before installation I called around to confirm time and reiterated it is payment tomorrow as per the contract.
I installed the stairs, everyone happy, loads of photos for people back home and then.....'oh we didn't bring our chequebook to France' , I'll transfer the money when I get home. Needless to say there was a bit of a delay, over 6 weeks in the end. And then we didn't get all of it, they asked for some extras and will pay the balance when they are done.
This has happened time and time again.
So it is off to pastures new and lots more money!!
Paul
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Post by paulchapman on Sept 30, 2008 15:44:43 GMT
That's sad news, Paul. Hope your new venture is more successful. Cheers  Paul |
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Post by dom on Sept 30, 2008 19:07:19 GMT
Sorry to hear that Paul, good luck in the future.
Dom
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Post by engineerone on Sept 30, 2008 20:03:32 GMT
so british customers aren't just prats here, but also when they travel. thanks for the warning paul sorry it was so expensive for you paul |
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Post by Dave S on Sept 30, 2008 20:27:00 GMT
so british customers aren't just prats here, but also when they travel. In my experience, even more so when they travel.  Sorry it hasn't worked out for you, Paul, but good to hear you have new pastures to which you can head. Good luck! Dave |
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Post by jake on Sept 30, 2008 20:58:03 GMT
Good luck, Paul. It must be gutting when a good enterprise hits the buffers like that.
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cadas
Full Member
Posts: 107
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Post by cadas on Oct 1, 2008 4:46:34 GMT
Thanks all, I'm off to the Middle East to work, salary is excellent. What I took home last year on my own I will make in two months over there.
One warning for anyone thinking of moving to France, italy, spain, etc is to be very careful of UK clients. The problem is that these holiday home projects that they embark on are usually their first ever building project. All of their experieince is based on what they see on tv or read in magazines, hence expectations are very unrealistic...
Latest example is a nice couple who came in last week. I had quoted for a solid oak staircase, simple, nothing special about 2000 pounds. They brought their deposit together with a photo of a staircase that they had seen that they wanted me to copy. The problem was this staircase was a 'floating tread' stair, with no wall string and the outer string being a custom steel unit hidden within the treads and balusters, I told them on the spot that it would cost at least three times the price if not four.
They stormed out calling me a con artist....and not honoring my quote etc.
Just got to sell everything. Anyone want an Altendorf plus big modern P/T, big spindle and tenon carriage...all going cheap.
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smudger
Full Member
Hmm. Chimped it up again.
Posts: 183
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Post by smudger on Oct 14, 2008 23:51:50 GMT
There are lots of con artists (or piss artists) amongst the English in France. This year we got royally ripped off for 900 Euros by an English builder (quoted for 2 days hard landscaping, got a lad to do 2 hours) and saw a good honest builder pack in and go back to England for much the same reasons as you, mostly just not getting paid, or clients trying to negotiate the price down when the final cheque was due. A lot of French builders now won't work for English clients, or expect all money up front because of ripoffs. And as you say, charges in France are such that you can't afford losses like that.
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