[mtgjudge]

Hi folks!

I just engaged a lawn service and he says he doesn't bill clients - but to just send the check for the month to his P.O. Box in advance. I thought this was odd as I used to having services rendered, being billed, and then paying for them. Is this payment arrangement peculiar to you, or is the customary in TV?

This person is being used by 2 different neighbors, so I reached out to him myself.

[gdennis317]

Would not pay in advance. Pay for services rendered.

[GrumpyOldMan]

It's a general rule in TV to not pay for any services in advance. Way too many stories of very poor outcomes.

If you are doing business with a major company, it might not go badly, but, doing business with contractors that demand payment in advance is a bad idea.

[tophcfa]

Well, after winter is over our lawn guy comes by once per week, sometimes a little more often. I don’t want to be paying weekly bills for lawn service. I pay him in advance every six months. That being said, I have been using him for several years and he has proven I can depend on him, so I have no worries with the advanced payment.

[VApeople]

We chose Falcon for our lawn service and pest control when we moved in five years ago. We paid them in advance for the first year.

We have been very pleased with their service. Each year, we pay them in advance for the next year.

I mow the grass myself.

[jswirs]

Originally Posted by mtgjudge

Hi folks!

I just engaged a lawn service and he says he doesn't bill clients - but to just send the check for the month to his P.O. Box in advance. I thought this was odd as I used to having services rendered, being billed, and then paying for them. Is this payment arrangement peculiar to you, or is the customary in TV?

This person is being used by 2 different neighbors, so I reached out to him myself.

No one should be paying for any service in advance of the service performed. Do you pay anyone else in advance? Doctor, barber, restaurant? I don't care if they are responsible and honest. If indeed they are, why then do they need to be paid prior to performing a service? I would ask him just that question.

[thevillages2013]

Originally Posted by mtgjudge

Hi folks!

I just engaged a lawn service and he says he doesn't bill clients - but to just send the check for the month to his P.O. Box in advance. I thought this was odd as I used to having services rendered, being billed, and then paying for them. Is this payment arrangement peculiar to you, or is the customary in TV?

This person is being used by 2 different neighbors, so I reached out to him myself.

It would be a gamble but how much? $75 that you risk losing? If your two neighbors have had a good experience with him and if they say he is dependable and does a good job then roll the dice. You still control the payments. If he doesn’t work out then stop payments . If he is good hang on to him and give him a tip or bonus occasionally. Good help is hard to find these days!

[Bwolf1]

No way. Too many horror stories about services not provided. Even if his intentions are good, at best people can’t follow through and things go wrong. There are lots of reputable lawn service people who will do the work, then collect payment. Get one of them to do the work.

[Petersweeney]

Pay it .... don’t listen to anyone who said receive bill and pay it after month of service - they live in a bubble- where talking lawn mower guy....

[Nannyof3]

when we moved here we were taken by a woman who said if we paid 3 months ahead she would give us a free month. she seemed very nice so we did it. she cut our grass twice then she was gone. turned out she'd done this to several people and had changed the name of her "so called " company over and over. please be careful. most of the service people around TV are terrific, hard working and honest

[Tomptomp]

I pay them in the middle of the month. Most service providers in TV don’t want a reputation for providing poor service. I’m not too concerned because they know we talk to each other.

[GOLFER54]

I know a couple who lost 15,000 by paying in advance to a contractor a few years ago. No work was done, and these people were nowhere to be found. If it is a reputable company they will do the job and be paid at the end.

[J1ceasar]

Just the movies .

[GOLFER54]

Read also another person’s problem similar to yours on this sight ML SMITH, bottomline, NEVER PAY IN ADVANCE FOR ANY PROJECT!

[LizzieBorden]

As a person who uses contractors on occasions, I always verify with others who have used this particular contractor. My lawn people do not bill us, but asked us to pay at the end of the month for the monthly service. They mow the grass and we pay at the end of the month. I dont need a Bill, I can see the services are rendered and we are all happy. I would suggest you check them out, or ask your neighbors who they use and if they are happy then go that route. 6 of us in the neighborhood use the same vendor and we are all happy and our grass all gets cut at the same day....