We have a client who bought a surround sound system and a 6 room audio system from us. We scheduled the install and when we showed up the client did not have a cabinet for the whole house audio system. Two weeks went by and we scheduled to come back to install the audio system. Again, when we showed up the client did'nt have a cabinet. We then took him down to our cabinet builder to see if he would be interested in having one built. The latest kicker in the story is that he wants the a/v cabinet to match his new furniture that will be delivered in a week. So now we have to wait one week for the furniture to arrive so the cabinet builder can build an a/v cabinet to match his living room furniture. Then I will have to wait another 4-6 weeks for delivery of the custom a/v cabinet so we can then install the audio system. My question is this - the final payment due is more than the labor required to compete this job. Can I ask to client to pay me, say minus $500 dollars, for the remaining balance since this is now out of our control or do I need to stick to the signed contract's payment schedule? Or since the delays on installation are comming from the client could I be entitiled to change the payment schedule based on the fact the he failed to provide a cabinet (twice) when we scheduled to be there for installation?

Thank you!

Keep the lines of communication with your client open. How was working with this client BEFORE this unknown cabinet issue became known? My attitude is always ask, the worst is the client says no. But if the relationship is a healthy one, my guess is the client should understand your point of view. Good luck, and on your next contract put some "legal mumbo-jumbo" that protects you from something like this down the road.

Hmmmm.... mumbo-jumbo. I better ask my lawyer if I can say that here..... oh well, too late. I already said it.

Un pack the equipment, turn the boxes upside down, set up the equipment on the boxes. Get your final payment and when the cabinet is in remove and hook it back up. It'll cost you some time but at least you'll get paid now and then come back at your convenience.

H, I suggest you start calling the day before the scheduled day to see if the customer is ready for you. To show up twice to be suprised is silly.

"Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me."

I bekeive AAron gave you some good advice. This is always tough.

The last minute wall plate color change always kicks me in the ass.

I'm finished but you changed the color to light almond, Leviton to Pass Seymour. I need a draw or final payment of $8000.00.

Mike

avbydesign,
That happened to me today. Went from ivory to white. Beleive it or not, I don't do much white. Had to leave the job to buy white quickports, and rj45 plugs...

We do alot of high end custom homes, Most are 2nd homes or vaction homes on the lake. We just finished a project, that had marble tops. Solid black. We put in all black Leviton. It was so nice that 3 other clients have seen it and now want to same thing.

It was a great touch but now the electrician is ready to kill me.

Change order are always nice, because we provide a service to our clients. Sometimes though they forget just how it effects the other subcontractors. This post started with cabinet changes, I bet there will be 2 dozen replys.

Mike

Sounds like a lack of cummunication or coordination of the final install. Schedules do change in construction, and unless the AV system is huge and near the top of the clients list, it's completion can be overlooked by the client until the last minute.

Some clients think that because they made a purchase from you that you are now going to be at their exclusive disposal, and that your time and schedule really isn't all that relevant since hey,, you sold them some gear, you owe them.

Time is money, and time is scarce especially if you are busy. I guess my question would be......prior to arriving at the residence to complete the system, was there a discussion as to what provisions were in place for housing the equipment?

If that discussion didn't take place, then It's your oversight. If it did, and the millwork wasn't in place on the agreed date of completion, then you should politely tell your client that you deffered other work to do this job, and that while it's unfortunate, you will have to bill him for at least part of the time that was lost. Perhaps not the first time, but definitely if it happned a second time.. Fair is fair, you have to make a living just like he does.

The electrician put in white plugs in a very dark painted theater room, customer changed just the plates to brown but left the white plugs.

So when I came in to finish my plates I did the same thing, white leviton inserts with brown plates.... Actually doesn't look that bad.....

I think i'd be reviewing the standard payment terms in your contracts.
100% of the equipment total to be paid prior to, or upon delivery. If you turn up to install equipment as arranged with the client and they are not ready, you are still entitled to the equipment payment as it has in fact been delivered, leaving you with just the final labor payment outstanding.

Simon.

I don't think it's unreasonable for your company to expect payment since if all had gone as originally planned you would be done. I also don't think once you explain it to him that he will have a problem with it. I would definately get the system up and working though, even though most of it will need to be done again you can get all your cables terminated and work out any problems you may have.

As far as the plate changes go in relation to color that's pretty much standard in a custom high end home. I just roll with it since it's a T&M thing anyway. Down side I have to reterminate and test again but that should be no biggee!

oops!

Larry has the right idea. And yes, ask for the $$$$$. You have to live too. Hopefully, you were paid for equipment up front.

i say send in the puerto ricans and have them give the customer a "neck tie" or if you like the people just break their knee caps....... i've had to send them once to a cutomer that got in my face 1 too many times......

sure you dont get paid, but revenge is sweet.....

disclaimer: no puerto ricans were ment to be insulted or harmed by this post.....( my wife and kids are puerto rican) :-)

I am the last person on the job at my company. When I show up I am expected to get the finall interface stuff done and the calibration.

The contractor we have been working with has been so far behind at 11 of the last 15 jobs I went too...
The install team had to flip over the boxes and assemble the gear ontop of it. Brought an extention cord from another room and left my IR system just sitting there.

I was standing in a vanilla box. nothing but drywall, no carpet, chairs, or even lights!

I called the office to explain this and they said... "its this simple. The contract says, the final payemnt is due when you finish that remote. All the gear is there and installed. You can do a service call after the contractor catches up to do the sound and video. The company gets paid today and it is not my nor your problem that ______ can't get it together."

I get pissy about this but the contractor has sometimes taken a good 3 months to get things done after we finished. My boss knows that this happens on some 70% of the installs and the contract clearly states... "WHEN OUR STUFF IS DONE>>>" Since we are not the general contractors on the job...

Customers want to be project managers then stuff falls behind.