Customers offering sex as payment is one of tradesmen’s biggest moans

CUSTOMERS offering sex as payment is one of tradesmen’s biggest gripes, a survey shows. The promise of a quickie came third among moans by builders, plumbers and electricians. Only late payment and not offering a cuppa ranked higher, the poll for comparison site HaMuch.com showed. A spokesman said of the nookie offer: “It may seem […]

CUSTOMERS offering sex as payment is one of tradesmen’s biggest gripes, a survey shows.

The promise of a quickie came third among moans by builders, plumbers and electricians.

Alamy

Only late payment and not offering a cuppa ranked higher, the poll for comparison site HaMuch.com showed.

A spokesman said of the nookie offer: “It may seem like a set-up for a blue movie but it happens.

“This isn’t an adequate form of payment and with many tradespeople happily married or in a relationship, it is inappropriate — and pretty desperate behaviour.

“If you can’t afford to pay for the work with cash, wait until you can.”

Other gripes include being asked to do extra jobs such as putting out bins.

Pretending a job is an emergency makes tradesmen see red, as does standing over them while they work.

Theft of tools, unrealistic expectations, fixing someone else’s shoddy work and customers who change minds also wind them up.

Tarquin Purdie, founder of Ha.Much, added: “All too often, people may expect them to help watch the kids, or to lend a hand moving furniture — while failing to extend basic courtesies such as a cup of tea.

“It’s important to remember these people are supplying a professional service and should be treated in the same manner you would adopt in your working life.” About 50,000 companies go bust every year because of late payments and debt from buying materials for household projects, says the Federation of Small Businesses.

HaMuch added: “Having the cash in the first place is a pretty common courtesy.”

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