Payment via milestone

[borderreiver]

You quoted, the customer accepted the quote, you did the job, the customer was happy with the quality. If you have this facts documented it's a no brainer - the client owes you the money and you have the law on your side.

+1

[TheFaQQer]

My point was that I don't think that +/-10(ish) is taking the piss and so therefore the customer shouldn't be feeling like they've been ripped off.

It sounds like what the client really wanted was a time hire / time and materials with a cap rather than a fixed-price engagement. That's always a win for the client - if it takes longer, you take the hit because the price is capped; if you take less time you take the hit because they are paying a daily / hourly rate.

When I was working on proposals in consultancy, we were always told that that kind of contract should be avoided at all costs, unless there was a potential upside (lots of repeat business on better terms, for example).

It's an unfortunate situation for the OP - the client agreed to the contract which was arrived at with the best intentions of all parties, so they should pay what they agreed to.

[sal]

You quoted, the customer accepted the quote, you did the job, the customer was happy with the quality. If you have this facts documented it's a no brainer - the client owes you the money and you have the law on your side.

If they pulled tulip like that once, do you really want to do business with them in the future?

[Pondlife]

Thing is, you can't have it all ways can you? Either you agree a cost with someone upfront and one of you 'wins', or you work on a T&M basis but accept that the cost is essentially unknown. I think it'd be commercial insane to do fixed price work without quoting in a buffer of at least 10% or so.

My point was that I don't think that +/-10(ish) is taking the piss and so therefore the customer shouldn't be feeling like they've been ripped off.

[psychocandy]

Could be a case of 'work needs doing - tulipe we'll pay whatever it takes, money is no object' then when the work is all done and the pressure is off the focus changes to 'ok thats done - right so how do we save a few quid'.

I've had it at a gig where everything was geared to a specific project date. Before this it was money no object, got tons of people in, extended hours, more money etc. As soon as the date was met, they almost fell over themselves terminating people early because they could save some pennies.

Reckon thats whats happened here. The initial joy of having the work done has now been replaced by complacency and someone thinking 'we could have saved a few quid' here.

[vwdan]

A quote +/- 10%ish would be good enough for me not to dispute TBH. I'd get them to focus on the quality of the deliverables and the continuing working relationship.

Thing is, you can't have it all ways can you? Either you agree a cost with someone upfront and one of you 'wins', or you work on a T&M basis but accept that the cost is essentially unknown. I think it'd be commercial insane to do fixed price work without quoting in a buffer of at least 10% or so.

[Pondlife]

A quote +/- 10%ish would be good enough for me not to dispute TBH. I'd get them to focus on the quality of the deliverables and the continuing working relationship.

[scooterscot]

Did it?

If you took the proverbial and they've now sussed this, then they have a right to be peeved. If you didn't take the urine then ask why they think this complex piece of work was so trivial.

The argument of "you signed the contract so tough luck" is not going to win repeat business, is it.

They thought 80 hours, I quoted 90. It's a storm in a teacup.

I agree with your premiss.

[Pondlife]

Now yesterday they said, 'we don't feel it would have taken the hours quoted to complete the said task'

Did it?

If you took the proverbial and they've now sussed this, then they have a right to be peeved. If you didn't take the urine then ask why they think this complex piece of work was so trivial.

The argument of "you signed the contract so tough luck" is not going to win repeat business, is it.

[scooterscot]

I'll need to look over it. But I know when I start that the relationship is over.

It's happened once before with a different client, until I pointed out they in fact did send me a purchase order to complete the task then payment was made. But have never received another job from them.

I hate this. But that's why I keep a little black book of 'work for those clients only if you need to'

[cojak]

What does the contract say about commercial disputes?

[borderreiver]

It's a difficult one. Personally I think it's pretty cheeky if they were happy with the price as quoted and also with the product as delivered.

Are they using the "my nephew would have done that for £200" argument? Whenever that happens I say that that's fair enough, but ask whether the said nephew will be providing any bugfixing, support or documentation and whether he would be held commercially liable if the product blows up sometime.

That usually shuts them up.

[scooterscot]

An interesting one. A client ask me to quote for work some months ago. So I did. They accepted and a contract was prepared. The milestone was met they even said thanks and good job.

Now yesterday they said, 'we don't feel it would have taken the hours quoted to complete the said task'

My response has been to say that's a commercial matter.

But seriously, my goodness, how to I maintain the relationship without hurling abuse in their direction. We agreed something, I'm not a charity. Anyone else been in a similar situation?

This is a British company.