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Sun, 10 May 2026

Sun, 10 May 2026 Haggling prices and chasing debts - tradespeople hit with cost of living headache

More than half of tradespeople have seen an increase of late payments compared to a year ago, a survey finds.

* Angela Jeffery, an office manager at West Wales Electrical Solutions, now spends most of her time dealing with debt collection and creating payment plans for customers who are struggling to pay.
* She has had to take two people to small claims court to ensure that the company gets paid.
* Haggling over prices is a common occurrence in the industry, with one tree surgeon saying that he is asked about reducing his fixed prices every day.
* A survey by Direct Line Group found that 53% of tradespeople have seen an increase in late payments compared to last year, and 68% are currently chasing unpaid invoices.
* The average amount written off by tradespeople is £1,646, with some writing off debts of over £5,000.
* Many customers are struggling to pay due to job loss or bereavement, and Angela's company tries to be understanding in such cases.
* Tradespeople are finding it increasingly difficult to get paid on time, partly due to the rising cost of living and increasing prices for goods and services.
* Some companies are introducing new policies, such as payment by the hour, to help customers cope with the increased costs.
* A tree surgeon says that he has never agreed to reduce his prices, but 90% of people accept them after being told politely that they cannot be changed.
* Direct Line's survey found that tradespeople are owed an average of £2,023 in late payments, and many are taking steps to protect themselves by asking for proof of funds or charging late payment fees.
* The UK government has announced new measures to tackle late payments to small businesses from larger firms, amid concerns that over 1,000 small businesses shut down every month due to late payments.