{"id":63975,"date":"2024-07-30T11:54:42","date_gmt":"2024-07-30T09:54:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cecile-zakine.fr\/?page_id=63975"},"modified":"2024-10-11T02:39:14","modified_gmt":"2024-10-11T00:39:14","slug":"5-conseils-si-votre-client-refuse-de-vous-payer-dans-le-btp","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.cecile-zakine.fr\/en\/5-conseils-si-votre-client-refuse-de-vous-payer-dans-le-btp\/","title":{"rendered":"Poor workmanship and non-payment in the building industry: 5 tips for managing"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Unpaid bills in the construction industry: How to get out of it when your client shouts \u201cPoor workmanship!\u201d?<\/h1>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u00a0\u00bb4.27.0″ _module_preset=\u00a0\u00bbdefault\u00a0\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00a0\u00bb{}\u00a0\u00bb]<\/p>\n

I am a company that worked on a construction site led by a project management company. The client, the project owner, refuses to pay some of the invoices that were validated by the project manager, citing non-conformities and poor workmanship.<\/p>\n

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1. Let's check if these "faults" really exist<\/h2>\n

Before you stress out, make sure your client isn't telling lies. Here's how to do it:<\/p>\n

Take a critical look around the construction site<\/h3>\n

Call a bailiff to make an official report<\/a>
If necessary, bring in a building expert for an impartial opinion.
A quick legal reminder: according to article 1792 of the Civil Code, you are liable for 10 years for major problems that would make the building unusable or dangerous. But be careful, this does not mean that the client can accuse you of anything!
If there really is a problem, we roll up our sleeves
Okay, let's say you did indeed let a mistake slide. Don't panic, it happens to the best of us! Here's what to do:<\/p>\n

Suggest a plan to repair the damage<\/h3>\n

Write down everything you do (it may be useful later)
Expect the contractor to put some pressure on you to do the repairs.<\/p>\n

2. If the customer is still playing the smart one, play the \u201cformal notice\u201d card<\/h2>\n

You fixed everything but the customer still refuses to pay<\/a> ? It's time to bring out the big guns:
Send a formal notice letter<\/a> see model below
Remind him how much he owes and by when<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=\u00a0\u00bb1_2″ _builder_version=\u00a0\u00bb4.27.0″ _module_preset=\u00a0\u00bbdefault\u00a0\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00a0\u00bb{}\u00a0\u00bb][et_pb_image src=\u00a0\u00bbhttps:\/\/www.cecile-zakine.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/2-eed9d270-d956-4808-9de5-54b77d59af5f-jpg-456×656.webp\u00a0\u00bb alt=\u00a0\u00bbdefaut de paiement client\u00a0\u00bb title_text=\u00a0\u00bbt de paiement client\u00a0\u00bb _builder_version=\u00a0\u00bb4.27.0″ _module_preset=\u00a0\u00bbdefault\u00a0\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00a0\u00bb{}\u00a0\u00bb][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_button button_url=\u00a0\u00bbhttps:\/\/calendly.com\/maitre-zakine\u00a0\u00bb button_text=\u00a0\u00bb1ere Consultation avec Me Zakine : 30Minutes 45\u20ac\u00a0\u00bb button_alignment=\u00a0\u00bbcenter\u00a0\u00bb _builder_version=\u00a0\u00bb4.27.0″ _module_preset=\u00a0\u00bb_initial\u00a0\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00a0\u00bb{}\u00a0\u00bb button_text_color__hover_enabled=\u00a0\u00bbon|desktop\u00a0\u00bb][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=\u00a0\u00bb1_3,2_3″ _builder_version=\u00a0\u00bb4.27.0″ _module_preset=\u00a0\u00bbdefault\u00a0\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00a0\u00bb{}\u00a0\u00bb][et_pb_column type=\u00a0\u00bb1_3″ _builder_version=\u00a0\u00bb4.27.0″ _module_preset=\u00a0\u00bbdefault\u00a0\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00a0\u00bb{}\u00a0\u00bb][et_pb_image src=\u00a0\u00bbhttps:\/\/www.cecile-zakine.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/3-a4878a56-a04a-4c55-bf1c-720a4dd1df51-jpg-512×512.webp\u00a0\u00bb alt=\u00a0\u00bbavocat justice defaut d paiement\u00a0\u00bb title_text=\u00a0\u00bbavocat justice defaut d paiement\u00a0\u00bb _builder_version=\u00a0\u00bb4.27.0″ _module_preset=\u00a0\u00bbdefault\u00a0\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00a0\u00bb{}\u00a0\u00bb][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=\u00a0\u00bb2_3″ _builder_version=\u00a0\u00bb4.27.0″ _module_preset=\u00a0\u00bbdefault\u00a0\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00a0\u00bb{}\u00a0\u00bb][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u00a0\u00bb4.27.0″ _module_preset=\u00a0\u00bbdefault\u00a0\u00bb global_colors_info=\u00a0\u00bb{}\u00a0\u00bb]<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

3. As a last resort: justice (but let's hope it doesn't come to that)<\/h2>\n

If your customer remains stubborn as a mule, you will have to move on to the next step:<\/p>\n

Ask the court for an injunction to pay (this is similar to an official payment order) or a condonation from the project owner<\/h3>\n

To do this, he will be required to have a legal expert appointed by the interim relief judge, who will come to confirm that the work has been carried out in accordance with the rules of the art.<\/p>\n

In the event that the final expert report is favorable to the company, the latter may have the person convicted owner to pay him the amounts due<\/a> either by the interim relief judge or by the trial judge if the sum is greater than 10,000 euros and damages are requested.<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Bring in a forensic expert to review your work<\/h3>\n

If the expert says everything is OK, the judge can force your client to pay
Some tips to avoid problems in the future
To avoid reliving this nightmare, here are some tips:
Make well-detailed contracts (article 1103 of the Civil Code: a contract is the law between you and the client)
Take pictures and write down everything that happens on the construction site
Talk to your client regularly (communication is key!)
Make sure you are well insured (ten-year insurance is mandatory and can save your life)<\/p>\n

4. Let\u2019s talk about payment terms<\/h2>\n

Please note that legally:
For private construction sites, the customer has a maximum of 60 days to pay after the invoice
For public works, it is 30 days
What if the customer drags his feet to pay?
Good news: you can claim interest on late payment and even a small compensation of 40 euros for the inconvenience. That's the law!<\/p>\n

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Managing unpaid bills in the construction industry is a bit like building a house: it takes patience, know-how and the right tools. Remember that you have rights, and don't hesitate to assert them. But before you get to that point, always try to talk to your client. Sometimes, a good dialogue is better than a long trial!<\/p>\n

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Impay\u00e9s dans le BTP : Comment s’en sortir quand votre client crie \u00ab\u00a0Malfa\u00e7on !\u00a0\u00bb ?Je suis une entreprise qui est intervenue sur un chantier conduit par une entreprise de ma\u00eetre d\u2019\u0153uvre. Le client, ma\u00eetre d\u2019ouvrage, refuse de payer certaines des factures pourtant valid\u00e9es par le ma\u00eetre d\u2019\u0153uvre en pr\u00e9textant des non-conformit\u00e9s et des malfa\u00e7ons.1.V\u00e9rifions si […]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":123,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-63975","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cecile-zakine.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/63975","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cecile-zakine.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cecile-zakine.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cecile-zakine.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/123"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cecile-zakine.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=63975"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.cecile-zakine.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/63975\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cecile-zakine.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=63975"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}