Protections against Due Upon Receipt?

[Subjection1]

There was a contract. It (apparently) was not a written contract but it was a contract nonetheless.

Then it must have been a secret one since it was never revealed to me, either verbally or in writing.

 

[Subjection1]

“Due upon receipt” means exactly what it says. If you receive an invoice that says the payment is due upon receipt of the invoice, you are expected to submit your payment at that time. Seven days is generally given after receipt of the invoice to allow for mailing time.

7 days? That sounds reasonable. Thanks!

 

[Zigner]

Then it must have been a secret one since it was never revealed to me, either verbally or in writing.

You asked him to do X. He agreed to do X for a cost of Y. You agreed to that, so he did the work.

That's a contract.

 

[Subjection1]

OP, how long do YOU think you should be given to pay before you are assessed a late fee?

Same as most other companies. Energy bills give about 3 weeks. Credit cards give a month. So I figure a plumber would expected to give a certain amount of time as well.

 

[Subjection1]

You asked him to do X. He agreed to do X for a cost of Y. You agreed to that, so he did the work.

That's a contract.

Yes, to do the work. But there was no contract that said anything about what I agreed to as far as when the payment was due.

 

[quincy]

Then it must have been a secret one since it was never revealed to me, either verbally or in writing.

A contract is, at its most basic, an agreement between two or more people which creates an obligation to do or not do something.

Unless the plumber randomly showed up at your residence and repaired/replaced your water heater without your knowledge or consent, there was no “secret” agreement/contract and nothing surprising about the agreement/contract.

You called the plumber to repair/replace the water heater and the plumber repaired/replaced the water heater. In exchange, you pay the plumber for the work he did on the water heater.

A simple contract.

 

[Just Blue]

Yes, to do the work. But there was no contract that said anything about what I agreed to as far as when the payment was due.

When was the work done? When was/will the payment given to the worker?

 

[cbg]

You want to know what protection you have against late fees? I'll tell you.

When you get the invoice, pick up your checkbook or get on your favorite device, write a check or send the electronic payment, whichever is appropriate. Do not pass go and do not collect $200. The bill will be paid, it will be off your mind, and there won't be any need to apply a late fee.

 

[Subjection1]

A contract is, at its most basic, an agreement between two or more people which creates an obligation to do or not do something.

Unless the plumber randomly showed up at your residence and repaired/replaced your water heater without your knowledge or consent, there was no “secret” agreement/contract and nothing surprising about the agreement/contract.

You called the plumber to repair/replace the water heater and the plumber repaired/replaced the water heater. In exchange, you pay the plumber for the work he did on the water heater.

A simple contract.

Understood. I was just asking about how much time is allowed to pay the bill when it's due upon receipt.

 

[Taxing Matters]

I asked because I simply wanted to know in case it took a few days to get the payment to them and they decided to take advantage of those few days to start filing late fees against me.

What makes you think late fees are at all an option? Was that part or your agreement or not?

 

[Subjection1]

When was the work done? When was/will the payment given to the worker?

The work was done on the 10th, I got the bill in the mail on the 19th, and I mailed out the payment today, the 22nd. With Christmas being close and causing delays in mail delivery, I don't know when the plumbing company will get it. It could be a few days, and hopefully by Thursday, or it wouldn't get there until next Monday.

 

[Zigner]

Yes, to do the work. But there was no contract that said anything about what I agreed to as far as when the payment was due.

In that case, it would be correct (and reasonable) for him to expect to be paid upon completion. The fact that he's given you a few days just shows that he's a nice guy.

Drop a check in the mail and be done with it.

 

[Subjection1]

What makes you think late fees are at all an option? Was that part or your agreement or not?

On the invoice, it said 12% per year late fee. But starting when?

 

[Zigner]

The work was done on the 10th, I got the bill in the mail on the 19th, and I mailed out the payment today, the 22nd. With Christmas being close and causing delays in mail delivery, I don't know when the plumbing company will get it. It could be a few days, and hopefully by Thursday, or it wouldn't get there until next Monday.

You're not going to be hit with "late fees". Go forth and worry no more.

 

[cbg]

If you are looking for a law that expressly says, "Late fees may not be applied until x days after the invoice is sent out", I very much doubt that there is one.