Paying for professional services

Nicnac

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Pay all professionals (farrier/osteo/dentist/pro rider/instructors) on the day cash or BACS apart from vet who invoices me monthly (independent equine vet) but I always pay him promptly even if it's an insurance claim and then I claim off insurance. Horses at home so no livery - feed/bedding/hay I pay in advance and have delivered within a couple of days.

If I were using one of the big corporate vet practices I would probably wait until the deadline to pay.
 

milliepops

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Personally, I now always wait to be invoiced - which they do monthly.

I only wait to be invoiced so I can check the itemised bill as have issues in the past of paying on the day but then not receiving an itemised bill. It later transpired that I had been over charged but it was a PITA to get the money refunded.

I could pay on the day (which I do for really simple things like vaccinations where I know the cost so easy to spot if wrong) for a 5% discount but prefer to check the costs.
yeah I've definitely had occasional issues over the years with shared visits being billed incorrectly, zone days not being billed properly etc, it's not massive sums in the grand expensive scheme of horse ownership but worth checking out :)
 
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bouncing_ball

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See, I don't understand why people would wait to pay vet bills. And I don't say that as someone with oodles of money at my disposal!
You wouldn't expect to take your car to the garage, drive it away and pay anything up to a month later.
Car bills can be as unexpected and as big as vet bills, so why are vet bills different?!
Ok, for big unexpected bills it's nice to have some breathing space, but surely part of having a horse is knowing this is pretty much inevitable, and therefore being prepared (either via insurance and up front conversations with your vet about whether direct insurance payments are acceptable, or savings or credit card as applicable) and taking responsibility is the important thing here?

I pay farrier / physio / trainers cash on day.

Saddler invoices me a week or so later with terms to pay immediately (which I do).

My vet’s terms are payment due 30 days after receipt of invoice. I pay within terms. To be fair if it’s under a few hundred I pay immediately.

My vets can invoice 1-6 weeks after treatment. Terms are then 30 days after receipt of invoice.

If vet changed terms I’d follow new terms. I’m always surprised at the invoicing delay.

My vets can invoice 1-6 weeks after treatment. Terms are then 30 days after receipt of invoice.

My garage terms are payment immediately which I follow.

It is up to any business to set it’s payment terms (and if necessary enforce them).
 

ycbm

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I pay as soon as I am asked to pay.

Farrier was cash or cheque on the day. Vet is on the day for zone visit, invoiced later for anything else. Haylage pay on order. One arena is on booking, the other two are on the day of use.
 
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chaps89

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Personally, I now always wait to be invoiced - which they do monthly.

I only wait to be invoiced so I can check the itemised bill as have issues in the past of paying on the day but then not receiving an itemised bill. It later transpired that I had been over charged but it was a PITA to get the money refunded.

I could pay on the day (which I do for really simple things like vaccinations where I know the cost so easy to spot if wrong) for a 5% discount but prefer to check the costs.

To be fair, I pay for any add one's to my livery package in arrears. I think that's the term I mean - I pay for the services at the end of the month after I've used them, basically.

Absolutely understand not paying until you've seen a bill, especially if it's something complex or a shared visit etc. I was sort of presuming when people say they take time to pay that was from the point of getting the bill really.
That said mine invoice on the day or not long thereafter - I'm a bit stunned by the vets that one poster mentions who can take weeks to bill :eek:

Things like physio, farrier etc where it's a set price, I pay on the day even if I know they'll send an invoice at a later date.

I wonder why it's so different between small animal and equine? (Ive never known a small animal vet not invoice on the day and not to have to pay before leaving the practice?)
Do farm animal vets work more like equine too?
 

Kitty B

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I usually pay everyone in cash on the day, or by bank transfer if preferred, like my livery fees. Currently paying off a large vet bill weekly as per an arrangement with them, but do prefer to be up to date with things once I have the invoice.
 

Goldenstar

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I get a monthly invoice from the vet and pay it when the monthly bills are paid online usually about a week later .
Farrier on the day cash or chq .
Feed merchant bills monthly paid online with other monthly bills .
Physio day before online .
Saddler invoices afterwards I pay on line .
Forage when they tell how much I owe them thrice a year ish .
 

HappyHollyDays

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Our stable cats are at the same vets as the cattle and horses are and any treatment is billed monthly. I don’t know if it is a usual arrangement but when the owners are away and I’m looking after the place and either the dogs or cats have needed treatment I’ve just put it on their account.
 

laura_nash

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Our main vets bill at the end of the month and give a discount if you pay promptly over the phone, which was a nice surprise the first time. For some things (e.g. the cattle's TB tests) they will also give the option of cash on the day at a bigger discount. The small animal vets is payment after the appt or on collection. Everything else (dentist etc) is cash on the day.

Hay / silage off our neighbour is a bit different as sometimes he's taken hay off our fields and we get some as part payment, but if its straightforward purchase I usually try and pay on the day (though did once forget and not pay him for 1 extra big bale for 7 months, oops). When I've bought in hay from elsewhere I've always paid cash on delivery.
 

bouncing_ball

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Absolutely understand not paying until you've seen a bill, especially if it's something complex or a shared visit etc. I was sort of presuming when people say they take time to pay that was from the point of getting the bill really.
That said mine invoice on the day or not long thereafter - I'm a bit stunned by the vets that one poster mentions who can take weeks to bill :eek:

my record with same vets was waiting 5 months for an invoice about 4 years ago! I did chase it! Sadly it did eventually arrive.

Once about 15 years ago I had a farrier put on some very expensive remedial shoes. He left saying he’d invoice me. I chase and chased! Even phoned his wife. Think I gave up in the end.
 

Carrottom

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Years ago I had a vet call out when my horse when down on his knees on the road. Vet was certain injury was superficial and a bit grumpy about the call out. Slapped some cream on and handed me the rest of the tube. This vet partnership were never the most efficient with their paperwork so when the bill didn't arrive I forgot all about it. 2 years later I received a reminder. I couldn't believe that I wouldn't have paid the original bill so queried it. It turned out they had sent the invoice to another client and had been sending them reminders for 2 years.
 

Teaboy

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Farrier = on the day
Vets that I use for routine vacs etc won’t even come now unless you pay upfront (even if you have an emergency). Realise this seems to be the norm now but it’s certainly different to how it used to be. I can only presume they have had a lot of bad payers hence they have changed their system.
Specialist vets I pay once I receive invoice, usually 1-3 weeks after treatment.
Dentist - on the day but that’s generally my choice so that I don’t forget!
 

iknowmyvalue

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Livery is a standing order
Farrier - livery owner pays him and I pay her when she tells me the amount (I’d happily pay him direct, but that’s just the way we’ve always done it!)
Physio/dentist/lessons- bacs on the day/day after
Vets - I am their vet (though work for small independent practice) so this is a bit more random. And is basically when I remember, the discount has been added and reception isn’t swamped...
 

Sussexbythesea

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I pay everything I can by BACS or for the vet over the phone by credit card when they’ve billed me. Now the vets invoice me by email I sometimes miss them, I’m quite forgetful so I may take a few days to week to pay but not more than that. I don’t have a banking app on my current phone as it’s very old and useless so often by the time I’m home I’ve often forgotten. I don’t particularly see the need to pay on the day as long as you don’t leave it for weeks. Most of my service providers I’ve had for years, my farrier for 16 yrs so they seem to be ok with it. Even the hay man lets me pay by BACS and he doesn’t let everyone do that.

I dislike paying by cash as I think it’s too easy for people not to declare their earnings and pay tax.

I don’t often pay my garage on the day either and they’ve never held it against me. I have also rarely been expected to pay for household services such as builders, plumbers or anyone else on the day. I usually wait to receive the invoice.

Livery is by direct debit.
 

blitznbobs

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Farrier on the day bacs
vet when I get the bill debit card on phone
hay and bedding merchant when he remembers to send the bill which is a very variable feast...
groom ... weekly cash or bacs depending on whether I have cash in the house or not.
 

ownedbyaconnie

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I pay as soon as I am asked to pay.
This essentially. Farrier, saddler, physio, instructor, livery is BACS. Hay is cash. Vets invoice once a month and I pay as soon as I receive it.

Small animal vets send me a link after I pick them up and again I pay soon as I get it.
 

Marnie

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My livery is in with my cottage rent so that is standing order monthly and hay and bedding is included in that. My feed bill varies - if I pick it up then I pay, if someone else picks it up it goes on my account along with anything else such as fuel for the fire as it is 'sells everything' kind of place. The vet invoices after the first visit which is pay there and then and I usually pay the day it arrives or very close to. I have a freelancer who comes and rides Fizz a couple of times a week and she tends to invoice me weekly and I pay straight away - I've seen from friends what it is like to be self-employed and waiting for money. My one bugbear is my farrier who is great but invoices me and is very slow - I am currently waiting for 2 visits and have a third booked. I keep chasing him as I would much rather pay at the time as it builds up really quickly.
 

ShowJumperBeckii

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Pay most as soon as I receive the invoice, some of the smaller things such as pyshio/farrier may have to wait a few days as I get paid weekly!
Vets used to be within the 15 days of invoice as they request but now have the pay on the day discount so always pay on the day now to get full advantage of that! Can make a difference specially when my recent bills have been in the four figures!
 

suestowford

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I pay the farrier when he's here, so on the day of the visit. The vet will invoice for call-outs, that's usually at the end of each month. Pet visits I pay on the day. I'll pay any call-out bills asap also. I'm not sure if they would do a payment plan but if the bill is likely to be high they will usually give me an estimate before they begin so that I can organise the money to pay them straight away. We used to get a prompt payment discount but that's gone by the wayside now.
 

ihatework

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If I’m dealing with it:

Farrier - cash on the day
Training - cash or BACS on the day
Saddler/Dentist/Physio - depends on their set up/preference, usually BACS when the report and invoice get emailed - Paid within 24h
Vets - paid within a week, irrespective of insurance. Invoiced monthly.

I also have horse on competition livery so things like farrier/comps/physio/supplements just get added to my bill. Paid BACS within 24h of invoice.
 

throwawayaccount

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physio/saddler/farrier - on day via apple pay/bank transfer.

dentist was in cash, along with a tip as he did an excellent job.

vets - I wait as soon as i'm invoiced, as i've been invoiced in the past for someone else's bills so not in a rush to pay unless its definitely printed correctly. fortunately the bulk is covered by my insurance anyway so its only usual small things i have to pay which is affordable, ie stabling costs, vaccs etc

ETA: livery services are invoiced every 2 weeks which i tend to pay on the same day via bank transfer. rent hay etc is paid on the 27th of each month via bank transfer.
 
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wiglet

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Livery - standing order
Farrier - cheque on the day
Dentist - BACs Transfer on the day
Vet - Their terms are 30 days after receipt of the invoice BUT, if you pay with card within 7 days of treatment, you get 10% discount so I usually do that.
Physio - BACs on the day
 

SatansLittleHelper

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Vets fees depend on the cost but generally within a month.
Insurance monthly.
Field rent and hay on the 1st of each month.
Physio/farrier/dentist/saddle fitter all paid in cash on the day.
Feed/supplements paid as and when needed.
 

Wishfilly

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Livery I get a monthly invoice for and pay on the day. I would set up a standing order, but I buy bedding from the yard and I'm billed per bale so it varies month to month.

Farrier etc gets paid on the day, usually via mobile banking.

Feed/hay I buy from a merchants so pay as I buy it.

Vets, there is a yard account and it gets added to my bill. I don't actually love this, but this is how the vets prefer it is paid!
 

Bellaboo18

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Livery-standing order once a month.

Farrier, physio, hay supplier etc.... cash on the day.

Vet I pay when I get the invoice. I just want to get it out of the way and would hate to be known as a bad payer; I rely on these professionals.

I can understand in an emergency speaking to a vet and asking if a payment plan is available BUT I get the impression from some users it's just assumed it's ok and thats how they pay. Like I said on the other thread one poster was surprised the vet wouldnt come out to them as they were in debt to them...honestly, if I wasn't sure if I'd get paid for going in to work tomorrow, I wouldnt be going.
 
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bouncing_ball

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Livery-standing order once a month.

Farrier, physio, hay supplier etc.... cash on the day.

Vet I pay when I get the invoice. I just want to get it out of the way and would hate to be known as a bad payer; I rely on these professionals.

I can understand in an emergency speaking to a vet and asking if a payment plan is available BUT I get the impression from some users it's just assumed it's ok and thats how they pay. Like I said on the other thread one poster was surprised the vet wouldnt come out to them as they were in debt to them...honestly, if I wasn't sure if I'd get paid for going in to work tomorrow, I wouldnt be going.
Think it depends if an invoice arrives with payment terms within 30 days written on it then those are the offered terms. Some (not from my vet) invoices say pay immediately or in 7 days, those are the terms on those invoices.

Everyone should follow the terms of payment set out by provider.
 

Bertolie

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Livery is monthly standing order.

Farrier/saddler/etc is cash on day.

Horses teeth are done by vet under sedation and covered by a monthly health plan paid by standing order and includes vaccinations.

I have an account with vets for all other bills and pay a set amount by standing order each month as my mare has regular medications. I never receive an invoice and sometimes I have an outstanding balance, other times I am in credit. Even if I have an oustanding balance vet will still attend and just add it to the account.
 

SpotsandBays

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Farrier, dentist, physio etc - pay on the day either in cash or by bacs. Vet bills I wait for the invoice to drop into my inbox and pay it on that day. (There’s a small discount if you pay it the day you get it usually for my practice).
 

Toby_Zaphod

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I have a farrier out to shoe one of my horses & I pay him as soon as it's done. If a physio comes out and treats a horse I pay on completion. If I have a vet out I pay when an invoice arrives at my door. One specialist vet I use I pay immediately he has done the treatment because he offers 10% of for immediate payment so it is in my interest to do that. I pay for feed & hay when it's delivered, cash or BACS. If I go to a shop to buy something I pay immediately & that is expected, I cannot understand why some people seem to think that paying for equine treatment, feed, hay etc over a extended period of time is acceptable. It is not up to the vet, feed merchant, hay producer etc to subidise our hobbies.
 
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