All I could suggest is you try to get them to sign something. If there are a few items that are missing, get them to sign a sheet that identified what the issues are, that you will fix the, by x date, and that is when the remainder of payment is due.
Tell them that because there are issues with the product, you have to open a new work order which means filling out a new sheet with their concerns and that they will pay the remainder when the agreed upon issues are solved.
Items need to be clearly definable. There can be no wishy washy language. It need to be crystal clear to everyone that this is what you will do, and after that is complete, the remainder of payment is required immediately.
I have issues with clients coming in and requesting changes on the fly. We write them down and account for them and then when it comes time to pay the bill, they balk and say that they didn't actually want any of that stuff.
We have designed a form that the client is to sign off on when they make the request and it has been useful in minimizing off the cuff changes by people that aren't authorized to, but also legitimize the changes being made by the client because they are signing and agreeing to the work.
Slightly different than your situation, but the same principal could be applied.
|