How Tradies Avoid from Late Payments and Bad Clients

Late payments are a real pain for tradies. Picture a carpenter finishing a deck—$500 job, solid work. Weeks later, he’s still out of pocket. Or a plumber who sinks $2,000 into a fit-out, only to watch the client vanish. It’s not rare. 

Cash dries up, rent’s due, and they’re stuck ringing around for their own money. Small construction businesses—like the 98% of Australia’s building sector that’s under 20 workers—feel this worst. Data says late payments cost tradies billions yearly, with some waiting months (Disputes Register). It’s a grind, and it’s personal.

Clients muddle things up too. An electrician gets a call—job’s on, then off, then on again, no clear word. A tiler lays slabs, and the homeowner starts barking orders like he’s the boss. Yelling on site, ghosted texts, broken promises—it’s a mess. Research shows reminders can claw back cash 8 days faster, but that’s after the damage. Tradies aren’t banks. They need to pay on time, not a fight.

Options to Get Money Back

When payments don’t show, tradies can try a few things. Small claims court works for debts under $100,000 and costs $95 to start (NSW Courts), but it takes a while. Mediation is another way, $195 through the government (ASBFE), though you might get less than you’re owed. 

Debt collectors take 30% of the money and might mess up future work. Contracts with rules—like ones from Sprintlaw)—can set deposits or late fees, but some clients still skip out. These help, but they’re slow.

Finding Out Before Trouble Starts

Imagine a tiler lining up a big job. The client looks okay—until the work’s finished and the pay doesn’t come. Later, he learns two other tradies had the same problem with that person. If he’d known, he’d have said no. 

Research says deposits and good invoices lower delays (Business.gov.au)—that’s true. But figuring out if a client’s bad before starting is smarter. Tradies know stuff. Telling each other saves a lot.

Melbourne has tons of work—big buildings in the city, house fixes in the suburbs. But getting paid isn’t always easy. Some big companies wait 60 days to send money, leaving small tradies stuck. Apps can track late payments after, but that’s not enough. Melbourne’s got its own way—fast jobs, picky clients—and tradies need something that fits here.

Feed4Ward: A Tool for Tradies

Feed4Ward is one answer. It’s a platform from Melbourne where tradies share what they’ve seen about clients. You sign up quickly, no big steps. Write what happened—late payer in St Kilda, rude one in Fitzroy. 

Check the reviews to make sure they’re real. It’s just for tradies, not out for everyone, so you can pick jobs that pay on time. A tiler checks it, skips a bad job in Richmond, and takes one that works out. Use it with contracts or reminders, and it’s solid. 

Feed4Ward helps tradies know who to trust. Share what you’ve learned, look at the feedback, and keep things steady