Every tradie has a story about a client that turned a simple job into a nightmare. Maybe the payment never came through, or the client kept adding tasks without adjusting pay. Sometimes, your crew ends up stressed or even mistreated. These experiences cost time, money, and sometimes a lot of frustration.
Here are some real situations tradespeople face and lessons you can take from them.
The Late-Payment Client
One tradie finished a kitchen renovation and sent the invoice. Weeks passed. Calls went unanswered. The excuses piled up: “I’m waiting on payment from my builder,” “The work isn’t quite what I imagined,” “I’ll sort it out next week.”
This is all too common. Even honest clients can delay, but repeated excuses are a red flag.
The key takeaway: always check client payment history and request a deposit before starting work.
The Scope Creep Nightmare
Another tradie was contracted to install fencing. The client kept adding tasks—extra gates, trellises, and landscaping tweaks—without offering additional payment. Excuses included: “I thought it was included in the original quote” or “I’ll pay once my builder/subbie pays me.”
The result? Extended hours, stretched staff, and profits disappearing.
Lesson learned: clarify scope and fees upfront, and document any changes in writing.
The Client Who Disrespected Your Team
On a large renovation, a client repeatedly belittled the crew, saying things like: “I just wanted them to move faster” or “I didn’t realise I was being strict, they’ll get paid later.”
Low morale and safety risks quickly followed.
The lesson: pay attention to red flags in behavior, and check for any reviews from other tradies who have worked with them.
How to avoid these problems
Checking and reviewing a client's reputation before accepting a job is often overlooked by tradies. Yet this step is crucial and sometimes requires asking fellow tradies whether they've handled the client before. To address this need, the Feed4ward app was created as a solution. With this app, you can view reviews of potential clients before deciding to take on the job.
Not only can you view client reviews, but you can also contribute by sharing your own experiences on the platform. These reviews are visible to fellow tradies, making this app truly built by tradies, for tradies. Learning from others’ experiences—and taking preventive steps—lets you focus on the work that pays.
Protect Your Earnings and Time
Unpaid invoices and problem clients cost tradies real money and stress. Learning from others’ experiences—and taking preventive steps—lets you focus on the work that pays.
Check client history before accepting a job. Download Feed4Ward today to see honest reviews from other tradespeople, avoid dodgy clients, and make sure you get paid for the work you do.