Payment & Money
22 guides in this section
Getting Paid for Extras: Variations That Don't Get Argued
Done extra work but they won't pay? How to get paid for variations you've already completed on a UK construction job.
Read this firstPayment Notices & Legal Tools
Retentions, Deductions & VAT
They're Deducting Money From My Invoice: Set-Off and Abatement Explained
Set-off and abatement in construction payments. What they can legally deduct and when a pay less notice is required.
Reverse Charge VAT: Who Pays It and When
VAT reverse charge for construction explained simply. When it applies, how to invoice, and common mistakes to avoid.
CIS Deductions Wrong: How to Check and Get Your Money Back
Your CIS deductions don't look right. Here's how to check, what to do if your contractor got it wrong, and how to claim back overpaid tax.
They're Holding My Retention: What Can I Actually Do?
Retention in UK construction: how much they can hold, how long for, and what to do when they will not release it.
When Things Go Really Wrong
Valuation Disagreements: When They Say Your Work Isn't Worth That
Challenging a valuation on a UK construction job. Your rights when the main contractor trims your payment figures.
Final Account Disputes: How to Protect Your Money
Final account disputes in UK construction. How to protect your position on variations, retentions and contra-charges.
Essential Reading
Payment Notices Explained: The Construction Act in Plain English
How statutory payment notices work in UK construction. Use them right and you can force payment even when the other side disagrees.
Not Been Paid: Your Rights and What to Do Next
Main contractor not paid you? Learn your rights under the Construction Act and the steps to force payment on a UK building job.
Adjudication: How to Get Paid in 28 Days
Adjudication explained in plain English. How to get a binding payment decision in 28 days under the Construction Act.
Late Payment Interest: How Much You Can Legally Charge
The Late Payment Act lets you charge 8% interest plus fixed fees on overdue invoices. Here is how to use it in construction.
Best card machine for a UK construction business (2026): the providers compared
An even-handed 2026 comparison of card payment providers for UK trades. The right choice depends on your job size, and the biggest savings are not where most advice looks.
Letter Before Action: Free Template and Step-by-Step Guide
How to chase a debt as a sole trader in construction. Late payment interest, fixed fees and the court process explained.
Writing Off Bad Debt: When to Walk Away
Chasing unpaid invoices as a limited company. Your rights to statutory interest, fixed charges and the court route.
Can I Stop Work If I Haven't Been Paid?
Your legal right to interim payments on construction jobs. The Construction Act says you get paid as you go, not at the end.
Which cards should your business accept? Visa, Mastercard and American Express explained
A fair, sourced 2026 guide to how Visa, Mastercard and American Express differ for UK merchants, what each really costs, and where Amex's closed loop changes the risk.
How Long Does My Employer Have to Give Me My Final Pay?
Here's the honest answer: there's no law that says they must pay you within a specific number of days. But that doesn't mean they can drag it out forever.
Should you take a deposit before you start a job?
Yes on domestic, usually no on commercial. The deposit rules that bite: the 14-day cancellation trap, the VAT tax point, and how much you can keep.
Your Contractor Just Went Bust: What to Do Now
Main contractor in administration or liquidation? What to do about unpaid invoices, trapped retention and CIS deductions.
Sub-Subcontractor Payment Chains: Who Actually Owes You?
Subbed to a sub? Your payment rights, pay-when-paid rules, what happens when the main or sub goes bust, and how to protect yourself in the chain.