As a commercial supplier, I don't suppose I'll get much sympathy or advice here, but I know for a fact that my company is not alone in what follows. (I just have a bigger mouth than most!)
I am getting sick to death dealing with students who order equipment, which is to be supplied and invoiced direct to themselves. The end result is all too often a sad case of us virtually having to take legal action in order to get paid, whilst the LEA, University or whatever take the high and mighty attitude, that us getting paid is not their problem.
Surely when a grant of £4,000 odd is floating about, whoever is signing that cheque has a responsibility for ensuring it is used correctly and for the purpose it was intended?
In a recent case, we supplied almost £3,000 worth of equipment to a student. They could not pay us, until they had submitted our invoice to their University, and the University had in turn paid the student. And no, the University said they could not make a direct payment to us - it had to be via the student.
That was almost 2 months ago - and we're still waiting to be paid.
Just try pulling that stunt on PC World!!
The system has to change - universally!
George Bell
Techno-Vision Systems Ltd
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