Bald Sparrow wrote:Have you ever paid in advance for car servicing?
It is usual to pay when you pick up the car.
If the maintainer has your aircraft in his hangar and you have been prompt settling you bills in the past, payment in advance can only help the maintainers cashflow.
If they suddenly need help with their cashflow, then they might be in financial trouble. I would even challenge someone asking for a deposit to overhaul an engine.
As The Pipster says, ask them why.
Everyone takes a risk when handing an aircraft over to a maintainer because the maintainer could cease trading with the aircraft in bits in the hangar. It does happen.
If anyone needs someone to help them negotiate with a maintainer, I am happy to help. Just PM me.
Unless you own a Bentley or a McLaren, the servicing costs of a car are typically a fraction of that of your average CofA, and takes a fraction of the time.
Rebuilding even something like an O-200 can demolish £20k, so I don't think it would be unreasonable for a rebuilder to ask for part payment.
Personally, in both cases, I'd probably ask for an invoice for all the parts to be used once they'd sourced them, and pay that. If the engineer goes pop the following week, at least you can walk in and claim "your" materials at the same time you claim your aeroplane/engine.
The quickest way to fall out with people is, discuss politics.