Contractor payment assessments
Check a contractor’s application against progress, the contract and previous payments before deciding what to pay.
What is it?
We assess the evidence from your position as the paying client and separate supported value from queries that need resolution. An assessment of one contractor payment request for one contract and valuation period. We agree the evidence cut-off and extent of any site verification before starting.
Site measurement, formal certification, serving notices and pursuing a disputed balance require separate express instructions.
How does it work?
You explain the work and the decision you need
You describe your project, contractor and appointed advisers, the result you need and any urgent dates. The introductory conversation checks fit and availability; substantive assessment starts under an accepted instruction.
We agree the scope, responsibilities and fee
We check suitability, conflicts and capacity, then agree the scope, deliverables and timetable in writing, with a fixed fee or agreed hourly or daily basis. We explain payment terms, VAT and any separate costs before you accept. We agree one valuation period, the evidence cut-off, site verification if included, payment dates and who prepares, approves and serves each required document. We confirm responsibility for urgent actions and specialist input.
You accept the scope and provide the information
You accept the written scope and provide the operative contract, valuation date, priced scope, progress evidence, changes, previous applications, notices and payments, and the contractor’s current payment request. You identify missing items and the versions supplied; we agree who will obtain anything still needed.
We check the records and resolve gaps
We check the documents against the agreed scope, dates and versions, raise queries and record the basis on which work can proceed. Missing evidence stays identified; we agree any limited assessment or pause affected work until essential information is available. Live deadlines continue to run.
We check the payment procedure and evidence
We identify the applicable valuation rules, due dates, notice requirements and authorised roles from the actual agreement and applicable regime. We distinguish valuation advice from certification or notice service, which needs an express appointment.
We assess the payment request
We compare the contractor’s request with the priced scope and verified progress evidence. We assess changes, materials and adjustments under the contract, identifying unsupported items and queries.
We reconcile and check the amount
We reconcile previous valuations and actual payments separately, apply retention and other supported adjustments, and check arithmetic and double counting. We show the gross valuation, deductions and resulting balance with supporting references.
You authorise the payment decision
You or the authorised administrator consider the assessment and unresolved queries. The responsible person completes any required certificate or notice and payment by the applicable deadlines; our assessment alone does not replace those actions.
We explain the result and complete the handover
We issue the checked contractor payment assessment and action schedule, explain the findings and record unresolved items, next actions, owners and dates. We answer the included clarification and correct our errors. New information, changed scope and later stages need a separate agreement; you decide whether to instruct them.
We confirm timing after checking the scope and available records. Flag any live deadline when you enquire; it continues to run while information is gathered.
What do you get?
You receive the outputs for the stages you choose. Each stage has its own scope, fee and endpoint; later stages are optional.
- An itemised assessment of the contractor’s payment request and reconciliation with previous payments.
- An evidence and query schedule explaining proposed adjustments, assumptions and actions before payment.
Each fixed piece of work includes one consolidated clarification round requested within 10 working days of issue, unless agreed otherwise. New records or scope need a separate agreement; we correct our own errors without charge.