Question:
B"H
Kavod haRav,
Thank you sincerely for your help, it is genuinely appreciated.
Regarding paying someone the same day-
IYH I would like to have some mezuzahs checked and the company that does it is about an hour away. For the purposes of the question, I would like to pay them either by cash or check. Am I obligated to pay them on the day they call that the work is completed, or since the time when the work is scheduled to be completed is unknown at the time of "hiring," may I pay them when the goods are picked up?
If I am obligated to pay them before sunset on the day they call, may I estimate what the payment is before they begin the job and intentionally overpay them, and simply collect the extra when I come to pick up the items, or would that go into ribbis territory?
Thanks again.
Answer:
Hello,
When a craftsman or worker does a job for us, the obligation to pay him “on time” is when the item is picked up, not when the worker calls us to pick it up. Therefore, your obligation is not until later, however on the day it is picked up you should give him the cash or the check.
Best wishes
Sources:
שולחן ערוך חושן משפט סימן שלט סעיף ו, "נתן טליתו לאומן לתקנה בקבלנות, וגמרה, כל זמן שהטלית ביד האומן אינו עובר", וע' בסמ"ע שם ס"ק י, "דאז אין פעולת שכיר מוטל על בעל הבית לעבור עליו, שהרי תופס משלו כנגדו".
