Waleed Tariq Academy homeNEC4 Payment and Defined Cost Masterclass · Who pays whom, and when
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NEC4 Payment and Defined Cost Masterclass · Lesson 3 of 3

Who pays whom, and when

8 screensAbout 6 minutes

Why it matters

Leila's late application held up GBP 592,185 on 29 June, so who acts when?

Meet them first.

PMDana Whitfield

Project Manager. Assesses and certifies.

ContractorMerrow Vale Civils

Leila Moss, its commercial manager, applies.

ClientAldermere Water

Pays each certified sum.

SupervisorTom Barrow

His Defects Certificate ends the cycle.

Source: ECC 44.3, 50.1, 50.2, 51.1, 51.2.

The rule

Every payment deadline counts from the assessment date

Learn it once. It repeats every four weeks.

  1. Applicationbefore the date50.2
  2. Assessment dateday 050.1
  3. Certificatewithin 1 week51.1
  4. Paymentwithin 3 weeks51.2
  5. Next date4 weeks on50.1

“Each certified payment is made within three weeks of the assessment date” (51.2)

Source: ECC 50.1, 50.2, 51.1, 51.2. Aldermere Contract Data.

The rule

Assessment dates start early and stop at the Defects Certificate

Then one every , to a fixed end.

  1. First datePicked by the Project Manager.
    Clause 50.1
  2. Last dateBefore the .
    Clause 50.1
  3. Within four weeks of it.
    Clause 53.1

“is not later than the assessment interval after the starting date” (50.1)

Source: ECC 50.1, 53.1.

See it on the project

On Aldermere the 19 October 2026 cycle runs to the day

Real dates from the job. Pick an event to see each step. Every gap counts from the Monday.

The 19 October 2026 payment cycleApplication 16 October, assessment 19 October, certificate 23 October, payment 9 November, next assessment 16 November.OctoberNovemberMerrowValeProjectManagerAldermereWater1 week3 weeks1 Application2 Last day3 Assessment4 Certificate5 Paid6 Next date
  1. 116 OctApplicationMerrow Vale Friday 16 October. Leila posts the application on the portal.
  2. 218 OctLast dayMerrow Vale Sunday 18 October is the last day an application counts.
  3. 319 OctAssessmentProject Manager Monday 19 October is the assessment date.
  4. 423 OctCertificateProject Manager Friday 23 October. Dana issues Certificate No. 10, inside the week.
  5. 59 NovPaidAldermere Water Monday 9 November. Aldermere Water pays on the last day allowed.
  6. 616 NovNext dateProject Manager Monday 16 November, four weeks on, is the next assessment date.
116 OctMerrow Vale

…

Source: ECC 50.2, 51.1, 51.2. Aldermere Contract Data.

See it on the project

Dana notifies the first date on 12 January 2026

Send it on its own.

What to writeFirst assessment date

To: [Leila Moss], Merrow Vale

From: [Dana Whitfield], [12 January 2026]

1. First assessment date: [Monday 9 February 2026] (50.1).

2. Then every [four weeks]. Apply before each (50.2).

3. Calendar attached.

Source: ECC 13.7, 50.1, 50.2.

Try it

Sort each payment task by the person who does it on Aldermere

Pick who does each one. The feedback names the clause.

Task 1 of 7

…

Source: ECC 44.3, 50.1, 50.2, 51.1, 51.2, 53.1.

Quick check · Try it

Two questions on what you have just covered

Count from the assessment date each time. Use a calendar if it helps.

Quick checkPick an answer to see if you are right and why
1The assessment date is Monday 27 July 2026. By when must Aldermere Water pay?
Monday 17 August 2026
Monday 3 August 2026
Monday 24 August 2026
2Leila's application for Monday 16 November 2026 is ready on the Sunday. Can it wait for Monday morning?
No, it goes in on Sunday 15 November
Yes, the assessment date itself still counts
Yes, Dana has until 23 November to certify

2 questions to answer

Source: ECC 50.2, 51.1, 51.2.

Recap

Diary every payment date on day one of the job

Four habits. The Payment Calendar tab lists every date.

On Monday at work

  • Count every deadline from the assessment date.
  • Apply by the day before each assessment date.
  • Diary the certificate at one week, payment at three.
  • Stop the dates at the Defects Certificate.

In the Toolkit: NEC4 Application for Payment (ECC and ECS, Options A to F) (Excel) Members

Next: the module check

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Independent course material. It is not published or endorsed by NEC. Clause references are to the NEC4 Engineering and Construction Contract, June 2017 with amendments January 2023. The project and the people are invented. Short quotes from NEC4 (© NEC 2017) and the FIDIC Red Book (© FIDIC 2017) are used for review and comment. Read the full clauses in your own copy of the contract.

Source: ECC 50.1, 50.2, 51.1, 51.2, 53.1.

Go deeper (optional)

The rest of the cast you will meet in this course

Come back to this table whenever a name is new to you.

Where the money meets them
Dana WhitfieldProject Manager, Aldermere WaterAssesses and certifies each payment (50.1, 51.1)
Owen PryceAldermere Water's quantity surveyorInspects records for Dana from 28 September 2026 (52.4)
Tom BarrowSupervisorIssues the Defects Certificate on 26 May 2028 (44.3)
Leila MossMerrow Vale's commercial managerPrepares each application (50.2). On Site on Tuesdays and Thursdays
Raj PatelPlanner, full time on SiteAll his cost counts, as he is based on Site
Martin ColeEstimator at the Kelworth officeOnly his days on Site count
Cobalt Pumps and Tarnbeck PilingSubcontractorsThe pumps and controls, and the piling (item 41)
Northway Plant HireHire firm outside Merrow Vale's groupEquipment hire (item 21)
Kestrel StaffingAgencyOperatives paid by the hour (item 14)

Source: ECC 44.3, 50.1, 50.2, 51.1, 52.4. Schedule of Cost Components.