payment
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- 23 Responses
- senseg
hi
i did a job for a big agency, everything went smooth, but they wanted me to work nights and weekends.now, they want to pay me in 90 days, which was never agreed
what to do?
- cruddlebub0
kick off! night rate is worth mega to anyone....
- BusterBoy0
did you get anything in writing? If so, tell them to shove their terms up their collectives arses.
- mydo0
i feel your pain. have been through this so many times.
the short answer is, they will fuck you over. it's global policy to fuck over their suppliers. the longer client money stays in their accounts the longer they can invest. and that's a huge part of the business. they probably didn't pay you a deposit either did they?
in my experience it doesn't matter what you agree with the manager that employs you. the department that pay you have their own rules and they'll pay you when they feel like it. better get another job while you wait.
- senseg0
i dont really want to wait, what i can do?
- maikel0
Senseg, give us some more details. Location matters as in terms of law and regulations.
However, if they say 90 days is because you are not likely to see the money before that day -but normally means at least 120 days.
If you are in digital and you have access, you can pull the plug until payment -or even more radical, overlay a massive banner saying that the job hasn't been paid for.
Making their business awkward and/or public embarrassment works great as the harm you can do to their client base is likely more expensive than whatever job you may have done for them.
I'd say that a polite email explaining that you will unplug them if they do not pay as agreed -giving a week's notice- is appropriate to most countries.
Mind you that if you don't have the payment agreement in written, you are not just fucked, you are utterly fucked.
If you work in printed media or you have given all your deliverables already you can either wait or go for the small claims tribunal (or equivalent for non-brit countries).
-Lastly, a piece of advise. If you want to work as a supplier, you will have to get used to this things.
- senseg0
its a big agency in LA, working in entertainment.
- SunSunSun0
Yeah this happens a lot dude.
The best thing is to find out who does the paying and ask them as a favour to please pay you as early as possible. Explain you're a freelancer and really need the money as soon as possible.
If he/she is a bitch they'll just ignore you and enjoy their power trip, go home to their generic accountant apartment, watch shit tv all evening and never give it another thought.
If they are a human being with any soul they will hopefully try and help you out. But from experience, once you've told them your situation there's not much else you can do without a contract.
- There are no souls to be found in account departments.maikel
- Attempting to appeal to human emotions in business is utterly pointless.Continuity
- TheBlueOne0
fuck you, pay me.
- Continuity0
On your invoice or contract, did you include and terms and conditions that indicate that payment is due Net 14 days or Net 30 days from receipt of invoice?
If so – and there are signatures to back it up – get on it, and turn the screws. If, after your indicated due date has passed, send them a statement of payment due. If that doesn't work, start thinking about a collection agency, especially if they signed off on your payment terms. This will remind them that fucking around with their suppliers' payments after they've signed a contract can have unpleasant practical consequences, in the form of negative credit reporting.
- Continuity0
The long and the short of it is: if you indicated your payment T&Cs on a piece of paper that your client put their signature to, that means they agree to those Ts&Cs, regardless of their supposed payment policy. Failure to respect what was signed off constitutes a breach of contract, for which you have the right to pursue remedy.
- huegelbonn0
In France it is totally normal, that the payment target is 90 days.
The government changed the law, to shorten it, but it is still usual.
- maikel0
long story short:
- you can wait and eventually do more work for that agency
- you can threaten with legal action, you will lose a client and you will see your money more or less after 3 months anyway.as somebody else said already, don't even waste energy. Get going because they will pay (eventually).
- formed0
Guessing there is no contract and no terms stipulated, or he/she'd have replied with an answer to everyone's question.
Get 50% up front, 50% on delivery, break it down more for larger projects (30/30/30/10).
You really are at their disposal. Unfortunately, especially in this economy, many companies are on the "pay when paid" model. Meaning that they don't pay anyone until their client pays them.
Sometimes, especially when involving huge companies or the gov't, this can be a long period of time.
Advice - I'd keep being persistent, ask to talk to the accounting personnel and the chekc signer. Often times, in large companies, you'll get the pm or the person you are working with will just forward on the invoice to the accounting dept and forget about it (and the accounting dept. pays on their schedule, as they don't give an ass about you, they just want to keep their books clean).
Good luck. Live and learn. Be polite, patient, professional and you'll get paid.
- senseg0
i think its a common problem for freelancers. you work nights, and wait months to get payed. Companies have no respect to us.
I asked for deposit, they say, they are big company and they dont do that, and i shouldnt have worried about it.
- 23kon0
"they are big company .... and i shouldnt have worried about it."
It's more likely that a big company will screw you over and never give you the cash or end up folding themselves. Giants are falling all the time.
- JSK0
If you are struggling and worried about getting paid 3 months later, you are doing this whole freelance thing wrong.
- He should be worried. 3 months is too long, and he's an individual with limited resources, not an agency with deep pockets.Continuity
- its a big amount, im fine with freelance
senseg - I am talking about cash flow.JSK
- freelance is same as any other business, you need to have cash flow for at least 6 months in bank.JSK
- Continuity0
'I asked for deposit, they say, they are big company and they dont [sic] do that'
Which is utter, utter rubbish on their part. It's a standard thing for freelancers. That should have been your first red flag, right there.
'You really are at their disposal. Unfortunately, especially in this economy, many companies are on the "pay when paid" model. Meaning that they don't pay anyone until their client pays them.'
With all due respect to you, formed, so is this. Your own suppliers as a freelancer – which is to say, your phone company, electricity provider, internet supplier, et cetera – all expect to be paid on the date indicated on their invoices to you, right? So it should sodding well be when we're in the supplier position. If a company can't pay for the work when it is contracted, and can only pay when they get paid, they shouldn't be contracting work out in the first place, and freelancers should be giving them a wide berth.
- Continuity0
My advice: learn this lesson, and starting with your next client/assignment, clearly indicate your payment terms in your contract (Net 14 or Net 30, whichever works for you ... I prefer Net 14), as well as any sort of deposit. Include this in your contract, and repeat it on your invoices.
If a client isn't willing to sign off on good freelance business practise, refuse the work and move on, cos they'll try to screw you.
- JSK0
For any big companies, there are vendor payment process in place. It is very hard to change the process for individual freelancers. It creates more work for them to do 50% up front because on their balance sheet, they need to match it with hours or work performed.
You could do staggered payment which is billing 25% on 1/4 the way and etc.
Also depends on if you were there as a full time freelance, flat rate or hourly etc