Overdue invoice – advice needed!
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- scribbler
I'm in abit of a quandry and need some advice guys. I've done some work with a company who I know quite well, they've generally been pretty good and paid on time but for the past 3 invoices they've been abit pants at paying.
I've now got an outstanding invoice that is now 10 weeks overdue, I've got abit stroppy on the phone to the lady in accounts, sent numerous emails etc and nothing. Not sure what to do.
I've not threatened anything legal yet and don't really want to go down that path but what other options do I have? Never been in this situation before.
Anyone else been here before? Any words of wisdom greatly appreciated. Cheers.
- vcr0
oh!, hmmm!, well... if you know somebody within the company better you could try and talk to them directly and explain your problem.. see if they can help maybe..
- vcr0
you could take revenge if you do revenge that is..
- jamble0
Don't be afraid to threaten legal action. If your invoice is well overdue and you've made a more than reasonable effort to get your payment, the next step is legal action.
Send them a letter and a printed copy of the invoice stating that it's well beyond the terms agreed (I assume you have a contract with them) in your contract and say that if payment isn't forthcoming in 5 working days from the date of the letter you will be sending no further reminders and will take legal action to recover your money.
- sublocked0
http://www.qbn.com/topics/559630…
It's been discussed before. If you've got access to their web site you can do nasty things like putting up a FUCK YOU PAY ME index page - but I'd reserve that as a last resort.
Read through previous thread. Might help.
Biggest thing going forward is not to do work for said client until your payment is current. Bill in 2 week intervals - OR switch your game up and accept pre-payment for estimated hours you'll work only.
Good luck.
- HomeCreative0
I agree with Jamble.
Do you want to work for them again, if so ride it out for a few more weeks, and keep pestering accounts?
Also depends on how much they owe. if its under 3k and they still dont pay, then take it to small claims court.
Or you could tey and write them a serious and polite letter giving them 7 days to pay the outstanding invoice before you 'pass the debt on for collection'
then use a solicitor to write a letter before action letter. examples of the debt recovery process can be found here.
http://www.thomashiggins.com
- scribbler0
It's my only option really. I guess I don't wanna burn my bridges with them because I've got a fair bit of work from them but to be honest, do I really wanna work for people who don't bluddy pay me.
Thanks guys. Just needed to make sure I wasn't going to over react by threatening legal action. If I don't get a cheque by Saturday morning I'll go borrow that guys mahussive gun :-)
Arseholes!
- HomeCreative0
Know how you feel, I have a near enough 12k invoice which is past 90 days now. I know they will pay, but when is a mystery.
If they ask you to do some more work say no problems, but not until they pay the outstanding invoice.
- scribbler0
It's just rude. They ask you to turn around changes super quick, you do everything they ask and more, bend over backwards. And then they fuck you right up.
Annoying thing is that it's for their company logo and stationery which they've been using for the past 3 months without bluddy paying for it.
I could send a cease and desist letter. Done that before, worked a treat. Got a lawyer at work to draft it for me, if anyone wants the text let me know, is always handy to have.
- sublocked0
PS: There are debt collection services out there.
Some will just chase em down for a fee - some will buy your debts outright for a smaller amount than the debt is worth.
Might be worth looking into.
- sublocked0
If you couldn't tell...this is a topic near and dear to my heart.
If you don't have a system in place to track your invoices and send reminders let me recommend my excellent product :)
- Daithi0
Is their office near yours? Drop into them and ask for it. But with a big friendly smile on your face, and to whoever you know in there. If they say they'll post it to you say you're in no rush, you can wait. This has worked for me a few times, without sullying relationships.
- Me too, I like sitting in reception until they write me a cheque. It's a good approach sometimes.jamble
- WeLoveNoise0
send the big boys round
- Ranger0
This might not apply depending on your circumstance, but if it is a small enough company then start copying in the MD or someone high up into your chasing emails. I've had it in the past where it is accounts taking it upon themselves to try to delay payments where possible. MD steps in and kicks them up the arse and you get payment that afternoon. Also if things are escalating into a legal action situation then the MD can't plead ignorance to the situation.
- I've done this as well. Got immediate reaction and check followed shortly.zenmasterfoo
- alicetheblue0
"FUCK YOU PAY ME" index page suggested by sublocked
has my vote*remembers girls christian school site hacking and rubs hands in anticipated glee
- linearch0
pester them til you get an answer.....then go change your contract to state that any unpaid invoices after 30 days will be subject to a 10% fee, after 60 days, a 20% fee and after 90 days, a 30%......will help you get peoples attention in the future....
- thebottlerocket0
this site is excellent:
http://www.payontime.co.uk/You are within your rights to charge interest on the debt, in fact, this site has a handy interest calculator.
Legal action, really is a last resort, and having been in this situation a few times, if you want to go down that route, i would start planning now.
Make sure you document your attempts to gain payment (record phone calls and emails sent). Also, try if possible to enquire why they are not paying, and get an answer from them about if there is any dispute over the work. Usually they just say "no the work was fine, and the cheques in the mail", which it isn't. But what that means is you have established that the invoice isn't disputed and that the work you delivered was satisfactory.
The first step is usually a letter from a legal firm and their own letterhead. There are a few law firms onlines that do that for a couple of quid each letter. That usually does the trick anyway and gives them a kick up the backside.
- orangecrunch0
You said stroppy. Hahaha you don't deserve to get paid.
- al_la0
that's the part I really don't miss from being freelance...
