Invoice Payment...
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- Jimbo82
Here's the deal, I completed a job for a client waaaaayyyyy back in May, sent my invoice to them beginning of June when everything had been printed. They were chuffed with everything, had a lot of good reviews. Now it's mid (ish) October and I still haven't been paid.
I've been chasing this for months now, and been very friendly and understanding (they are a start up company). I've been given excuse after excuse about why I'm not getting paid, ranging from bank errors to the financial crisis. I've been given specific dates I should expect payment by, and they've come and gone. I even got a cheque that bounced. All the time I've been cool.
So on Friday I rang up and decided that enough was enough and that I was going to tell them how disappointed I was with the whole situation and how I felt they were messing me around. She kept trying to talk over me with excuses so I carried on with my point over her. It ended with her saying that she was going to pay me out of her personal savings, but it would take 30 days as her bank is abroad. Like she was doing me a favour paying out of her personal account, she owns the f*cking company I did the work for. So now I've got another 30 day deadline and if it doesn't get met, I'm taking her to court, I don't want to but I'm going to have to.
Plus, I spoke to someone who works for her this morning and she's going around telling people how rude I was and that I'm out of order expecting her to pay it out of her own pocket and not the company. I did a very professional job for her, when she wanted something done, I did it right away, I put hours and hours into the work, I think I'm entitled to get a little narked for not getting paid for nearly six months.
Urgh, I had a bad feeling about this all along. Sorry, rant over, sometimes you've just got to get it off your chesticles. Anyone else had any similar sh*t?
- Jimbo820
Sorry, just realised how much I wrote. I'm angry, that's why.
- mimeartist_com0
30 days sounds like a delaying tactic to me
- Jimbo820
I know, she's been delaying and delaying. I'm too nice, that's my problem, she's been taking advantage.
I got her to write it all down in an email for me so if it comes to court, that will be handy
- OhYeah0
Yes, I have... Clients want this and that and when it comes to pay they don't want to know. I get very pissed when people or clients try to fuck me off like that. I kept my part of the deal now keep yours!
I know what you are going through, so try this:
1) Talk directly to the CEO or top dog there, admin girls know jack shit about payments.
2) Call them one last time and say you want your payment or else tell them to see you in court.
3) While they are waiting for their court call, send them a Turkish Birthdaycake (http://www.urbandictionary.com... to let them know how you feel!Good luck man and don't give in!
- sublocked0
this topic seems to come up at least once a week. do some searching, many ideas on this very topic on qbn.
- SkyPoo0
I agree with Mime... if she's paying you from her personal savings it doesn't matter where her bank is, it wouldn't take more than five working days.
I would cut directly to a more formal kind of discussion with her. It sounds like the conversation has already got heated so from now stick to written communication only.
It might be worth emailing her to say that you have been made aware that she has been complaining elsewhere about having to pay you personally (so that she knows that her conversations go full circle back to you and that she should watch what she says), remind her that it was her idea to pay you personally, remind her calmly that you have been waiting for payment since xx.xx.xx and it is now xx weeks/months late... remind her that you acted professionally and in a timely fashion to meet both her expectations and her deadlines... advise her that you have emails on file that confirm they approved the work and appreciated the work, and advise her that you simply ask her for the same professional courtesy as you showed her back in April/May in return.
I would email her and ask that she only communicates in writing from now on. If she calls you, make notes of what is said and then send her an email "Just to confirm the points that we discussed just now in the phone call".
If it goes legal, notes made (timed and dated) will help you.
- Jimbo820
SkyPoo, that's awesome advice. Third paragraph is gold, I'm going to do all of that.
I'm going to do a little research into offshore payments, see if she's talking bull, which I suspect she is.
- Laurent0
Oh dear...reminds me something.....Took pics for a music festival in Feb 2008. I was promised a cheque on the 18.03.08....June nothing...they told me to produce an invoice...I did....it took another 3 months to receive the damn cheque...excuses over transferring fonds, issues with banks...I had it all...but went to see the guy in charge....had 2 minutes talk.
one month later nothing THEN emailed him saying that the cheque hasnt arrived as I understood that this situation was going to be sorted pretty rapidly.
Email reply the following day with apologies and cheque in the post.
It is always hard not to lose your temper with such tossers...they got your work and your money...so be very diplomatic....at the end of the day they have to pay you.....Financial problems at their end isnt an excuse.
- Oh yeah. Been there. Bank errors, checks lost in the mail, or an assistant that never mailed it. Lies, all lies...AngArtist
- Terminal270
If she really is struggling to get the money to pay you, give her some options. I know you are really missing the money now, but suggest that she breaks up the payments to make it easier. Maybe 2 or 3 payments spread out.
If you think about it from her side.... she has a small start up company, and if shes feeling the pinch, she will be prepared to fuck over anyone that risks her losing the company. You need to work with her to get the money.
If you bring in the law, it''ll take even longer and you still might not get it.
- Laurent0
thats right terminal27....dont involve the court as yet....however, she knew the price to pay for the job....so, negotiate why not...but dont be too gentle as her money is your money...and if she cant manage her budget she shouldnt have started a business in the first place.
- sleepyfatso0
I did that break up payment before, client was like, "Ok great idea!" Then after the first cheque, the excuse he used for ages was, "well I gave you that first cheque, gimme a break." So I might be wary of breaking up the payment option.
- Jimbo820
I'm not keen on breaking the payment up, it's not a massive amount to the amounts they pay their staff on a monthly basis.
I've been very diplomatic the whole way through, and I should definately remain that way. Thing that bugs me is that she paid for a magazine spread which used the logo and the holding page design as a template. I know they will have got paid.
I should charge interest FFS
- your entitled to charge interest and fees (esp if you go the SCC route)maximillion_
- Have you got any kind of customer order form?FallowDeer
- trooperbill0
i do 50% on order and 50% on hand over - i dont give credit, if someone has a problem with that i dont work for them!
change your work ethic and things will work out well.
i dont care when their cheque runs are, what thair standard paymenr terms are... if they really want something the financial dept will produce an ad-hoc cheque without any issue...
- Laurent0
so they already used your work....well, e-mail her. Be polite but firm.
you did a job and you are desperate for the money to invest on your side in new equipment or else (advertising, bill to pay..etc)...she should understand if she is in the business.....but again she has to pay, and try to get a definite payment date...
- Jimbo820
Well I've got a definite payment date, 9th of November. But that's only as definite as the last payment dates that came and went.
Not a bad idea, the 50 50 thing, would be easier for them too, I'll do that with the next unknown client.
Anyone gone small claims before? I imagine it's a ball ache.
- maximillion_0
small claims is pretty easy - most will pay after the first solicitors letter or before you even get there
- babaganush0
No excuses. Her gas bill won't wait that long to be paid why should you. Personally you should maybe ask for a catch up. I'd also tell her you'd caught wind about how 'unreasonable' you had been and lay it back at her that she really is 'unprofessional' in her payment structure and 'unprofessional' in disclosing this matter publically. Either way not a good client for the long term. Always amazes me that these people can live with themselves and think they\re doing nothing wrong.
- Jimbo820
Exactly, why am I bottom of the list to be paid when I was there at the beginning, put in the late hours and delivered the product on time with great responses from third parties. It's because I'm one guy, who doesn't wear a suit and was nice and friendly through the process with a 'no problem' attitude. She's taking advantage. Time to start planning for when payment deadline comes and goes.
Plus, all through the months that have passed, not once has she rung to to try and sort anything, it's been me doing everything. Bang out of order.
I'm mad.
- You're at the bottom of the list because you're a soft touch.jamble
- johnnnnyh0
Small claims is a pain - but not too difficlut to initiate. Google the courts service.
I would advise the following:
Put everything in writing write up to the latest agreement, with all the dates etc. so it is all very clear. State that should you not recieve payment on that date you WILL take the neccessary measures to recover the dept. This is more vague but in some ways a little more threatening. You can sell your debt to debt recovery agencies and (I kid you not) they will not allow your client to default on the payment to them. The situation for her will become difficult on a number of levels - it's never good having someone come into your premises and demand money - not good for her or her staff. She's no longer dealing with you but with a company which reocovers debt as a business.
I am not saying you should sell your debt - but the threat of doing that is possibly something which she will wish to avoid.
I would not worry about the "complaining about you" - don't resort to name calling - just leave it and move on. It isn't important. What is important is that you get paid.
If it were me I would go down the small claims route not debt recovery - but do not let her know what you plan to do.