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Posted By Mike Luke McHale
I am currently doing some basic health & safety training for various types of companies as a side line. The money is ok and i can do it at my convenience.
The problem arises when you do the training and send them an invoice and you dont hear from them for weeks. I normally allow 4 weeks, but i have got unpaid work dating back to Nov 04.
I have made countless phonecalls and each time get fobbed off with its in the post etc etc etc.
Is there antthing i can do. Can i add late payment charges on? Is ther a legal procedure for unpaid invoices. And does anyone know how much it costs to start legal proceedings.
Your help and advice would be gratefully apprecited. Cheers
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Posted By Martyn Hendrie
You may allow 4 weeks for payment but some clients look for 90 days credit.
All you can do is be persistant, send regular statements of account showing the overdue payment.
I usually find it productive to remain polite with the "clerk" on the other end of the phone as they probably get enough grief already, politness may get your cheque brought to the top of the list.
Also, if the client is local and they say the cheque has been sent, ask them to cancel it and raise another which you will collect.
If you have no joy you may have to resort to arrange for a solictors letter threatening legal action.
A small business with clients who are prompt payers is a dream poor payers are a nightmare.
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Posted By Tom Clark
I used to ask for 50% up front for consultancy and training work and the remainder on completion. Mind you I was competitive on price, gave value and the client was usually looking for someone to dig them out the sh!!, especially after a visit from the EHO or HSE and possibly the issue of an improvement notice.
If your giving a service, be it an audit, risk assessments, reports or training don't issue any conformation or certs until payment is received.
Good Luck
Tom
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Posted By Tom Clark
Just to add:
I have also gone down the small claims court route once before. You can add additional costs of for time, expenses etc. Usually the threat may be enough - they would probably pay to save the company embarrassment.
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Posted By Mike Luke McHale
Thanks very much for your advice gents. I will try some of your ideas and hopefully will have less bad debtors. Failing that i'll resort to good old fasioned good hiding. Only joking!!
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Posted By David Raymond
A suggestions for you...
Have you thought about working through one of the industry recruitment consultancies? This has the benefit that you are paid with a week or so of invoice, and then it is up to the consultancy to chase for the monies from the clients. Maybe look at associate vacancies where a consultant is needed for only a few days a week, and this could fit in with the rest of your client base.
Hope this helps??
David
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Posted By Richard Altoft
say you are sorry they have cash flow problems and ask if an official reciever has been appointed yet. If there has it is too late, if not say that you will be seeking a winding up order in 7 days time against the company. Send a registered letter to the MD, not the FD and then ask if anyone has made the other suppliers to the company aware of their failing credit rating yet. Incidentally also forget about working for them again.
Small claims court is a good option. Are you a member of Federation of Small Businesses they can often help
Hope it works out OK. My worst payer is my best friend. After about 6 weeks my wife tells his wife and he sends me a cheque.Same routine every two months or so.
R
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Posted By Pete Stewart There is a good webiste covering this type of problem, see http://www.payontime.co....ollect/collect_main.htmlThey have some draft T&C's that yopu can build into your own, as well as some draft letter formats that are realy useful. Hope it helps. Pete
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