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Original poster

To think that if you get an invoice you dont NEED to pay it immediately?

138 replies

Hundredthmillionthdiet · 16/05/2024 16:26

Context : used a new mechanic to repair car who issues invoices. Its taken 4 weeks to get the invoice and I've said to OH we can pay it when we get paid on Wednesday. OH wants to pay it now out savings , I'd rather not as more often than not the money doesn't get replaced (that's our issue not mechanics')

I'm not disputing paying it - of course not. Just opinions. Usually invoices will say pay withing x number of days which I've asked him to double check. Just wondering what's reasonable, as I'm sure there will be times cars need fixed etc and people to have the money immediately to hand.

OP posts:
1offnamechange · 16/05/2024 16:35

TheCraic · 16/05/2024 16:29

You should always pay invoices immediately, or as quickly as feasibly possible. Why on earth would you keep someone waiting for payment?

Well presumably the mechanic can't be that desperate for payment or they wouldn't choose to use invoices and would require payment there and then - which all mechanics I've ever used have done.

If you want immediate payment you need to use an immediate payment system, i.e charge at point of service rather than delay charging.

Unless invoice says "pay within x days" and Wednesday is after that then payment isn't delayed. Exactly the same as with a credit card -if you receive your statement on the 1st and need to pay the balance by 14th then a payment made on the 13th isn't delayed.

sonjadog · 16/05/2024 16:35

Does it not say when it needs to be paid by on it?

SquigglePigs · 16/05/2024 16:35

Normally we try to pay the same day so we don't forget but it might be the next day if we're busy that evening.

Unless the invoice says "pay within X days of receipt" where X is more than 7, I think waiting a week to pay it is out of order.

If you'd said pay it on Friday when you received it yesterday than that would have been fair enough, but a week is rude unless they've explicitly said it's ok.

PickAChew · 16/05/2024 16:35

You've had a month to set the money aside for it.

titchy · 16/05/2024 16:34

im a freelancer and it sucks how often I have to chase for invoices that are more than 30days past issue

This isn't 30 days though. It's the first day Confused

SpaghettiWithaYeti · 16/05/2024 16:32

Waiting till Wednesday is fine in those circumstances (the mechanic took a while to issue it etc) but generally I just pay them immediately, partly so I don't forget and partly because we had some really lean weeks as young children when people were slow to pay my dad's invoices

Citygirlrurallife · 16/05/2024 16:31

TheCraic · 16/05/2024 16:29

You should always pay invoices immediately, or as quickly as feasibly possible. Why on earth would you keep someone waiting for payment?

This. Though in this case I think a quick note to say Thankyou for the invoice, we will pay it next weds if that’s ok?

im a freelancer and it sucks how often I have to chase for invoices that are more than 30days past issue

K0OLA1D · 16/05/2024 16:30

TheCraic · 16/05/2024 16:29

You should always pay invoices immediately, or as quickly as feasibly possible. Why on earth would you keep someone waiting for payment?

If they were desperate, they'd have sent it before. Not 4 weeks later.

rwa818 · 16/05/2024 16:30

Waiting until Wednesday is fine unless there's a due date on there that's sooner

PickledPurplePickle · 16/05/2024 16:30

I’m amazed you managed to drive your car away without paying

VestPantsandSocks · 16/05/2024 16:30

Wednesday is fine.

TheCraic · 16/05/2024 16:29

You should always pay invoices immediately, or as quickly as feasibly possible. Why on earth would you keep someone waiting for payment?

twentysevendresses · 16/05/2024 16:29

The only reason I pay invoices immediately on receipt is that if I don't use forget 🤦‍♀️

As long as you're not late paying (which you won't be if you've literally only just received it) it's fine!

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