To think that if you've recieved a service then you pay for it?

[MrsWinnibago]

Just as if you'd recieved goods? I am SO sick of not getting paid on time!

I've got a regular client who is generally great...very speedy with payments and in general a good guy.

But every now and then he goes to ground for days after I've invoiced him and leaves me high and dry and it MAKES ME MAD.

If I went out, got a fucking burger, ate it...said how fantastic it was and thanked the guy who served me....and then just ducked, so the he couldn't see me...would that make it ok? NOPE!

I feel like if I hassle him, I'll piss him off and I rely on his (usually) good custom. :( I need my money ffs.

I had someone do this.

Kept playing the "I'll pay you later" game for watching her kids, then when I called it quits, said she wasn't paying me because I stopped watching her kids because..she wasn't paying me. I have half a mind to drag her to court...

I've noticed with contracts I do though for my freelance business, the most common thing people do is drag their feet and procrastinate wrapping it up. Sort of frustrating, they like it, but they drag their feet through the mud until their payday.

This client is usually...like 98% of the time a consummate pro...he'd never not pay me. He WILL pay but it's when he's ready. Which can be days or literally a moment after I invoice. So I have NO security and I'm working for him a lot at the moment.

I feel like asking him to put me on a retainer.

What on earth do you do??

That sucks. Can you not maybe get a deposit of about 50% up front, if he's unreliable? There's nothing worse than fulfilling your part of the contract when the other side seemingly can't be arsed to fulfill theirs with any speed.

Can you put something on your invoices along the lines of "pay within X time otherwise Y% interest per Z amount of time will be applied"? To help focus his mind

It really depends on what you do.

I was just about to say about a deposit - I make them pay 50% and then I invoice for the rest at the end. I am also chasing money at the minute... I know I will get it, just not sure when. Grr!

I put it in my contracts that payment is due when invoice is received otherwise they get a ridiculous (50%) late fee. It helps weed out flaky clients, if they protest, I tell them to just pay on time.

Have never had to use it and it wouldn't hold up in court anyway

Depends on your service Mrs. But I know what you mean. Am self-employed also.

You do need a certain amount of flexibility. But you also need terms. This could be as simple as 14 days (mine). Then you send the "just checking you got my invoice" email. Sometimes I say my wi-fi has been playing up (has it fuck) and maybe it didn't go through? You send this after a week or so. Depends on the customer. You balance cash vs future business.

To be fair, it does also help if you have a DP who says,"ffs, you're not a charity get onto them!"

So, to answer your question, it's not a case of "hassling", just a gentle reminder - not too soon or too late - that you want your fucking money.

Heh - someone who works with me will occasionally just send me a link to Family Guy's Stewie beating up Brian. But he does know me very well.

Do You not have a deadline for paying invoices?
If they are so professional I'm sure they wouldn't mind if you chase. Could you add a clause where they pay interest if after the deadline?

We get loads of these. Some people expect you to start a new piece of work, without having been paid for the last, and then tell you their sob story about how they can't pay you, because their clients are so slow in paying.

Oh, really? How difficult for you!