Freelancer late payment

[LoTheFlatHillsOfMyHomeland]

I'm a writer and I wrote an article for a national uk organisation 2 months ago. After they accepted it for publication, they said I would be paid within 30 days (as is standard practice). It has now been 40 days, the woman who was supposed to pay me is on holiday and they won't deal with me for another 15 days!! What can I do?!

Ok thanks all.

I'm a journalist and I guess I naively assumed that the big papers/social media websites would be quick payers? I was pleasantly surprised recently when a newspaper I wrote for paid me promptly. Just really shocked to hear that so many do this!!!

I work regularly with one large company and have to chase them for payment every. single. time. I swear they just wait for me to chase before paying.

The bigger the organisation the shittier they are on payment
get used to it
I've got money I've been waiting 7 months for
it will come, but I have to be patient

When I was freelance I would add 10% to the fees I charged so I could offer a 10% discount to people who paid before 30 days and a 10% surcharge for late payment which would double after 5 days, 10 days etc. So £220 at 30 days, £200 at 29 days £242 at 35 days. Suggested by a freelance MN on here and it worked!

I do freelance too. Allow me to tell you how much I love and bend over backwards and prioritize the clients that actually pay on time.

I have a few jobs that I never got paid for that just weren't worth the initial court fees to fight over, though I do have a clause in my contracts that if it goes to court, the fees are tacked onto the bill. I'm a bit more careful with my clients these days, as my time is more limited with a child at home with me. As others have said, it's not often freelance gets paid on time. Sometimes you just have to hang tight for a bit.

In my experience large companies have paid me on time, because they have it more automated. I send the invoice and they send the check.

It's the individual clients that have me pulling my hair out at times.

Oh yeah, my two 14 day paying clients get the top service and - more importantly - pick of my availability, no doubt about that.