AIBU to ask for payment now?

[Hoople]

I look after people's dogs when they go away. Only now and again and I have a few regulars who always come back to me because they have total peace of mind that their dog will be treated like one of the family. I only have one dog at any one time

One of my regulars has just left their dog with me for over a fortnight at a total cost of £224. He picked him up on Saturday evening at 7pm and said he'd 'try and send payment through in the morning.' It's now 36 hours past Sunday morning and he hasn't paid

Now I wouldn't usually be too worried about this but this regular has form for taking a while to pay and I usually have to send an awkward reminder text. Sometimes two or three. This isn't an issue when the money owed is 30 odd quid but this has been a long chunk of time that I had his dog and the money owed is over £200.

Do I leave it longer? How long? It's been 48 hours since he collected his dog. Or do I send a text now?

God I find this stuff so awkward. All my other regulars pay immediately or within an hour or two. It's only pressing a few buttons to make a transfer isn't it?

WWYD?

[WhatsGoingOnEh]

You don't have to cut this customer off completely. But in future, get him to lay upfront, in advance.

Do you have contracts, etc, with these people?

[Ellieboolou27]

Your right not to have his dog again. How rude and flippant of him, im angry in your behalf.

[coriliavijvaad]

I agree don't lie. And "fasterpayment" transfers come through in a matter of minutes so there is no reason for you to have to wait.

I think you should send a text saying "did you sort that transfer last night as promised? I'm afraid that if the funds are not in my account today I will not be able to provide care for (lovelydog) again in future as this administrative hassle is not worth my while."

[intergalacticbrexitdisco]

I bet he'd not mess another man around like this. Arrogant and cheeky.

[Hoople]

What's going on - initially yes. Contracts. But like I've said previously, this really is just me doing this for a few old regulars. My other business is what I concentrate on but because I love dogs, I've kept on the smallest handful of regulars. We only have a dog every few months now which works perfectly

If there was a next time, I'd dig out a proper contract for him. My payment terms are within 24 hours of collection but tbh I have never had to stress this with anyone else because surprise surprise , the rest collect, we chat pleasantly and they leave saying ' I'll pay when I'm home.' And they always do

I'll leave going back to him until early this evening and then I'll respond to his text from yesterday with a 'thank you. Did you manage to make the payment?' in order to try and jog his mind

He's not single, to answer a question. He's 50, professional job, married with older kids. Five bedroom house with hot tubs in the garden, a beautiful home - I say this to highlight the fact he is not in any way struggling to pay which might be worthy of consideration

I think he does it because it's just not a priority for him, he couldn't care less

[makeourfuture]

I think he does it because it's just not a priority for him, he couldn't care less

Well it is often common business practice to stall payment. Walmart in the US now makes suppliers wait six months for payment.

Again, if you are going to run a loose practice, this will come with the territory.

Posting an invoice/form email with "Overdue - Pending Action" just takes the personal bit out.

[balsamicbarbara]

Asking for money upfront may be awkward but it's a very short term type of awkward where they can take it or leave it. Chasing for payment is a longer term awkward where often the customer will end up disliking you even if it's entirely their fault.

[RB68]

You have to be brave - if they value your service so much they would pay as soon as possible so as not to jeopordise future stays.

Simple text. Can you confirm payment has gone through - thanks. Then after 48 hrs you have no reponse you then send something more formal indicating that the monies are due and theey have x days to receipt them to you before further actions will be taken

[RedRose2003]

I wouldn't say 'thank you. Did you manage to make the payment?' as you know he didn't. Youy need to be clear, and remember that this is not a first request for payment. A simple statement such as "payment is now overdue and must be made immediately, by cash, cheque or bank transfer." (whatever works for you). "Failure to pay the amount owed will result in action to recover the debt."

[InspMorse]

If you have to text again tonight -
'Hi X, payment hasn't got through to me from last night, I'm trying to get my books in order, please could you check your account to make sure everything has gone though your end? Thanks!'

[InspMorse]

In other words 'You said you'd pay last night, you haven't, you're pissing me off now'.

[RedRose2003]

I'd be more direct than Morse. You know he hasn't paid you. No point asking him to check if he has.

[Hoople]

Ok I won't say 'did you manage to make payment?' - I'm being too nice here

It's tricky though. I don't want to threaten anything as he may stall even further. I'll send something cobbled together from your fab suggestions.

I know stalking payment is a common thing in business - in my 'proper' job I have invoices which I'm waiting on being paid from June BUT thats the nature of that business and the processes. This is different as I've done the work and it's so easy for anyone theses days to pick up their phone and tap a few buttons. Or their laptop.

[RedRose2003]

You're not threatening, you're asking for what you are owed. Making the point that further action may follow is not threatening either, it is informing your client of what will happen if he chooses not to pay his debt. He needs to be clear that there is a sum owing and that if he chooses not to pay, you will follow it up. If he pays, then he avoids this.

[MagicMoneyTree]

How about "Payment still not received. I'm trying to get my books in order, please ensure you make the payment today to avoid further action."

[daydreamnation]

Many years ago I was a childminder. I worked for two families, one a single parent, literally living hand to mouth some weeks but paid me on time every week for years. The other family, wealthy and guess what? I was constantly having to send awkward texts like yours, often for such trivial amounts of money. I hated it and sadly I'm not surprised it's not related to the mans financial situation. I hope you are paid soon, what a lovely service you provide

[QuimReaper]

The problem here as far as I can see is that OP had an expectation of being paid immediately / quickly but at no point in the transaction stated that. OP you wanted and hoped to be paid within 24 hours/immediately/whatever but you didn't say as much. This is a business transaction, not a mate who owes you money, and all of this could have been avoided if you'd stated your terms clearly.

You don't have to "change your terms for other customers", you have experience with them. You say you don't have a website or anything so they never need to know. You've now found that not stating your terms can lead to difficulty, so from now on with this customer, and for any new ones you may acquire (although you say you don't plan to acquire any more) you just need to state your terms clearly. Payment upfront, half upfront and half within 24hrs of collection, whatever - just make sure you say it. There's no need at all to deprive yourself of this customer's business: if next time you state your terms clearly and he defaults, then maybe you should drop him.

[QuimReaper]

Sorry, that should say "You don't have to "change your terms for other customers", you have experience with them and know they'll meet your expectations without you having to state them"

[QuimReaper]

daydream the telling sentence there is "on time" - I assume that means you actually had a stated timeline for when you expected payments?

Like I said upthread, lots of businesses / contractors etc. expect payment within, say, a week or 30 days. Obviously that's much bigger businesses than OP, but if this guy deals with that scenario all the time, I expect he isn't accustomed to making these payments within a day or two of getting the bill. We have no reason to suspect he wouldn't, though, if the OP actually told him to.

[Ceto]

Why wait till this evening? He said he would do it last night, he hasn't done it. This could go on for ever if you show him that you are prepared to allow him to drag it out.

[Maelstrop]

He's a massive piss taker and would rather make you beg. Well weird. My kennels (not so much a business but a licenced person with land) insists on cash on pick up. I think that's perfect. Maybe tell him that for next time. It's disgraceful the he's making you chase. You shouldn't have to waste time chasing this idiot.

[daydreamnation]

Yes quim my contract stated that I was to be paid at the end of every week. As I said my other family did this week in, week out and seemingly had no problem reading and complying with a contract!

[QuimReaper]

That's what I was getting at day - OP's customer ins't breaching any kind of contract, he's just failing to meet OP's secret, unarticulated expectations and therefore being branded arrogant, rude, flippant, an arse, "a cheeky fucker", "a piss-taker", etc.

You have to TELL PEOPLE your expectations if you want them met, especially if they could be considered comparatively unusual, i.e. expecting invoices to be paid within 24 hours.

Making the point that further action may follow is not threatening either, it is informing your client of what will happen if he chooses not to pay his debt.

Are you people seriously advising the OP to threaten legal action because he hasn't paid an invoice within three working days of receiving it?

OP did you even issue an actual invoice?

[QuimReaper]

You wouldn't expect to go on holiday and pay later so why should it be any different with your pets ?

Because the OP has never, with any of her customers, asked for or expected upfront payment? She's even said the other customers pay on or soon after collection.

All you people comparing this to a trip to Tesco, a holiday etc., have you really never done business where you receive an invoice for services rendered, along with payment terms? Or even heard of such a thing? Not every transaction in life is settled by upfront payment.

[QuimReaper]

My kennels (not so much a business but a licenced person with land) insists on cash on pick up.

BUT THE OP INSISTED ON NO SUCH THING. She just secretly hoped he would and then got upset and wound up when he didn't.