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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To stop allowing my clients to pay via bank transfer?

129 replies

BusinessMama · 03/05/2018 20:43

I am a single mum and self-employed cleaner and have been allowing some of my customers to pay via bank transfer. This is fine for some clients as they pay straight away, but others don't.

I frequently find myself texting my clients to remind them to pay and some don't pay for days! I rely on this income to pay my bills and it is really raising my anxiety when I have to wait 3, 4 sometimes even 5 days because someone 'forgot' to transfer the money.

Would I be unreasonable to introduce a blanket ban on all bank transfers? I am considering sending a text message at the start of the May half term (most of my clients are off for the week, as am I), to tell them that I will no longer be accepting bank transfers, cash only.

I do feel bad for the ones that do consistently pay on-time via bank transfer. The issue is many of my clients are friends with one another, so I couldn't say to an unreliable one 'cash only' and let their friend continue with bank transfer IYSWIM.

OP posts:
budinbloom · 03/05/2018 21:22

I don't have a cleaner but I have a gardener once a fortnight. He prefers to email me his invoice and I pay by bank transfer. I do notice that his payment terms on the invoice is payment within 7 days although I normally within 2 days ( He comes on a Wed & I do finance admin on Fri).

onlyjustme · 03/05/2018 21:22

I find the admin easier with a bank statement! (Well, download of on-line transactions). It's nice to have SOME cash but all cash would be a pain as then it has to get banked...
It's also for your own safety, security and transparency.
If it becomes known that you only accept cash then it will become known that you always have cash on you and you may become a potential target.
Similarly for your clients, if you have regular work and expect cash, someone could easily work out where you and therefore the cash is likely to be.
And... get cash out on a Sunday night... impossible where I live!!!

StealthPolarBear · 03/05/2018 21:22

Presumably your clients won't always be there to do card payments.
Cash is a slight pain but you do get into a routine. I've never forgotten to leave payment once and if I did I'd be mortified

CocoPuffsInGodMode · 03/05/2018 21:24

I'm just concerned that some may take it the wrong way, or as a dig against them being late.

I really wouldn't worry about how they might take it, they're not overly concerned about how you might take their failure to pay on time! Funny they can "forget" to pay you, I wonder would they be so understanding if you "forgot" to come and then put them off for 5 days?

As a pp said, depending where you are a good and reliable cleaner is like gold dust. If you can pick up other clients then I'd give the late payers a warning and then ditch them. Bloody hell we'd panic if we forgot to pay our cleaner as I know she's dropped clients for this and other reasons!

HesterShaw · 03/05/2018 21:24

Sorry - pressed Post too soon.

I'm not a cleaner but I do run a small business. I ask for payment in advance by BACS (preferred) or have recently got a card machine to those who are still unable to do that. I have been stung too many times by people cancelling at the last minute and thinking it was ok to not pay.

Original poster
BusinessMama · 03/05/2018 21:25

UnderTheSleepingBaby To be honest I have never stated that it's to be paid in a certain time period, but you'd think when I am chasing them for payment the same evening/next morning every week they'd understand?!

Maybe I should stipulate, 'bank transfers must be required the same day or cash will be required in future'. And just make sure I am really strict with it, no exceptions.

OP posts:
StealthPolarBear · 03/05/2018 21:26

Yes they're not considerate of you. Don't go out of your way to spare their feelings

KadabrasSpoon · 03/05/2018 21:26

I was also going to suggest a minimum bank payment e.g. they pay for 10 hours worth in advance or whatever seems sensible.

You can charge late fees - there's an allowable % but understand why you wouldn't want to.

I'm in a different line of work but I actually find bank payments easier for record keeping. Cash I have to manually input.

Original poster
BusinessMama · 03/05/2018 21:27

StealthPolarBear Another good point as frequently they are out when I clean, so card payment actually wouldn't be possible in some instances.

OP posts:
MissEliza · 03/05/2018 21:28

I don't understand how people don't have the money ready. When I used to have a regular cleaner, it was a pain to remember the exact money every week, but there's no way I'd have let her leave without payment. Definitely stop allowing bank transfers.

SusieSusieSoo · 03/05/2018 21:28

Our cleaner recently went back to cash only. It's fine I think people who don't pay on time are cf's tbh.

Mine said the bookkeeper was going to put prices up because checking all bank payments took longer than counting up a bag of cash and checking a list of names with ticks at the side to show they'd paid. Maybe use that reason?

I think utterly reasonable anyway whatever you do xx

DiegoMadonna · 03/05/2018 21:30

EU actually

Hopefully that one will be scrapped by this time next year then.

Original poster
BusinessMama · 03/05/2018 21:32

Maybe it's just easier to say, 'cash only' and be done with it. If they want to believe me to be a tax dodger then they are free to report me to HMRC. I have nothing to hide.

As said earlier, I used to only accept cash and never had any issues. It's only been a recent spate of clients who have wanted to pay via bank transfer, and the stress of running my own business has gone up tenfold.

OP posts:
CocoaGin · 03/05/2018 21:34

I'd let the customers who do pay on time carry on with bank transfers, but leave a note for the ones who don't when you next clean to say that due to late payments, you are unable to accept that method of payment anymore.

Kocerhan3 · 03/05/2018 21:36

Maybe ask for payment before the job is done rather than after?

Original poster
BusinessMama · 03/05/2018 21:36

CocoaGin I'd happily do that I am just fearful of offending or upsetting people. For example, two of my clients are best friends, one is a great payer and the other I am constantly chasing. It would inevitably come out that I was penalising one (albeit rightfully so) and not the other.

OP posts:
Whenthereshope · 03/05/2018 21:37

Is it possible for you to build up a float of cash? Say £500. Then you can live off that and it will be fine to always be a week in arrears? So when they pay you just top your £500 float back up? You say you are charging a premium rate which is very business like so they probably don't think it's such a big deal to pay a few days after. So many trades people aren't paid on the day. You just need a cash buffer. If they're good clients and pay within the week I think that's not too bad?

HeedMove · 03/05/2018 21:37

Id just send out a message saying -

"Unfortunately since allowing bank transfer, I am now having a problem with having to chase for payments reguarly. Please be aware that my terms are payment on the same day cleaning is done, by bacs or cash. I know this doesnt apply to everyone and thanks to those who consistently pay on time. Going forward, if I have to chase a costumer for payment more than twice, I will then only accept cash on arrival. If no payment is available, I will have to leave without cleaning. I hope to never be in this position and im sorry I have had to bring this up and change my terms.

I know its harsh but sometimes people need to know you mean business about being paid.

DougFargo · 03/05/2018 21:38

so I couldn't say to an unreliable one 'cash only' and let their friend continue with bank transfer IYSWIM.

course you can. If they complain you just say "they pay on time, you don't"

PurplePotatoes · 03/05/2018 21:39

I mich prefer when I can pay for anything by bank transfer as I don't often have cash and it's a pain trying to get to an atm with kids in tow etc. But saying that, I pay our window cleaner and gardener by Paypal/bank transfer and have often thought what an admin nightmare it must be trying to keep track of all the payments so if totally understand if it was changed back to cash only.

justanotheruser18 · 03/05/2018 21:39

You are providing a very hard to come by (in my area at least) service and should take payment however you choose. If bank transfers are not happening on time and are causing you anxiety then definitely contact your clients introducing cash only on day of cleaning service.

falang · 03/05/2018 21:42

I pay my window cleaner by bank transfer and it's great. He puts a little bit of paper through the door when he's been and I do it as soon as I pick the bit of paper up. Could you perhaps leave your customers a slip to say you've been and how much they owe by bank transfer. Might help to remind them?

MacaroniPenguin · 03/05/2018 21:43

What heed said, only call them clients not costumers Grin

I liked your 21.07 sentence too - BACS in advance please or cash on the day.

You shouldn't offend people by being business-like and professional. People value what they have to pay for.

Original poster
BusinessMama · 03/05/2018 21:44

falang Unfortunately I think some of them do take advantage to be honest. I text some of them weekly to remind them to pay. If a weekly text isn't enough reminder, I doubt a piece of paper would help Angry

OP posts:
MacaroniPenguin · 03/05/2018 21:45

While you're at it, you could nail down expectations on last minute changes etc if you want. It's not unreasonable to need, say, 48h notice of any cancellations etc or payment is still due.

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