To ask for payment within a month?

[downcasteyes]

I am doing some work for a client who is a student. Because they're young and broke, I took pity and offered them a real basement rate on my usual prices, with the result that I am working for barely over minimum wage, doing a job that requires a high level of skill. However, because the work that I am doing involves a lot of attention and time, the costs are still quite high. (The total is nearly £1500). I am, however, a really fast worker and I doubt many people in the same field could do the same work as quickly.

The student keeps complaining about the cost and keeps delaying payment for work that has been completed. I do have sympathy and I have tried to explain that I am already working for a low fee and to arrange a system whereby we spread the cost of the work into smaller payments.

However, they have asked for a meeting with me soon, and I think they are going to ask for a long delay to payment, possibly of 6 months or more. However, I am not sure that they will actually pay if this is granted (they will be headed to another country and there will be little I can do to recoup the funds). WIBU to refuse and ask for payment within a month of invoicing? This is the first time I have encountered this in my time of running my own business- I have been fortunate to date, I guess.

Most definitely. From experience, some people don't appreciate your kindness and only use this to take the piss.

Once they leave the country they will not pay.

Reiterate you have undercharged and require payment by **

Thanks Perso - good to know IANBU. My feeling is also that they are unlikely to pay at the end of the project. To be honest, if a refusal to accept a long delay/risk means that they take the job elsewhere, I am happy with that at this point,.

Did you agree the cost at the beginning, before you started the work? If so, they should have made it clear then that they'd struggle with payment. Ideally you should have made clear the cost and your payment terms and had them agree them up front.

Invoice for the work completed, charge interest on late payment and cease any further work. As soon as they miss the payment date send a final demand and then start the small claims procedure.

When you've done work which isn't paid for you don't do more work hoping it will come through (there are exceptions to this), you treat the debt as delinquent and go hard on collections.

They'll probably phone you up and complain, shout and maybe a bit of abuse but that's just collections. The trick there is to get a phone recording system and tell them at the beginning of the call it's being recorded. Then if they go to far you've always got the option of the police. However, whatever you do, never ever say anything like "I've got you threatening to kill me, if you don't pay your debt I'm going to the police" as you're the one now committing an offence.

If they do decide that they can't afford to go elsewhere and you do want to do business with you, then they need to get current and pay in advance for services.

@TixieLix - yes, the overall cost was agreed up front, and then when he said he might struggle to pay, I offered to break it down into chunks so he could pay in installments. Those installments are what is falling late.

@IWouldPreferNotTo Love you username! I hear you on not doing any more work until outstanding invoices are paid. Seems like a sensible way forward. If they want to take their business elsewhere once they've paid for the work completed (someone else can take over from here), I will actually be relieved. I don't think it will come to threats and abuse, fortunately, though I could be wrong about that!

Jesus! I have 14 days on my invoices, and will not do any work if a single invoice is over due - which is standard in my industry. A lot of people pop on a late fee too.

There are plenty of places that will chase your debt for a percentage which I'd probably look at now, or get your ducks in a row for small claims.

The fact the instalments are not being paid says to me he isn't going to pay at all. I'd not do any more work until he pays what's owed, and if he doesn't pay within a set time (14 days maybe) is cut my losses.

Please stop working if instalment doesn’t arrive.

Payment should be in advance of work, not arrears.

In fact, I’d get payment for work completed defat and then stop working.

He wants to stop paying you but is afraid to screw you are stop providing.

And stop being nice!

• so far not defat

*Afraid to screw you over whilst you’re still providing work to him.

If you're doing their dissertation for them then YABU

@Famalam

Random assumption of the day 🙄

No more work until payments are up to date, you're not a charity you have bills to pay, he sounds a right CF.

Just don't hand over the finished product unless they have paid up. You will probably find that they have more to lose than you. It is amazing how quickly they will come up with it if needed.

No, I'm not doing their dissertation for them!

Thanks for all the advice - I will be stern about not doing anything more until I'm paid for work I've already done!

If this is for an undergrad student receiving a loan from student finance, the last payment instalment of nearly £3000 (for those receiving the full loan) arrived in our accounts today, so if this is the case I would insist that you need payment by the end of the month before they have the opportunity to spend it all!

No, it's a PhD student! I imagine they probably get their funding (from a foreign government) in installments too, though, so the point is still a good one!

small claims court....

Stop letting him play you! IPrefer is spot on. You're being way too soft here, he knows it and is trying to swizz you. No more pity parties for him.

It all depends on what you agreed at the beginning, which obviously you'll have got in writing.

As long as you're working within the terms of your written contract CCJs are your friend but act quick.