Customer not paying. What would you do?

[Donenothingwrong]

I’m a self employed cleaner & I’ve just taken on a new customer. All my customers either pay me cash or bank transfer on the day of their clean & that works well for me & them. However, this new customer hasn’t paid & I cleaned their house last Thursday. Two polite texts have been sent asking if they’ve still got my bank details, can they please pay me etc. & these were ignored until yesterday when she apologises for the delay & says she’s transferred the money & set up a standing order for future cleans. Perfect - except the money isn’t in my account. I don’t want to keep chasing her or it looks like I’m harassing her but what do I do? I’m due to go again on Thursday but I’m not cleaning again unless she’s paid for last week first. I’m not naive, there’s been several customers I’ve turned down in the past because I had a bad feeling about them for one reason or another but this lady seems genuine. I worked my ass off for 2 hours in her very dirty house & she was very happy with results. Wwyd?

I’m a self employed cleaner too and this is why I have a rule that invoices are paid on the day. I’d honestly cancel her cleans, this is clearly the way it’s going to go each time!

Shes a scammer...bin her off.

Cash in advance or no job. Could possibly be that it was towards the end of month, but I think someone chancing a freebie.

Pretty much all banks and building societies use faster payments from one Uk account to another. Not sure where other people are banking to require 2 days for funds to clear (especially for a payment under £100) so that excuse is a load of crap.

She has most likely not paid or paid for the wrong account (although it's actually hard to do that now as account numbers and names have to match) so my money is on the highly likely probability that she's a fucking chancer who has lied about paying.

You tell her you've not received the money; you require full payment by end of Tuesday (for example) and you do not take her on as a client as you'll be chasing her time and again.

I'd definitely go round on Thursday and do a reverse job if the money hasn't come through. Take back your cleaning by smearing mirrors, walking mud through the house and having a big poo in her bathroom 😁

I would wait another 24 hours to see if the money had cleared and if not text and say “hello the money has not been received, unfortunately I’m not able to continue appointments when payment is delayed or not received so will have to cancel your appointment on Thursday.”

Perfect

I wouldn't leave it any longer than tomorrow though; if she is a chancer she could easily spin you a tale of "trying to sort it out with the bank" while still expecting you to go on Thursday
Basically cleaning is your job and making sure you get paid is hers - never confuse the two because that way madness lies

My bank is a pain with new payees and doesn't offer faster payment, it takes 24-48h to clear which is super annoying. But given you've no idea whether she's just chancing her arm I'd agree with PPs, wait 24h and if not in just say very sorry, money hasn't come into my account, so I'm afraid I can't attend on Thurs as I am not able to offer my services on credit.

I would message tomorrow and ask to check where she sent it as you've not had it

I am self employed and this has happened to me so many times 😬 I would just send a polite message to say you would be very grateful if she could please check the details she sent it to as you haven’t received it, usually then you get an embarrassed one back saying it didn’t seem to have worked… it’s very frustrating I know

Ring her up and say the money has not gone into your account yet. When the money goes in do her next clean. But easiest thing would be just to ignore her and write off your fee. She will probably be nothing but trouble.

I worked for a cleaning company and they told me if they go into a really dirty house they are always suspicious, many times they've done the clean and the person has never paid or said it wasn't good enough. It's a scam.

You tell her you cannot attend again until you are paid. It’s simple as that
I think she’s either at it or flaky, it’s a bad sign either way. If she’s like this now first time I’d be wary. She’s not setting up a convoluted payment system, it’s a repeat payment to you and should be v quick

These type of threads make me so anxious. I have quite bad adhd and constantly forget to pay bills. I always do pay but I need to be reminded. It's not a cash flow issue as I have the cash. I either forget or freeze. So often pay penalties. Firm clear texts work best for me repeating payment details as I will have lost them first time round.

You intend to pay,and occasionally need a reminder.
The woman she cleaned for has had reminders and has not paid

I've asked to pay in advance or while she is standing there so I don't forget. One person just agreed to send me a quarterly invoice as I couldn't manage the weekly ones. I trust her to be accurate as I find keeping the records to check overwhelming.

I'm afraid I agree with the PP who said she probably has no intention of paying you and doesn't care if you don't come back.

There are lots of people out there like that. They go around various companies, use the service and just don't pay for it. When the company refuses to attend again, they just find someone else.

They know it's not worth you going to small claims for two hours worth of money so they know that they'll get away with it.

If she doesn't pay I would be tempted to message other local cleaners and warn them - I'm a dog walker and all the local businesses speak to each other and warn each other off rude or unreliable customers!

You chase her. You keep chasing her. I would also want cash in hand for any future work I did for this person.

It definitely depends on the bank, not all payments are instant. A very reliable payer of mine told me she'd set up her payment for 1st April (earlier than was needed so there was no bullshit involved) and it showed up in my account today, 3rd.

However I would still not be cleaning again in this case unless you get the money or at least proof of it having been transferred.

I’ve had a thing this weekend where a payment made from Ford Money on Friday at 5ish arrived at its destination - TSB current account - at about 5pm today. So quite a long delay over the weekend. I’m wondering if banks are updating their systems in advance of the new tax year or something.

I hope you get paid, OP.

I agree with @SnarkyBag s post here:

I would wait another 24 hours to see if the money had cleared and if not text and say “hello the money has not been received, unfortunately I’m not able to continue appointments when payment is delayed or not received so will have to cancel your appointment on Thursday

I wanted to add as well you you tell her what your terms of payment are which I'm guessing you haven't already (ie. I normally expect to be paid with 48 hours/3 days or whatever)

I wouldn't write her off yet because something similar happened to me not with a cleaner but a service industry and I was used to dealing with people who expected to be paid within 2 weeks. I didnt realise that this person expected payment almost the same day - it was fine when it was cleared up but there was crossed wires as to their expectations vs mine. It's a good reason as to why a contract - or even two or three lines in writing as to payment rate and time of payment - is a good idea.

I bank with Lloyds and have never not received money within 10 minutes of being told it's been transferred, same as when I'm transferring (usually to the "birthday fund lady" at work).

Dear x, I'm just calling to chase the payment as it hasn't come through. I have another customer who has requested a clean in the slot which I have reserved for you. I'm happy to hold it for you for another 24 hours but if I haven't received the payment by (date, time) then I won't be able to come and clean for you again. yours etc

sorry just messaging, not calling

Leave it until Thursday and then text
"Mrs X, I hope you were happy with the standard of my cleaning last week, unfortunately I won't be cleaning your home today as I have not yet received payment for work last week. If you could please settle the outstanding amount I'd most grateful. Many thanks...."