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 would ask her to check. My window cleaner and milkman are both called Chris and I am a wally and kept paying milkman Chris instead of window cleaner Chris.

I ended up in massive credit with the milkman and the window cleaner was like, "WHAT!???"

Just tell her.

You are only being unreasonable in thinking that continuing to contact her is "harassing" her. You performed a service, you expect to be paid in a timely manner. You would also not be unreasonable to tell her, if this keeps up, that you will expect payment to be rendered (in cash) at time of service, or that you will, with great regrets, have to drop her as a client.

I wonder if the OP will come back and update.

Is it usual to expect payment on the day of service? Isn't it the norm to have a 7-day period to pay? In that case, it is you that is being unreasonable, really. Unless, of course, you set out clearly in the contract and the invoice that payment is expected on the day. Did you?

This is a cleaning job, not building or any other kind of trade.

@LindorDoubleChoc

This is a cleaning job, not building or any other kind of trade.

My cleaner issues invoices with a 7-day courtesy payment period.

I pay my window cleaner on the spot in cash and my gardener by transfer within 24 hours. These are people who don’t make heaps of money. It would be incredibly inconsiderate to leave them hanging around.

I started as a self employed cleaner and had the same issue with just one client. I sent a text same as you..:then another one. If you are due to go again on Thursday I would text saying unfortunately due to issues with clients paying late I will require cash payment on day of clean to ensure my records are up to date, many thanks and will see you on Thursday x

do you send invoices out?

i give 3 days payment period on my invoices

For sole traders, yes, same day payment is totally the norm.

Many will ask for payment by the end of the working week as they may provide multiple services to the same client in one week, though.

Most cleaners require payment on the day. This is made clear before starting. If potential customers want longer to pay, they would have to find a different cleaner.

Why wait. Shes toldd you she has done somethjng. Easier tonsort out straigjt away if she has made a mistake.

Have you a friend.who is a solicitor? Ask them to send a warning letter. I had a problem receiving a set of curtains that had been altered and paid for buy he didn't return said curtains until the letter.

As I cleaner I totally understand the absolute cringe of having to ask for payment again and again. Did she pay in the end? Did you go back?

@Donenothingwrong Any update?