Eek - invoiced client for second month, she thought first month was full payment

[Clientpayments]

So I work in marketing and signed a client in September. All payments are taken in advance with a contract written by a lawyer.

In the portfolio we first send out it clearly says we have a minimum three month retainer and the payments are monthly.

In the contract it states that the payments are monthly, the amount and our payment terms. It’s clear with ‘per month’ over three months.

I also made sure in my email to let her know that the prices were per month.

She signed the contract and made the first payment so I thought all was clear.

I have sent the second invoice and I have had an email asking what it’s for because she’s already paid. I explained that as per our previous conversations and contract, we work on a monthly retainer.

She is now confused and doesn’t want to pay as she assumed it covered three months (which would make the fee ridiculously low for the amount of work involved).

What do I do here?

When I was a freelancer I had 30 day payment terms. 30 days would quickly turn into 3 months plus of chasing and sometimes never getting paid.

Thats appalling, but nothing surprises me about the lengths people will go to, to requisition goods and services and then find every way possible not to pay. My DH is sometimes left waiting for 6 months after having provided the service his clients have asked for and accepted, despite numerous chase ups, until he is forced into telling them he won't provide his service anymore. Only then do they pay up. It's so disrespectful.

She is getting monthly retainer payments in advance! 😕

It wasn't so she needs to pay. She probably knows that.
No eek she needs to pay because you've done the work and she signed the contract.

Yes, I think this is helpful in terms of really spelling it out to people with no reading comprehension.

Could be different in your industry but in mine (technical engineering type services) you bill your clients at the end of the month, as a client we’d never pay a consultant for works in advance.

Yeh when I freelanced I soon learnt to get 7 days and no mucking around

Spending time chasing isn’t part of the gig

I run a marketing agency too. Not had this exact thing happen, but similar. The trouble is that people don’t value marketing and so she assumed the lower cost. You need to stick to your guns - but will likely have to say farewell to the relationship.
I also rent out a property - someone almost signed up for a 12 month rental thinking that the per month rental was the total for 12 months. They eventually admitted to being stupid!!

I'm a freelancer, and my retainer clients pay me up front at the beginning of the month.

She's probably happy with the good results from month one and thinks that's enough and wants to stop paying. As above, refer to the contract and previous correspondence that clearly states monthly payment of X for three months. Be prepared to take to court to enforce.

@Clientpayments

I know this is "old news" but would love to know how it worked out.

Update please?

She pays or you sue.

What happened @Clientpayments ? Didn't realise when I commented that this was a month old............

I don't understand. On the one hand, you say that you ask for payment in advance. On the other, you say that she's refused to pay the second month's invoice which you've just issued - but you say you've already carried out the work.

Which is it?