AIBU to feel annoyed by a payment reminder after 36 hours?

[SixtySomething]

We have a weekly service at our house. The company sends us a bill a few hours after finishing the work and we pay by bank transfer. The cost can vary so we don't pay by direct debit.
Recently, we received the regular bill but didn't pay immediately. The bill was followed up with a reminder 36 hours later. We are longstanding customers.This left me feeling really narked. AIBU?
YABU: They did the work, so you should pay them straight away.
YANBU: They should give you a week to pay. This is pushy behaviour.

Wanting payment for a service is being greedy?

Wow!! You really don't take criticism onboard, do you?

You cannot expect to be allowed to pay late. Its very disrespectful. The reminder is standard.

The business is run by a couple. It is their salary. THEY have bills to pay.

I'm guessing that they are gardeners/cleaners/carers/dog walkers/groomers/trainers or something like one of those. I'm betting that their situation and their industry are both very different to the industry that your H works in. If it is an individual paying, then payment on receipt is often the norm.

And that's why they sent the reminder.

It is good that I’m not self-employed. It would irritate me so much to have to remind people to pay me! It feels like decent behaviour to pay asap. I see posts from music teachers here who have to chase parents for money. It sounds so tedious.

Good thing they reminded you then

Businesses give other businesses credit terms as usually an invoice will go into a pile with all the other invoices for payment which will go for sign off before being batched and sent to the bank for payment. Usually weekly, monthly or month end of following month... that's why 51 days is about average.

I'm guessing you are not a business so don't have numerous suppliers to juggle. You just don't want to pay straight away after receiving the service. Not because you can't, but because it inconveniences you slightly . Or worse, it's sort of starting to look as if you are using withholding payment for a week as some kind of weird power trip. "Cleaner, I'll pay you when I'm good and ready, and not before!"

Unbelievable that you're still doubling down.

Yes, our main income is a small business. That’s why I feel I know something about the matter. We would never chase payment after 36 hours. It’s extremely short sighted as you realise you would annoy the client.

As you can see.. only 4 % would feel annoyed

Oh really, what blatant ageism!

”Age is a protected characteristic “”, don’t you know?

They provided you a service. Pay them promptly. You're being entitled expecting them to give you a week to pay. Would you sell someone an item and let them take it without paying for it?

Theres a CoL crisis, petrol is skyrocketing. They did work and invoiced you and you didnt pay it.

Youve said yourself you just forgot, so surely the reminder is helpful? They likely did it because when you didnt pay the same day as usual they either realised you must forgotten or couldnt afford to wait a week or so. And its been a long time since cash was the regular payment method when you saw a workman.

I can tell you if my work didnt pay me as expected Id "politely remind" them in much less than 36hrs.

If people youve worked with in the past can afford to wait for the money, theyre very privileged. These loyal workers of yours couldnt. Dont be so easily offened

Yes, you are.

You said earlier that you're normally reminded after 3-4 days - is that with this couple or other tradesmen etc?

What? I have no idea how old you are

Reminders don't annoy normal people though. Why would they?

Personally I would be grateful for a reminder as I would want to pay same day.

In my kind of business (seamstress) if don't get payment in advance of collection, the client doesn't get their garment back! I have turned people away at the door because they haven't paid and I won't let items go without payment. Because people then forget and it can take weeks to get paid and I need my money.

They do if you’re feeling sensitive about increasingly forgetting things

A business with clients you let get away with not paying by your own admission.

I don't think your experience means very much.

In which case surely you’d welcome the reminder rather than complaining about it 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🙄😬🤯

Honestly ... just pay asap when the service you have requested has been completed to your satisfaction. Small businesses rely on cash flow. Not complicated.

No. It really isn't. It's a polite but direct response to your behaviour.

If you think that's unpleasant, you must be very new to Mumsnet.