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.

No I have responded to exactly what you wrote, as quoted in my post, I haven't thrown insults at all, but you have, you said that it was 'greed' to need THEIR money paid when it is owed!

You OWED them their money, it's not for you to decide to hang on to it and then tar them as 'greedy' for wanting their own money!

Good job they reminded you then isn’t it.

Have you thought that they might have really needed the money to buy food? Perhaps lots of clients hadn't paid on time and they didn't have enough for rent.

Reminder was useful then, no?

Apart from the fact that AI can be unreliable, those figures will include big companies who are notorious for abusing their power by making small suppliers wait a long time for payment.

This thread is about an individual paying for a service in their house. Totally different situation which is why most people are saying that they would pay immediately or within 24 hours.

When they rock up 36 hours late the next time they're due....don't worry about it as they've just forgot!

Problem solved.....

I'd be grateful and contrite.

Not really.
This is a couple that come to her house once a week. OP doesn't want to say what they do, but it isn't unreasonable to assume it is something like cleaning, dog walking or gardening.
Before small, mobile businesses like this were able to use on-line banking, then the OP would have had to have gone to the bank or cashpoint, and got the money out before the work was done, to leave it on the table, or hand it over in person if she is there at the time.
The fact she now doesn't need to pay until that evening, and can do so without leaving her house, should have made it easier for her.

I mean it is utterly embarrassing, the position she's taking, unless there is something we are not aware of, in which case then yes I agree, I'd feel sorry for her ... but I do think that it's unlikely to be honest

Oh dear! Sounds like you don't understand the Equality Act any more than you understand etiquette about paying for a service received.

Having a protected characteristic means that someone can't be discriminated against (eg refused housing or employment) because of the characteristic.

It doesn't mean that you can't have a bit of a dig at someone.

If you forgot, then it sounds like a reminder was exactly the right thing. It literally reminded you of the thing you forgot!

I can’t see the issue.

A week to pay is not necessary. It only takes a few moments after all.

It's verging on comical that you're STILL digging your heels in and refusing to accept that you are completely unreasonable here, OP.

Seriously, why ask? Why invite views only to insist that everybody - except you, a couple of outliers, and your husband - is wrong?

Astonishing lack of insight into your own conduct.

Why would you be narked? You were either going to pay or you weren't? Why would anyone let a simple message change their mood in any way? I really can't understand the o.p or anyone else that would feel anything about this situation.

If it's cleaning then the cleaner is on very low wages and needs that money immediately.

I've got a PT who I workout with online three days a week. Over the years we've become really good friends.

I'm scrupulous about paying her on or before the day of the last session. The once I forgot she gently reminded me the next morning. I wasn't put out - I was embarrassed and glad that she had done so

Speaking to her and my cleaner (who I pay on the day) they both get fed up chasing non payers. And they've both become more ruthless in weeding these people out

My window cleaner uses GoCardless. They message me when they are coming and the money is taken from my bank account a few days later

But lucky they did as she forgot to pay so god knows when they would have got their money. I genuinely can't see your point of view.

How entitled!! 3 days later you still haven’t paid and they have had to do more work to remind you?
very unclassy

I think I'd be a bit embarrassed to have to get a reminder to pay something I'd meant to pay and forgotten about. I do think a day later is quite quick but maybe they were checking their books that day and just sent the reminder then incase they forgot to remind you later in the week? It's ok to be narked and I'd say we all get like that over small stuff sometimes but unless they make an issue out of it next time you see them I'd just let it fade and forget about it. Some of the responses on here are a bit daft.

Surely you pay before exiting a restaurant, after eating your meal there?

So now they have annoyed you, enough to start a thread and defend you position on MN will you be using their services again ?

You know what? It's ok to forget. These things happen.
But the only correct answer from you here would have been "I'm so sorry - all paid now!"

I assume nothing on here would make you think you are wrong seeing as it has been page after page of reasoned argument. To get annoyed so much about a polite message you admit you needed because it came to early.

Why would you not pay straight away? What difference did the wait make? Were you moving money between accounts or did you just think the people doing their job could wait? It takes a couple of minutes.

At the start I thought what a weird thing to get worked up about but put it down to human foibles....but to have the nerve to call these people greedy for asking after their money that you wouldn't have remembered to pay on time anyway....come on surely this is just bravado now, you can't really think that?