I've not been paid again. What can I do?

[Stonybrokeagain]

I am self employed but have had a regular job with a national charity for about the last 18 months. When I started, I put my invoice on Monday and was paid the following Friday. All was fine until about 8 months ago. I put my invoice in and wasn't paid Friday. I complained and put in a second invoice both were paid that Friday. This has become more and more frequent over the last 8 months. Computer errors, management not signing off invoice, invoice has gone to wrong department etc etc. I had never gone more than 2 weeks without being paid until now. I have put in 4 invoices now which total over £1000 just in materials and not one has been paid. The last invoice was paid one the 27th July.
Head Office are now refusing to speak to me, I cannot get through to the finance department and I have literally no money left. I have 2 other people to pay which I can't do and nothing to live on. Is there anything I can do legally to get my money?

I'm afraid the short answer is no.

The convention in the UK is that payment is made within 30 days of invoice. Some organisations will pay more quickly (as this charity used to) but, unless you have put in place payment terms insisting on payment within 7 days of invoice, you can't force the charity to pay any faster. Even with payment terms in place you can't force them to comply, but you could add a clause entitling you to interest if they are late. If you turn to the law they may drop you completely and it would probably take even longer to get your money.

😢

I've worked in finance for years ,your invoice will be 1 of many many to pay.
A lot of company's do 2 payment runs a month some do weekly so if it misses that payment run it will be the following one . Make sure your invoice has strictly 7 says you won't get paid quicker than that . Email invoice and follow up with phone call .get a good relationship with your customer so that you get paid promptly.

What payment terms have you agreed with the charity? I'm self employed and my terms with clients are 30 days. Some pay more quickly, which is great, others take the full 30 days which is fine as they're entitled to do that and are presumably managing their cash flow.

I think it's unreasonable to expect to be paid immediately but nice if it happens.

What does your contract say WRT payment of invoices?

Sorry10 that's my problem. I am suppose to be paid weekly but I haven't been paid in 4 weeks. Not just missed one payday. They have missed 4!!! I do have a good relationship with the ladies in the office and the charities clients. I used to have a good relationship with HO but that is not going so well lately.
summerarlast I would prefer the 30 days and work that way with most people. The charity didn't want to work that way and said all invoices submitted between Wednesday and Tuesday are paid on the Friday.

Payrun not payday.

TittyGolightly all invoices will be paid with 14 days at the charities request.

I suspect they have changed the way they pay invoices - you need to get to the root cause of the delays and adjust your invoicing accordingly

I would not do any more work for them until you are paid.

It's worrying the fact a charity is

A) delaying payment of Invoices

B) Head office will not speak to you

C) And the finance department are not answering you.

Are the a major charity or a local one, as it sounds like they are having financial difficulties.