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Original poster

I hate being self employed because.....

40 replies

Pfer · 22/02/2006 12:55

No f*cker ever pays on time!
I have to effin work at night and weekends!
I hate it!!!

GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

OP posts:
motherinferior · 22/02/2006 12:57

So why do you 'have' to work at night and weekends? I work four days a week, and yes sometimes I work in the evening but no more than I would with a 'regular' job. I agree about the payment, but do you cite the Late Payments regulations on your invoices, and chase the minute it gets to 30 days (a daily nagging email can work wonders)?

krabbiepatty · 22/02/2006 13:00

I hate it because you have to deal with your own tax etc when you have already spent the money. And no one even thinks a payemnt is late in my line of work under a year. Hullo mi.

motherinferior · 22/02/2006 13:01

Wotcher KP...I have to say after that bracing missive I should admit I've just had a pay cheque STOLEN, and embezzled.

Wordsmith · 22/02/2006 13:02

Pfer - yes, yes yes!!!

MI - think you are lucky that you can confine your work to these dates. Re payment, I quote late payment leg. on my invoices and it makes not one blind bit of difference - plus the amount you can recover in compensation (base rate + 8%) isn't worth it really - certainly not enough to deter a big company client.

Pfer, I have to effin work at night and weekends a lot too - because a client wants something when I'm not 'officially' working, or the brief's late in coming through, or the kids are sick and you have to look after them when you should be working.

It does have its benefits as well, should anyone think I am complaining.

krabbiepatty · 22/02/2006 13:03

That's terrible - how does same cheque get stolen and embezzled? I was getting all impressed by yoru invoicse and chasers..

Wordsmith · 22/02/2006 13:04

Sorry MI, just said you were lucky then read your post about the embezzled cheque.

Original poster
Pfer · 22/02/2006 13:06

MI - I have to work nights and weekends to get the work done. I have to do the work as we can't manage without the pittance I bring in on top of DH's wages. DH leaves at 6am and generally gets home about 7.30/8.00pm depending on traffic. I look after the DS's during the day.

(Oh, and I specify that I will charge interest if fee's are paid after 14 days).

OP posts:
motherinferior · 22/02/2006 13:06

I meant stolen OR embezzled, sorry.

Hmm, I don't think that my working arrangements are necessarily the complete result of luck; I just do the same kind of working week as a lot of people in regular jobs. Obviously sick kids screw that up, but then they screw up 'regular' work too. I can't work on Fridays as my younger daughter is home with me then.

fairyjay · 22/02/2006 13:06

What about giving a small discount for stage payments or prompt payments?

If there's a benefit, clients will often pay up front.

Original poster
Pfer · 22/02/2006 13:07

Pants about that cheque business though. What's going to happen now?

OP posts:
motherinferior · 22/02/2006 13:07

But Pfer, do you not have childcare? I couldn't work at all without childcare.

motherinferior · 22/02/2006 13:07

It's a big company, it'll repay me. Took ages to get this out of them, though.

Original poster
Pfer · 22/02/2006 13:09

Fairy, yeah, I've got a client who is notoriously bad at paying on time so I've taken to putting a note on his invoices that he can deduct 5% if he pays within 14 days - this works with him. Just some people want you to do the work, which you do in good faith, then they let you down .

OP posts:
Original poster
Pfer · 22/02/2006 13:09

MI - DS1 goes to playschool in the mornings but DS2 is at home with me all of the time.

OP posts:
krabbiepatty · 22/02/2006 13:09

Sorry mi, probably don't need pedantry when a victim of embezzlement. There is a woman on another thread with 9 children. imagine...

Wordsmith · 22/02/2006 13:10

Yes but if sick kids screw up regular work, you still get paid, either take a day's sick leave yourself or holiday. As self-employed, you're stuck unless you do the work at some other less convenient time.

Like I say, not complaining, personally my problem is I don't put DS2 in nursery enough days to cover my workload, but that's up to me, not my clients' fault.

It helps, however, to have a whinge now and then!

WideWebWitch · 22/02/2006 13:10

Why don't they pay you? What are your terms?

krabbiepatty · 22/02/2006 13:10

Wah, pfer, that is rough

motherinferior · 22/02/2006 13:11

Sorry, I am being repulsively bracing and exactly the sort of person I loathe, will bog back off to some work I DO NOT WANT TO DO.

Original poster
Pfer · 22/02/2006 13:11

Wordsmith - nice to have a moan isn't it? I'm hanging on for another 3 yrs till ds2 starts school!

OP posts:
WideWebWitch · 22/02/2006 13:12

What size cos do you deal with?

Original poster
Pfer · 22/02/2006 13:12

MI - size 3? Blimey! How do you stand up?

OP posts:
WideWebWitch · 22/02/2006 13:12

MI, that's bad about the stolen cheque, how annoying.

krabbiepatty · 22/02/2006 13:13

Think about thsoe 9 children, mi, they are cheering me up as i struggle to arrange bunp in rotten uncomfy desk chair...

Wordsmith · 22/02/2006 13:13

Wow MI - size 3 - are you a self employed fairy princess?

Pfer - word of warning - working is even harder once they start school if you want to do a 9-5 day -but if you can work school hours then it's fine.

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