Utterly furious: non paying client

[PermaShattered]

I have a newish client in the States who is refusing to pay my two invoices. After weeks of promises of having payment hand delivered (no idea why - the firm has a London office),and refusal to do a bank transfer - she is NOW refusing to pay me at all because I don't take credit card.

I'm facing the prospect of suing - but there's the cross border element. Apart from anything else, she is extremely rude in her emails to me...... advice please!

How about paypal? Then she could use her credit card

Are you asking for payment in sterling? Americans have real problems making payments in currency other than USD. Their banking system is not set up for it. That could be why she wants to pay by credit card. She has offered a remedy - you need to decide if you can accommodate that. If not you need to suggest an alternative course that results in you getting paid. The PayPal option suggested above may be your most cost effective solution.

Yes, Paypal, or Free Agent or TransferWise are both good.

Why doesn't she want to do a bank transfer? All she needs is your IBAN and SWIFT numbers.

Could you contact the London office and tell them the situation? Does she have a boss you can escalate to? Sounds crap. Hope you get paid soon!

I've offered Paypal though it's my personal account not linked to my company. She just says bank transfer isn't easy. I've have other client sin the US, and in Canada and Bahamas - all pay me by bank transfer! Never had a non paying client in 17 yrs of writing..... :(

Set up Stripe. You'll be accepting credit card in 30 minutes. Or Paypal, of course.

Not suggesting you are being unreasonable in any way at all - obviously she is, and a contractor or agency should be under NO obligation to accept credit cards.

I use Paypal or Stripe to accept payment from US clients for contractor work, and bank transfer for products (I have two separate businesses).

Presumably she has no actual money to pay you with. You need to get what you can quickly.

Could you find a friend who can take credit cards and do a deal with them to get the bill paid ? Oh and you might want to check the brand of credit card she has - in the us it may be Amex.

Obviously never work with her again.

UPDATE
One out of 2 outstanding invoices has been paid (by PayPal). I'm sure it had nothing to do with my veiled threat to make sure her non payment 'came out' and the implications for her reputation. :)
Just waiting for the 2nd invoice to be paid now....

Great news...fingers crossed for the other one

Good new Perma :)

Phew, that's good news. What a ridiculous person.