I have had it up to here...with waiting to be paid by my clients...is it unreasonable to expect payment in under 8 weeks?

[hattyyellow]

Every month I invoice my clients on the last day of the month.

Every contract I have done has been for a small team, where they have asked me to work exclusively for them. I work 3 days and they are fully aware that this isn't just pin money, but over half our monthly income. I'm just a one woman band doing my old job freelance, not some huge consultancy who can afford to wait for payment.

My husband and I both currently work 3 days each as the childcare costs for our twins don't make sense to pay for care every day.

Every month I have to wait 8-9 weeks to get paid. Every month we end up maxing our overdraft and using credit cards to pay childcare and food. We're not extravagant and if we got paid even roughly monthly we could cope. Dh is self-employed too and gets paid erratically which doesn't help!

I'm so sick of chasing payment. Is it just me? Is there a magic trick? A friend advised me to put "payment within 14 days would be greatly appreciated" on my invoices. I feel like I may as well write "please feel free to work the pants off me whilst not bothering to pay me and my children quietly starve".

I think we're going to have to cancel our holiday. We were just going for a few nights away in the UK to have a break, but unless I get paid we can't afford the deposit.

Sorry, am pregnant and emotional. Where are those deep breathing exercises from the midwife..

Cheers all for your thoughts, this is really helpful. I do get stroppy after 28 days, and do not stop chasing/phoning/e-mailing the client to ask for payment. I probably need to get cross earlier on than this and get my point made.

I work with charities/arts organisations who are known for being a little scatty (not that that excuses the late payment). I tend to work over a period of months with regular contact every day with the client - so I do think threatening/enforcing a late payment fee after the 14 days of the invoice would piss them off. I can see its a good idea but its not something that other freelancers in the field are doing and I think sadly the reputation would be for being difficult rather than assertive...

I think its easier on short pieces of work/assignment in my experience to chase up for payment, particulary when you're not working with them every day!

I previously worked for multiple clients, well two at at time, which is as many as I can fit into my week with the work I do..unfortunately they're all rubbish at paying! Maybe I need to change sectors!

snowleopard 18 months!!!!! You poor thing...

You need to take charge more - but also see things through their eyes. They will be looking at their cash flow and trying to make sure they hang on to cash as long as they possibly can, so they will be paying invoices as late as they can get away with - and only paying the ones that they deem most important first. As you are one of several freelancers there is probably an assumption that you are lower down the foodchain than others - sorry to be harsh but I know this to be true! No matter how good your work is they think that they own you (and the way they have dealt with the exclusivity proves this).

Write to them saying that your company is implementing new terms and conditions (this means it isn't a personal issue), and that payment is now to be made within however many days that you want. But be realistic and accept that this isn't going to happen!

Issue your next invoice and then a week later ring to make sure

a) that they have received it
b) that it has been logged into whatever system they are using (i.e. it's not just lying unopened in someone's in tray)

and ask when payment is going to be made.

On that date, call them again and remind them that they said payment was going to made that day and check that it is going ahead as promised.

If they don't pay/you don't receive the payment, phone again and say you haven't received it. Give them a chance to send it again and if you still don't receive it, tell them that the late payment charge will have to be levied - but I would also say that you will waive it if you receive payment within the next couple of days.

If they still continue to pay late, put your your rates up and look for other work from other people who do pay better.

You shouldn't be relying on just one source of employment anyway!

HTH

Thanks Because this is really helpful stuff- will read and learn from it! I do need a better system and that's really helpful.

It comes from bitter experience HY!

I'm a bit of a rottweiler when it comes to getting our bills paid. I think I have probably heard every excuse reason under the sun as to why our invoices haven't been paid!

Just wanted to thank you all again so much for your advice and update. I became rottweiler like chasing the June payment and recieved it. Then persistently bothered the finance person, asking for projected date of pay and mentioning that I had incurred interest etc as a result of late payment from them and would regrettably be forced to pass this onto them in future in my fees charged to them.

I got the July payment yesterday so within the month of invoicing! I'm happy being paid within a month every month for this 8 month contract. Just invoiced for August so will keep up the tips you've all shared if I don't get paid soon for that.

Now just have to resist spending all my pay for the summer in one go!

just back from hols and can't sleep!

what i do is sent out terms and conditions, inc payment terms, and get them agreed. then invoice at end of each month - 14 days req. when they dont pay hassle every 2 days - make look like automated email. and then say'but you agreed these terms'. doesnt always work but is less 'personal'

well done hattyyellow.
keep it up. Then the finance person will see your invoice and think 'oh yes, must pay hatty because I said I would'