How do you advise clients of payment methods?

[monkeyBoy32]

Quick question,

I did a 2 week contract recently and I need to send an invoice for that work.

Now - this was my first contract so I want to make sure I get this right.

I have drawn up the invoice and have sent it to my accountants for review (just to make sure) but they came back and said "The invoice will be processed and we will advise if there is any problems." All I wanted to know was whether the invoice was ok to send! What did they mean by this?

Main question though is - when you send an invoice to a client (not an agencey - straight to the company where you worked) How do you advise them of payment methods? The invoice just shows amounts and company address - do you include an additional sheet with bank account details?

Thanks.

[TheFaQQer]

Sounds like your accountant thinks you were invoicing them, rather than asking for advice.

If there aren't terms in the contract, then I put the terms on the invoice, for example:

"Payment should be received within 28 days from the date of this invoice. Payment can be made via BACS to XXXXX or via cheque. If making payment by cheque, please add 5% handling charge as per our standard terms and conditions"

[ittony]

"Payment should be received within 28 days from the date of this invoice. Payment can be made via BACS to XXXXX or via cheque. If making payment by cheque, please add 5% handling charge as per our standard terms and conditions"

Who are you, Ryanair?

[vetran]

Payment terms on your T&C's that you provided at order time.

I use Late Payment of commercial debts law as a basis, saves arguments.

[TheFaQQer]

Who are you, Ryanair?

No, but it's a right pain to go to the bank and pay the cheque in, so I may as well get some more cash from them.

[ryebank]

Make sure all he details about how to pay are on the invoice itself so when that gets down to the bod in accounts who really processes it they have it to hand - additional sheet will probably get lost in the payment auth process