Agency non-payment of invoices - How long before you start complaining to them?

[psychocandy]

OK. Worked for week in May and then invoiced.

First of all agency moaned that my VAT registration hadnt come through. They moaned that it was awkward to pay VAT only.

Then there was a delay with setting up my business account. They refused to pay into a non-business account.

So I waited. VAT registration came and bank account set up last monday.

Re-isseued invoice, emailed accounts, they asked for all the account details, international payment details etc (its in euros) and said money would be paid Thursday. Its now monday, no money, no explanation, no reply to emails.

Is this sort of thing normal these days? I remember when I last contracted 10-15 years ago the agency I was with paid on time every time....madmad

[The Agents View]

OK. Worked for week in May and then invoiced.

First of all agency moaned that my VAT registration hadnt come through. They moaned that it was awkward to pay VAT only.

It is awkward, but they should be doing this in the absence of a VAT number - once it's come through, they just release VAT.

Then there was a delay with setting up my business account. They refused to pay into a non-business account.

That's more than fair. They've engaged your business, not you - you wouldn't take a load of food from Tesco's, and transfer the money to the cashier at the card machine..... Your accountant would also go mental if you were paid directly into your personal account, and I can't imagine Hector would be all that chuffed either!!

So I waited. VAT registration came and bank account set up last monday.

Re-isseued invoice, emailed accounts, they asked for all the account details, international payment details etc (its in euros) and said money would be paid Thursday. Its now monday, no money, no explanation, no reply to emails.

Telling you it'll be there when it won't is a bit naughty - but what are the terms on your invoice? 30 days? If you put an invoice in, and it says 30 days payment, you shouldn't really be surprised if the money isn't in your account until 30 days has lapsed.

Is this sort of thing normal these days? I remember when I last contracted 10-15 years ago the agency I was with paid on time every time....madmad

Calm down dear. You're in business now. Businesses pay each other on different terms to employer/employee's. Even an agency with weekly pay runs, have done nothing to breach their contract if they take 30 days to pay your invoice, if that's what the terms are on the contract/invoice.

[northernladuk]

Bearing in mind you dicked them about by not having everything set up in time I think it is a little unfair having a go when they are less than 48 hours late with a payment.

tulip happens and 2 days is not a big issue when dealing with payments and transfers. Even less so when you are dealing with agents. That's just business. If it happens regularly then raise a red flag.

Also, 2 days late is NOT non-payment, it's a slight delay. You are going to have to grow some bigger kahuna's and get a better business head on if you are going to survive in contracting.

[psychocandy]

That's more than fair. They've engaged your business, not you - you wouldn't take a load of food from Tesco's, and transfer the money to the cashier at the card machine..... Your accountant would also go mental if you were paid directly into your personal account, and I can't imagine Hector would be all that chuffed either!!

Telling you it'll be there when it won't is a bit naughty - but what are the terms on your invoice? 30 days? If you put an invoice in, and it says 30 days payment, you shouldn't really be surprised if the money isn't in your account until 30 days has lapsed.

Calm down dear. You're in business now. Businesses pay each other on different terms to employer/employee's. Even an agency with weekly pay runs, have done nothing to breach their contract if they take 30 days to pay your invoice, if that's what the terms are on the contract/invoice.

Fair point about the bank account which is why I was OK about it.

My original invoice was 1st June but the most recent one (amended version with VAT and bank account details on) was 20th June. No payment terms specified in contract but my invoice quotes 14 days.

Does this mean 14 days from amended version?

Thing is they promised me it would be paid and it hasnt and no-one is replying to my emails. This is the problem.

[psychocandy]

Bearing in mind you dicked them about by not having everything set up in time I think it is a little unfair having a go when they are less than 48 hours late with a payment.

tulip happens and 2 days is not a big issue when dealing with payments and transfers. Even less so when you are dealing with agents. That's just business. If it happens regularly then raise a red flag.

Also, 2 days late is NOT non-payment, it's a slight delay. You are going to have to grow some bigger kahuna's and get a better business head on if you are going to survive in contracting.

Hmmm. Maybe but in life, both work and personal, I tend to do things if I promise someone it'll be done. If it doesnt happen then for whatever reason then I explain things and not hide. Integrity its called.

Perhaps not everyone meets my exacting standards !!! :-)

Although maybe its expecting too much for an agency to behave with integrity.

[psychocandy]

Bearing in mind you dicked them about by not having everything set up in time I think it is a little unfair having a go when they are less than 48 hours late with a payment.

tulip happens and 2 days is not a big issue when dealing with payments and transfers. Even less so when you are dealing with agents. That's just business. If it happens regularly then raise a red flag.

Also, 2 days late is NOT non-payment, it's a slight delay. You are going to have to grow some bigger kahuna's and get a better business head on if you are going to survive in contracting.

Not sure they minded not paying me straight away though !!!!!

It was their fault that everything was rushed with their client wants you to start asap attitude. In reality, of course, I turned up and the permies couldnt believe I started in a week where all the managers/people I needed contact with were away on holidays. But that between the client and agency....

[northernladuk]

My original invoice was 1st June but the most recent one (amended version with VAT and bank account details on) was 20th June. No payment terms specified in contract but my invoice quotes 14 days.

Does this mean 14 days from amended version?

How can it be 14 days from the first one when it was wrong?

Not sure they minded not paying me straight away though !!!!!

It was their fault that everything was rushed with their client wants you to start asap attitude.

No one minds not paying you straight away except you. That is business. Many B to B payment terms in business are 60-90 days! You don't mind paying HMRC 8-9 months after the tax year end. It is swings and roundabouts.

And it isn't their fault they wanted you to start ASAP. That is common and what is expected of us. They want a specialist quick and we jump in. The two roles previous to the one I am in I interview Tues/Wed and started Monday. It's not their problem we don't have our house in order first. When you take your car in for a service you don't expect him to say OK, take the car and then wait while he buys the tools to do it.

[psychocandy]

How can it be 14 days from the first one when it was wrong?



No one minds not paying you straight away except you. That is business. Many B to B payment terms in business are 60-90 days! You don't mind paying HMRC 8-9 months after the tax year end. It is swings and roundabouts.

And it isn't their fault they wanted you to start ASAP. That is common and what is expected of us. They want a specialist quick and we jump in. The two roles previous to the one I am in I interview Tues/Wed and started Monday. It's not their problem we don't have our house in order first. When you take your car in for a service you don't expect him to say OK, take the car and then wait while he buys the tools to do it.

Yeh. I see what you're saying but to promise me it will be paid and then its not and then to lay low is a bit off IMHO.

[ASB]

Yeh. I see what you're saying but to promise me it will be paid and then its not and then to lay low is a bit off IMHO.

You said it was in euro. When my clients paid in euros through the iban it took a few days to show.

What they said was they would pay, it is possible they have.

[prozak]

Calm down PsychoCandy.


you are stressing over nothing.