Bob gent bald-facedly writes, "Sorry I paid you late as we haven't been paid..."

[d000hg]

Next poster - Neither in nor out.

I think you have to be one or the other.

Word of advice: Don't ever consider going direct with a client. You're having kittens over a week delay? Yeah, that's pretty generous compared some of my larger direct clients. 60 day delays in some cases.

Yeah, 30 days is rather the norm in the business world and longer is quite common - as is having to chase for payment and always being paid late (luckily not with my clients). Unless the issue is that it was a week late not that it took 2 weeks and he'd be happy on 30 days as long as it wasn't late.

[TheFaQQer]

Next poster - Neither in nor out.

How does that work?

[Sausage Surprise]

Like I wrote in the opening post, I only just put online banking on my laptop, and noticed payment was 10 days overdue.

Like I didn't write, this is the 2nd time they've been "late", in 3 months. Not good.

Do you talk like you write.....like?

[d000hg]

How does that work?

"And when they were only half way up they were neither up nor down."

[FatLazyContractor]

3. If he misses this deadline then its time to down tools. This isn't about breach of contract or threatening to sue. I tell the client that I haven't been paid as promised and I don't feel obligated to take on any more work till the payment is sorted. This usually occurs with 24 hours. I don't take calls or answer e-mails till the money clears. When the money clears, bright and shiny I pick up my tools and get on with the job till the next time.

Ever been in a situation before where you return after you get the money only to be shown the door by the client for your "attitude" or lack of ? To be precise, have you ever done this in the past?

[GillsMan]

Personal view - When I've got a late paying client I have a fixed formula

The initial conversation is centers around,

1. Is there an issue with my work? - This is important as if the client does have an issue then you need to sort this out pronto or leave.

2. When are you going to pay me my money? - Don't give a toss what his problem is, I just want my money, He's already missed the payment date, I want a confirmed date when the money is going to be in my bank account. All the other flannel he can save for his girlfriend or wife, not my issue.

3. If he misses this deadline then its time to down tools. This isn't about breach of contract or threatening to sue. I tell the client that I haven't been paid as promised and I don't feel obligated to take on any more work till the payment is sorted. This usually occurs with 24 hours. I don't take calls or answer e-mails till the money clears. When the money clears, bright and shiny I pick up my tools and get on with the job till the next time.

Sometimes tulip happens, but what's important is you put yourself right at the front of the queue for your money.

You're hilarious; you know that, right?

[Elliegirl]

You're hilarious; you know that, right?

Shhh.....don't encourage him!

[GillsMan]

Please contribute with your guide to business and how you would handle a late, non paying customer? Or do you just patronise your client till they pay? Is that the secret, find stupid clients with lots of money? Please reveal all... I plan on logging in next week to read your incisive illuminating experienced business led reply.

Hahaha, love the accusation that I'm the one who's patronising, given your reference to saving the flannel (whatever the F that means) for the wife/girlfriend. Honestly, keep it up. I've not heard anyone talk in those terms for a good 20 years.

The way I deal with late paying clients probably won't help those of you with just the one client, because you need that money ASAP, because that's your one source of income. I'm fortunate enough to be in a position where I can handle one or two late paying clients, because we have multiple clients on the go at any one time.

One of my clients is a large law firm, and they are notoriously late payers. But they give us good business, and I know they pay eventually. I send a gentle reminder about a week after the payment is due, and depending on the answer, every 1-2 weeks after that. I did have to get a little stroppy when they were about 60 days overdue (on payment terms of 30 days), but you have to suck it up a little bit being a small business and dealing with a larger client direct. Ultimately, they're one of our best clients, and I know they pay eventually, and we have plenty of other prompt paying clients, so I'm lucky that I can afford to be quite patient with them.

[TheFaQQer]

Please contribute with your guide to business and how you would handle a late, non paying customer? Or do you just patronise your client till they pay? Is that the secret, find stupid clients with lots of money? Please reveal all... I plan on logging in next week to read your incisive illuminating experienced business led reply.

Stupid clients with lots of money have kept me busy ever since I left university

[Eirikur]

Ok, only just got into online banking, logged into my system for the first time Thursday night and found I hadn't been paid for September (I'm on 7 days credit, so more than a week overdue).

It's 2014 and you just used internet banking for the first time?
I suppose you also never progressed past SQL server 1.0 (1989)