Fighting Back Against Late Payment Culture

[itschrisnow]

I belong to a group of IT specialists, and we would like to build a B2B review website where contractors would be able to rate and write extremely high-quality reviews about their agents, with an emphasis on late payment and non-payment.

We would like to offer an option where contractors could post their reviews anonymously, however, we would still need to ask the contractors to upload proof of identity, evidence of contracts agreed, proof of completed work etc.

I've got quite a few questions to ask so I'm hoping to start quite a discussion on this thread, however, my main question is what might deter contractors from posting reviews about their agents, and what could be done to help contractors feel safe if they felt the need to name and shame a late payer?

[northernladuk]

Anonymous reviews. That's gonna be useful.

We've discussed this a number of times and the general consensus is it wont work for a number of reasons. I'll try find the last thread on this.

[northernladuk]

Here you go.

http://forums.contractoruk.com/busin...s-ratings.html

[tomtomagain]

What might deter contractors from posting reviews about their agents, and what could be done to help contractors feel safe if they felt the need to name and shame a late payer?

Because it is pointless.

The contractor does not choose the agent. The client choose the agent. The contractor applies to the client via agent.

The agent holds the key to the contract.

It is not the same relationship as say, choosing a plumber or second hand car dealer.

If there's a contract going with your skill-set for an acceptable rate then people will apply. Regardless of whether or not the agent representing the client has got a couple of low star reviews or not.

[MrMarkyMark]

I belong to a group of IT specialists, and we would like to build a B2B review website where contractors would be able to rate and write extremely high-quality reviews about their agents, with an emphasis on late payment and non-payment.

We would like to offer an option where contractors could post their reviews anonymously, however, we would still need to ask the contractors to upload proof of identity, evidence of contracts agreed, proof of completed work etc.

I've got quite a few questions to ask so I'm hoping to start quite a discussion on this thread, however, my main question is what might deter contractors from posting reviews about their agents, and what could be done to help contractors feel safe if they felt the need to name and shame a late payer?

Most people won't be happy giving that info. Plus what NLUK says.

[LondonManc]

You never know at what level a particular decision has been made.

If you're invoicing an agency then your contract is with them.
However, do you know who exactly within the agency is responsible for paying you?
Are you happy to slag someone off who may not be responsible for paying you? That's as bad as blindly sharing a "do not shop there" post on Facecrap, potentially damaging someone who doesn't deserve it because of one person's perceived bad experience. Fraught with danger and potential libel and on that basis, I'm out.

[FrontEnder]

Most people won't be happy giving that info. Plus what NLUK says.

Absolutely no way i'd give that info.

[kaiser78]

Agencies do not have bad reputations just for late payments - I presume you would expect these other areas to be provided reviews on as well ?

[SlipTheJab]

... would be about as much use as a Chocolate Fireguard

[missinggreenfields]

I belong to a group of IT specialists, and we would like to build a B2B review website where contractors would be able to rate and write extremely high-quality reviews about their agents, with an emphasis on late payment and non-payment.

From personal experience and anecdotal evidence, you might be really limitiing yourself to a handful of reviews. I've been paid late by a client when direct, but never late by an agency.

There is the odd post here now and then (and some people might conflate that to presume that there is a worrying trend amongst agents not paying, particularly the final invoice) but given the volume of posts on contracting forums, and the question of how often late payment from an agency comes up, I think you'll be struggling.

Now, freelancers getting paid late or not at all, or other small businesses (a friend of mine normally has to chase late payment on 90 day terms because his clients use him as an interest free overdraft), then you might have something - but I don't see there being an epidemic of agents not paying or paying late.

#nofreework