Reply to: "problems with our new accounting dept."

[Zippy]

Hope you get it sorted out Chef.

[Mich the Tester]

Bitching over 3 days late? You prima donna you

The 3 days late is less worrying than the excuse, which looks like a standard excuse for people who can't pay.

[d000hg]

only in the last 4 months have they started being 1 day/3days/5days.. late.

Bitching over 3 days late? You prima donna you

[chef]

Oh dear. Are they having a christmas do?

no, thanks for cheering me up.. but enjoy your ageny's one tonight

[doodab]

I got the following response to my now standard monthly email of "I was due to be paid today, I haven't been" email



Not impressed.. a reply stating that

- you do realise "problems with new accounting company" is the classic delay tactic or statement made by a company in financial trouble
- several months ago this exact same statement was made to a good friend of mine who also worked via you which was embarrassing as I had highly reccommended you to him
- ending with "If you cannot pay me as contractually stated today then as my statutory right interest and compensation will be charged to my next invoice in accordance with the late payment of commercial debts (interest) Act."

I hate it when agencies dont pay on time.. it makes it even worse when it's one I've had a good working relationship with for the last 8 years but only in the last 4 months have they started being 1 day/3days/5days.. late..

arrghhh

3 month extension with client co has been all but approved via the phone today.. a good time to renegotiate the invoice monthly, pay 7 days later payment terms.

Oh dear. Are they having a christmas do?

[PAH]

Dump them stating breach of contract, stay at clientco, ask around among the other contractors to find a solvent agent if you can't go direct.

This is what I had to do, though by then the agency was obviously in their death throes so didn't argue when the client said they were ending the contract and using a different agency.

Apparently if you refuse to work due to non payment the client can terminate their contract with the agency due to the agency breaching their contract with the client, allowing the client to work with a different agency.

Depends on the client and how valuable you are to them. They may bottle it (not wanting to risk any legal battles) and decide to get a different contractor in instead.

[Mich the Tester]

Dump them stating breach of contract, stay at clientco, ask around among the other contractors to find a solvent agent if you can't go direct. I suspect this will be happening more often in the coming months.

[SorenLorensen]

I'd be very concerned...I had an agency give me that exact excuse a few months back...eventually had to ditch them and go direct with the client. Wonder if it's the same agency or if this is a new agency excuse...

[PAH]

<exactly 50% of invoiced amount>

good working relationship with for the last 8 years but only in the last 4 months have they started being 1 day/3days/5days.. late..

Alarm bells are ringing, that's not tinnitus.

If they can pay half they can pay the lot, unless they have cash flow problems.

I'd be demanding weekly or fortnightly invoicing with a max 5 day payment term after invoice, and state that late payment will result in downing of tools. Inform the client of the issues immediately so the agency know you're not bluffing.

Charging late payment interest is no use if they stop paying at all. Try to limit exposure as much as you can then if they go tits up they only steal a few weeks money. If you remain on monthly payment terms and they are in dire straits they will start delaying to 2 or more months and then not pay them all.

I speak from bitter experience.

[chef]

Your agent calls you Chef???

yes, yes he does ..

[northernladuk]

Your agent calls you Chef???

[DodgyAgent]

hehe I wish I was and then this "new" accounting system of theirs wouldn't be so flaky as they claim and put my double payment right to the top of the list..

FTFY

[chef]

are you working on the accounting systems by any chance?

hehe I wish I was and then this "new" accounting system of theirs wouldn't be so flaky as they claim and put my payment right to the top of the list..

[Peoplesoft bloke]

Danger Will Robinson

[DodgyAgent]

I got the following response to my now standard monthly email of "I was due to be paid today, I haven't been" email



Not impressed.. a reply stating that

- you do realise "problems with new accounting company" is the classic delay tactic or statement made by a company in financial trouble
- several months ago this exact same statement was made to a good friend of mine who also worked via you which was embarrassing as I had highly reccommended you to him
- ending with "If you cannot pay me as contractually stated today then as my statutory right interest and compensation will be charged to my next invoice in accordance with the late payment of commercial debts (interest) Act."

I hate it when agencies dont pay on time.. it makes it even worse when it's one I've had a good working relationship with for the last 8 years but only in the last 4 months have they started being 1 day/3days/5days.. late..

arrghhh

3 month extension with client co has been all but approved via the phone today.. a good time to renegotiate the invoice monthly, pay 7 days later payment terms.

are you working on the accounting systems by any chance?