Over due invoices

[Curtis Hinds]

Hey guys. Question here. What experience have you guys had with clients who do not pay on time (i am talking about 2 months past due).
Taking into account that you have already gone throught the usual 'ropes' phone call - another invoice with OVERDUE written in caps.
I am about 220lbs and a former semi pro middle linebacker. I some times wonder if putting that in large caps on the invoice would help LOL.
Any suggestions or advice?

:headwall

[Mick]

It depends a lot on your relationship with the client. I have one who is somewhat of a friend. He runs a balance all summer - one season to the next and I don't really care. If it's purely business; what I do is let them know from the very beginning how I deal with non-payment. Bills go out at the end of the month and due by the 20th of the next month. If payment hasn't been rec'd, I send a past due notice. In that, I note that I will discontinue service if not recieved by the last day of the month. If not rec'd by the first day of the following month, I discontinue service. I've only had two like that - one for $50 and another for $75. I decided it wasn't worth pursuing.

I also let it be known that I will not plow again for anyone who I discontinued service for non-payment, bad check etc. I also will not take back anyone who "fires" me.

ADVICE - Cut them loose as soon as possible. Not worth the aggravation or possibly building up a bigger bill in hopes of getting paid "someday".

[wyldman]

It does depend on the client.I have sevaral old accounts that always hold us out 90-120 days,but they always pay.Just the way it works sometimes.

Go visit them in person,and find out why they aren't paying,sometimes it works,and they will pay up.A lot of them are just lazy,and slow in paying.

Any accounts I am unsure of,or unable to contact,we just stop service,along with a registered letter notifying them of this.The registered letter is a must,so you can confirm that they were notified,and they are now liable for anything that may happen,as you are no longer servicing the property.Stopping service usually works,and there is a check in the mail at the next hint of snow.I've had a few hand deliver them,if a big storm is expected.

[Joey D]

I am about 220lbs and a former semi pro middle linebacker. I some times wonder if putting that in large caps on the invoice would help LOL.
Any suggestions or advice?

:headwall [/B]

Maybe the guy is a 165lb Bruce Lee replica that likes to toss semi pro linebackers around just to make them look bad.:D
I think it works out to be that some people are slow payers and if the want to do that then they need to pay more to cover the aggrivation.

[cutntrim]

I have a low tolerance for late-payers and I don't really like the method of sending a bunch of reminders/statements etc...in the mail. I prefer to deal face-to-face, it usually gets things moving.

I find that the largest accounts are usually the slowest to pay, they insist on 45day grace periods after receiving their invoices. Being that you're self-employed it's up to you whether or not you'll agree to that. Ultimately you are the boss.

[GreenQuest Lawn]

Plain and simple. Cut off service untill they pay. I usually send them a notice just before a snow storm and state that unless I get a check they WILL NOT be plowed.

It's also in my contracts.