4 ms·

What I would write: Dear X, Approx. 5 weeks ago I sent you an invoice (reference XXXX) for £XX after completion of the following work by myself: XXXX. So far

by ErrantX 16y ago

What I would write: Dear X, Approx. 5 weeks ago I sent you an invoice (reference XXXX) for £XX after completion of the following work by myself: XXXX. So far payment has not been made on this invoice; could you please give me a call on XXXX so that we can discuss this in person and arrange a suitable time-scale for transfer of funds. I will try to call you myself in the next few days so that, at some point, we are able to discuss this directly. As a student this represents a substantial portion of my income so I am sure you understand how important timely payment is to me. Thanks, X (or in other words: get him on the phone with you)

SandB0x 16y ago
Looks good, thanks. I'm a touch wary of him phoning me up with a sob story. What if he says "Sorry, it's been a tough few months - I can pay you in July" - do I take that or say that the payment is already late^ and demand it be paid sooner? ^ http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?r.s=sc&r.l1=1073858790&r.lc=en&r.l3=1074002362&r.l2=1074453392&type=RESOURCES&itemId=1073792169 http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?r.s=sc&#3...
- ErrantX 16y ago
  I feel your concern, I've always struggled with phone conversations (none of the visual clues of face-to-face but without the buffer email gives). Anyway I would advise... Just stay firm (as opposed to demand). If he asks for delay then maybe offer something you can cope with but isn't as vague as "next month". 7 days, 14 days - something like that. Offer a specific date it will be paid by. Don't be pushed back though; invent some reason why you need the money (i.e. rent payment etc.) if needed. Then when you hang up send him a confirmation email with that date in it. At the end of the day as a contractor his sob stories are not really your problem. On the other hand your financial difficulties are. A little "me first" attitude is appropriate in these situations (stops you being fobbed off). EDIT: this is a good learning experience btw. It's not just for contractors but all sorts of companies will delay or "forget" to pay you. Where I work the woman who does all the admin spends a good 20% of her time chasing invoices (it has made me resolve to settle every bill I get as soon as I can from now on!)
- jodrellblank 16y ago
  Whichever you need to. What are and aren't you willing to accept? His sob story should not make you feel bad and the fact that you are imagining in advance a sob story which will then compell you to do something you don't want to is ... a bug in your behaviour which you should notice about yourself and solve one day. "I completed this work in good faith 5 weeks ago; early July is another four weeks and that's going to be tough for me, but if you are struggling we can work something out - can you pay half of it now and the rest in July?". Perhaps. You are his equal, a business person discussing a transaction. You have the right to chase this payment without feeling guilty.
  - SandB0x 16y ago
    What I had in mind when I wrote the grandparent/reply is that bringing in guilt in the form of As a student this represents a substantial portion of my income so I am sure you understand how important timely payment is to me. would make it fair game for him to bring up any of his problems. I completely agree with you that business is business. He's not running a shelter for orphaned kittens or anything.
    - mirkules 16y ago
      "As a student this represents a substantial portion of my income so I am sure you understand how important timely payment is to me." This is the first line in the original poster's response I've noticed. In my opinion, you should NOT include this in your email, as 1) it will not help get your payment sooner in any way (he seems like the type to have no conscious) and 2) it gives him leverage, control and power over the negotiations. You should not give away information like that involuntarily.
      - ErrantX 16y ago
        I disagree; I think it's a pretty important line. The aim was less about it being a sob story and more about introducing the idea, without accusation, that he is being slow and unreasonable. You do have something of a point; but I don't think it will open the way for him to control negotiations. It was deliberately worded to be neutral with no suggestion that the writer is desperate for money. On the other hand; if the gp is concerned then anything will do. Perhaps "I like to ensure a steady inflow of money whilst contracting and, as you can imagine, a missed payment can affect my bookkeeping" (that wasn't a very good example - it's early - but yu get the idea). Finally; if it does amount to leverage it is only a little. On he other hand the gp has the big gun of the 30 day limit to hand - that is definitely something not to mention till on the phone :-)
angelbob 16y ago
This is good. Maybe also mention the 30-day UK credit period (with which I, as a California resident, am unfamiliar).
mixmax 16y ago
This is a good approach. Noone enjoys explaining face-to-face why they owe you money, and will probably do what they can to avoid this potentiallly embarrassing phone call. If you come off as a really nice guy that really needs the money it'll help your case. You're a student and you don't have any money for the summer. i've noted over the years that the people you deal with mirror your mood. If you act as a nice guy they act nicely. If you send in a lawyer they'll send in their lawyer. If you scream and shout they'll do the same. And screaming and shouting gives an excuse to believe that you're an idiot and don't deserve the money anyway or if cash is the problem for the company that someone else is first in line. Act nicely but be firm. Make it clear that you're not going to go see your aunt Betty before she dies of lung cancer this summer if you don't get the money. (OK, maybe that's a little thick but you get the point) Make him feel guilty.
- ErrantX 16y ago
  This is pretty much copy/pasted from a boiler plate text I have (with some modifications). It's such a common problem in my contract work; the moderate but persistent tone took several iterations to get right. First time I wrote such a letter it was basically a bit of a rant and the solution was protracted to say the least. As you say: getting them on the phone (or often just the threat of being on the phone with you) is one of the best motivators :D

by ErrantX 16y ago

SandB0x 16y ago

Looks good, thanks. I'm a touch wary of him phoning me up with a sob story. What if he says "Sorry, it's been a tough few months - I can pay you in July" - do I take that or say that the payment is already late^ and demand it be paid sooner? ^ http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?r.s=sc&r.l1=1073858790&r.lc=en&r.l3=1074002362&r.l2=1074453392&type=RESOURCES&itemId=1073792169 http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?r.s=sc&#3...

ErrantX 16y ago
I feel your concern, I've always struggled with phone conversations (none of the visual clues of face-to-face but without the buffer email gives). Anyway I would advise... Just stay firm (as opposed to demand). If he asks for delay then maybe offer something you can cope with but isn't as vague as "next month". 7 days, 14 days - something like that. Offer a specific date it will be paid by. Don't be pushed back though; invent some reason why you need the money (i.e. rent payment etc.) if needed. Then when you hang up send him a confirmation email with that date in it. At the end of the day as a contractor his sob stories are not really your problem. On the other hand your financial difficulties are. A little "me first" attitude is appropriate in these situations (stops you being fobbed off). EDIT: this is a good learning experience btw. It's not just for contractors but all sorts of companies will delay or "forget" to pay you. Where I work the woman who does all the admin spends a good 20% of her time chasing invoices (it has made me resolve to settle every bill I get as soon as I can from now on!)
jodrellblank 16y ago
Whichever you need to. What are and aren't you willing to accept? His sob story should not make you feel bad and the fact that you are imagining in advance a sob story which will then compell you to do something you don't want to is ... a bug in your behaviour which you should notice about yourself and solve one day. "I completed this work in good faith 5 weeks ago; early July is another four weeks and that's going to be tough for me, but if you are struggling we can work something out - can you pay half of it now and the rest in July?". Perhaps. You are his equal, a business person discussing a transaction. You have the right to chase this payment without feeling guilty.
- SandB0x 16y ago
  What I had in mind when I wrote the grandparent/reply is that bringing in guilt in the form of As a student this represents a substantial portion of my income so I am sure you understand how important timely payment is to me. would make it fair game for him to bring up any of his problems. I completely agree with you that business is business. He's not running a shelter for orphaned kittens or anything.
  - mirkules 16y ago
    "As a student this represents a substantial portion of my income so I am sure you understand how important timely payment is to me." This is the first line in the original poster's response I've noticed. In my opinion, you should NOT include this in your email, as 1) it will not help get your payment sooner in any way (he seems like the type to have no conscious) and 2) it gives him leverage, control and power over the negotiations. You should not give away information like that involuntarily.
    - ErrantX 16y ago
      I disagree; I think it's a pretty important line. The aim was less about it being a sob story and more about introducing the idea, without accusation, that he is being slow and unreasonable. You do have something of a point; but I don't think it will open the way for him to control negotiations. It was deliberately worded to be neutral with no suggestion that the writer is desperate for money. On the other hand; if the gp is concerned then anything will do. Perhaps "I like to ensure a steady inflow of money whilst contracting and, as you can imagine, a missed payment can affect my bookkeeping" (that wasn't a very good example - it's early - but yu get the idea). Finally; if it does amount to leverage it is only a little. On he other hand the gp has the big gun of the 30 day limit to hand - that is definitely something not to mention till on the phone :-)

angelbob 16y ago

This is good. Maybe also mention the 30-day UK credit period (with which I, as a California resident, am unfamiliar).

mixmax 16y ago

This is a good approach. Noone enjoys explaining face-to-face why they owe you money, and will probably do what they can to avoid this potentiallly embarrassing phone call. If you come off as a really nice guy that really needs the money it'll help your case. You're a student and you don't have any money for the summer. i've noted over the years that the people you deal with mirror your mood. If you act as a nice guy they act nicely. If you send in a lawyer they'll send in their lawyer. If you scream and shout they'll do the same. And screaming and shouting gives an excuse to believe that you're an idiot and don't deserve the money anyway or if cash is the problem for the company that someone else is first in line. Act nicely but be firm. Make it clear that you're not going to go see your aunt Betty before she dies of lung cancer this summer if you don't get the money. (OK, maybe that's a little thick but you get the point) Make him feel guilty.

ErrantX 16y ago
This is pretty much copy/pasted from a boiler plate text I have (with some modifications). It's such a common problem in my contract work; the moderate but persistent tone took several iterations to get right. First time I wrote such a letter it was basically a bit of a rant and the solution was protracted to say the least. As you say: getting them on the phone (or often just the threat of being on the phone with you) is one of the best motivators :D