Dude, Where’s My Cash?
I’ve been pretty fortunate this year in collecting what’s due me. Usually, I’m paid within a month or two (and yes, that’s late) of invoice. These are regular clients, so it’s a bit more predictable. However, there’s always one. This particular one has a deliquent bill of six months. Honestly, I’d forgotten about it for a month or two, but I sent off three invoices and all were met with stone-cold silence. Yesterday I put together a paper invoice and sent it, along with sending yet one more email, this time mentioning litigation. If I had this client’s phone number, I’d have called months ago. Alas, it was an email-only kind of relationship.
It’s a smaller amount (three numbers before the decimal point), but it’s my smaller amount, and I worked for it. A writer friend and I were discussing it yesterday, and he said the same thing – some writers would be afraid to press for it. Not me – I’ve developed a distaste for ignored bills. I’m not mean, but I’m persistent. It’s treated as a necessary part of the business – it’s not personal.
You ought to be just as persistent in your collections. I wrote something about my magic phrase, which has been a godsend to me. But you should set up some sort of plan for collection. Here’s mine. It’s not difficult, and having a plan will help you be more confident in collection when you come to that point (and we all do) when you have to use your final option.
I’m persistent too…but sometimes I’m also mean. ;o) And the amount is irrelevant. Right now, I’ve got two outstanding invoices with two digits in front of the decimal point and I intend to collect both of them. I have to say that I too have had a pretty darn good year in terms of being paid in a timely manner. Knock on wood, I’ve got no bad debt thus far.
Lori,
I’ve been fortunate and seldom need your good advice about collections, but I’m glad to be reminded.
I’ve just posted a list of my favorite writing blogs, and you’re on it.