Yesterday proved to be a difficult day to get anything done. I had a dentist appointment in the morning – there went three hours. I got home and the phone rang. Normally, I don’t take personal calls in the middle of the work day, but I hadn’t heard from my sister in a few weeks and it was almost lunchtime.
There went two more hours.
I managed a small project in the afternoon, but I felt drowsy almost to the point of dopey. I had taken one Tylenol PM the night before, which normally doesn’t affect me that badly. Wow. I was sitting at this monitor at 5 pm trying to shake out the cobwebs.
I did get calls in to the doctor to check on test results (I’m normal), and I got some routine stuff scheduled (’tis the season for checkups and physicals), so I managed at least that. Plus I talked with a new client (conference contact) and we’ll be talking this week about some of their more pressing projects. And I inquired about a temp job. The recruiter got in touch yesterday and I brushed her off. Then it niggled at me all night. Curious. But looking at it, it’s not for me. I don’t want to add a 60-mile, round-trip commute to my life again. And I’d DIE if I had to put on dress pants again.
I had a question posed by blog reader/lurker Sheri, who asked about using collection agencies to recover delinquent bills from clients. I’ve not used them myself. I use the small-claims litigation threat, which has been successful for me every time. Sheri used it too, but her client has gone completely silent.
So I reached out to other writers and to relatives. I have a sister who worked in collections while earning her law degree. Here’s why you may want to consider collections instead of small claims filings:
It’s relatively inexpensive. Most collections agencies will ask for 25 percent of what they collect. If they collect nothing, you pay nothing.
It’s more of a stigma for clients. Mention a lawsuit and you might get an eye roll or the threat of a counter suit. Mention a collections agency and it conjures up visions of nonstop calls and pestering for funds, plus embarrassment should anyone find out.
They know how to extract payment. It’s what they do. They know the legalities of collection and the key phrases that get clients to pay up.
It takes you out of the equation. Sheri brought this up as a reason to use them, and I agree. Anything that allows you to distance yourself from a client who isn’t paying is a good thing. While my sister said you’d probably lose the client, I reminded her that any client who doesn’t pay me isn’t one I want to keep. If you send someone else to do the dirty work, you can continue conducting business as usual, minus the delinquent.
Do you use a collections agency? Have you ever had to use some form of litigation or collection on a client? How did it work for you?
I haven't had to use collections or small claims court, knock on wood.
Collection agencies seem so sleazy to me… am I wrong?
Re fatigue… I know exactly what you mean as my nose drifts toward the keyboard… must be the stars, right?
Anne, like Lori says, the client isn't paying in the first place. So you probably won't want to work for 'em again. Might as well as use a collection agency to get something rather than nothing. They also do this every day, so they know how to talk to the client.
The sleaziness, I think, comes from these agencies having to deal with non-payees. On top of that, you spend time on your work instead of chasing payment. Don't think many of us realize how much time some businesses spend on this that they rely on collections to save time.
Yeah, something is in the air today. I had time to work this afternoon after working out and got nowhere. You'd think exercise would help? Not today.
I'm considering using one on a client. I've repeatedly contacted accounts department, even asked editor to sort out issue numerous times; no joy. Client is now 60 days in arrears and I no longer send articles to them on a monthly basis, as per my contract. And at this stage, I don't mind losing them either.