Comments on: Lateness on the Edge of Town

By: Lori

Lori — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:46:13 +0000

Good idea, Eileen! Makes it easier when you tell your friend to be a hard-ass, too. LOL I can just imagine my better half and I having this conversation – he's tough!

By: Eileen

Eileen — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 17:58:00 +0000

It can be a little delicate, because you don't want to come across as being more concerned about the money than doing your job. So I just bring it up matter-of-factly when we're discussing other details about the project. When I first started out, this was really hard for me, so I actually role-played it with a friend.

By: Lori

Lori — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 17:48:27 +0000

Got get 'em, Kim. :)

Chantal, you bring up an interesting thought. Bringing up payment at the outset, as Eileen suggests, is a great idea. It's also a fine line, for it's too easy to assume everyone you deal with will forget to pay you (and you have to adopt that thinking in order to protect yourself). I like Eileen's approach because it shows a professional attention to detail.

And as Devon says, it should be spelled out in the contract. But for those cases in which the contract is generated from the client side, you need to make sure it's added. That can help you to bring up payment and late fees without going down anyone's throat at the outset.

By: Kimberly Ben

Kimberly Ben — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 16:36:11 +0000

I have only recently been dealing with late paying clients. My most recent battle for payment was with a small magazine I'd written four articles for.

One thing I don't like doing is chasing money I've worked so hard to earn. I tried being nice sending email reminders and invoice warnings first. The publisher refused to return my emails or phone calls.

Then I threatened to inform a certain writer's organization (he gets a lot of freelance writers from) and Angela Hoy (writersweekly.com). His online reputation was at stake, so he finally responded and sent a check right away. Just add bill collector to my growing list of duties.

By: Chantal

Chantal — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:44:45 +0000

That's smart to talk about it up front. I have been getting frustrated lately with late payments. As a writer in Europe, it's tough when getting paid involves things like different countries and different currencies. And different languages is always fun too–especially when the company you thought you'd get paid from actually tells you to send your bill to another–and they speak French.

By: Devon Ellington

Devon Ellington — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:27:06 +0000

20% late fee that accumulates.

I've rarely had to send out more than one invoice with a late fee, and always gotten the late fee.

It's all spelled out in the contract.

By: Eileen

Eileen — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:21:30 +0000

I have the conversation about invoicing before we begin working together. I ask about their accounts payable system, how they like to receive their invoices, whether they prefer to pay by check, credit card, paypal, or electronic funds transfer. I find out the name of the person in accounts receivable. In getting all the information needed to streamline timely payments, it gives clients less wiggle room with excuses.