the thing is with being self employed for so long, despite all the agro that comes with it, once you`ve been there the idea of working for someone else and have to take all the bulls*** from so called managers/gaffers just does not sound appealing, which is why many plod on regardless
- Thread starter Mr Fro
- Start date
The problem is that it nips your head when others owe you money for a length of time.
When busy, you are happy to get the invoices out. You tell yourself it is money in the bank and you are better having money lying out than no work.
Those companies who did double glazing early on had the right idea. When the job was finished the cheque was paid there and then. That was the contract as signed. The flip side was the 10year warranty of course.
When busy, you are happy to get the invoices out. You tell yourself it is money in the bank and you are better having money lying out than no work.
Those companies who did double glazing early on had the right idea. When the job was finished the cheque was paid there and then. That was the contract as signed. The flip side was the 10year warranty of course.
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An SE friend had a good tactic for overdue payers, he turned up in reception and asked to be paid, the receptionist told him accounts would post the cheque, he then rolled out his sleeping bag on the reception chairs and got in it, accounts came down with the cheque in a few minutes
brightspark
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where else can u get a free overdraft. the banks certainly wont, -they lend your money free -interest . u have to pay the wholesalers at the end of -the month whether u have been paid or not 
keep on at. it i expect to be paid a month and a week at the latest and point that- out -or i wont do the work
keep on at. it i expect to be paid a month and a week at the latest and point that- out -or i wont do the work
Mr Fro
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You're a bunch of tough buggers aren't you! 
Mike - thanks for the link, it's great to see something sensible from Gov for once.
I just gave them a buzz and got another load of excuses from a bloke who doesn't give a monkeys. I gave them until next Friday to pay or I'll slap interest on the invoice. Watch this space...
Mike - thanks for the link, it's great to see something sensible from Gov for once.
I just gave them a buzz and got another load of excuses from a bloke who doesn't give a monkeys. I gave them until next Friday to pay or I'll slap interest on the invoice. Watch this space...
Shox Dr
Chief Engineer to Carlos Fandango
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You're a bunch of tough buggers aren't you!
Mike - thanks for the link, it's great to see something sensible from Gov for once.
I just gave them a buzz and got another load of excuses from a bloke who doesn't give a monkeys. I gave them until next Friday to pay or I'll slap interest on the invoice. Watch this space...
You've given into them twice now. Be assertive form the start. (bit late now). Get a letter off to them, stating interest has been charged from the invoice date.
Don't be saying stuff like, OK pay me by friday, because all that does is let them know you're off their back until then.
IT IS YOUR MONEY. Not theirs. You earnt it.
Go get'em tiger
it is about being tough as you called it, this is business, its about YOUR survival in business, think about this scenario, how about if it was more than one company/business owing you money and your bank account was getting strained and you were receiving calls demands for payment, can you see where this is goingYou're a bunch of tough buggers aren't you!
Mike - thanks for the link, it's great to see something sensible from Gov for once.
I just gave them a buzz and got another load of excuses from a bloke who doesn't give a monkeys. I gave them until next Friday to pay or I'll slap interest on the invoice. Watch this space...
i held a van full of goods once because of a trier, and just said if my money (a few grand) was not at his reception by end of play i will hold your goods with the intention to selling them to what is owed,
while that was not strictly within the law its worked, never had any more work off him, but, hey was i bothered, i got my money and he had a few problems getting transport,
on another occasion different company, the owner was straight with me, and turned out he had been shafted, so we came to an agreement that he paid me so much each week, which he did, when he got sorted out we traded again with no problems,
if he dont pay by friday, put your size 10`s on and go get it, (legally speaking that is)
slim_boy_fat
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Some of the major oil companies used to be the worst offenders for delaying payment. 
clift_d
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An SE friend had a good tactic for overdue payers, he turned up in reception and asked to be paid, the receptionist told him accounts would post the cheque, he then rolled out his sleeping bag on the reception chairs and got in it, accounts came down with the cheque in a few minutes
LOL.
I've gone in the past and sat in someones office until they've filled out the cheque for me. It helps if you go first thing in the morning and take your sandwiches with you so that you've got lunch already.
super noob
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You can always threaten to reclaim your property for their incompletion of the contract
colnerov
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Hi, A few years ago I was after fluorescent lights for the workshop, On ebay was a joblot of 30 5 footers. I won and when I went to pick them up they were all brand new. He said that he had put 60 into a industrial unit/store, they didn't pay him so he went back and stripped them all out again and sold them in 2 lots to get his money back. He said he lost out on his labour but more importantly they didn't gain.
Colin
If it's so difficult getting paid would you want to do work for them again?
BrokenBiker
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Doing work for these types of people and letting them get away with it is how small businesses end up going bust
MattF
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You're a bunch of tough buggers aren't you!
It's not so much that, but a lot of places will take the pee if you allow them to. They chase up their debtors for late payments, so why should they expect preferential treatment. There are odd occasions where you know that certain places won't pay on time but can be trusted to pay within a certain period, so they can usually be given a tad of leeway. If a new customer paid late though and came out with crappy excuses, they should either have the law laid down straight away else become an ex-customer quickly. Any fool can work for free, but your bills don't stop just because they think they can do as they please, and if it's some(one|where) that you haven't been dealing with for long, hence haven't had time to build up a bit of trust with them, then that type of arrogance on their part is a good indication of the crap you can expect from them forever onwards.
It's always a tough one when you stand the risk of losing repeat work by being strict, but you have to make it clear from the start that they either adhere to your rules else find someone else. If it starts off badly, it usually won't improve unless you force it. Main thing is to just stay polite and not get snotty. Badger the crap out of them if you must, but do it nicely, and make sure you keep on top of them in future.
NickyEng
Brown belt in Origami
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I have a nightmare getting payed from my customers. I have Marine & Hydraulic Engineering company.
I give my commercial customers 30 days and leisure boat customers are due on completion of work. The companies are always late and I have to chase some have been upto 90 Days which has nearly put me under.a few times if the bank won't help.
The leisure boat customers just give me bull**** stories about Internet banking not working or the payments Been sent and dosn't turn up As a delaying tactic.
The boat customers who are well off are usually worst payers. I sick of it and would be happy to Have a Job and salary.
I give my commercial customers 30 days and leisure boat customers are due on completion of work. The companies are always late and I have to chase some have been upto 90 Days which has nearly put me under.a few times if the bank won't help.
The leisure boat customers just give me bull**** stories about Internet banking not working or the payments Been sent and dosn't turn up As a delaying tactic.
The boat customers who are well off are usually worst payers. I sick of it and would be happy to Have a Job and salary.
put your foot down, its your business thats going to get ruined, why should you have to have an overdraft to support others business`s
brightspark
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put your -prices up and it will compensate for your waiting time for the money
MattF
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I used to do that with one of my customers. If they arsed about with payment, I'd add an extra ten or twenty quid on next time around. It took a few tries, but the penny must've dropped with them eventually because they became less erratic.
NickyEng
Brown belt in Origami
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I do my best pal. I am a sole trader so I spend alot of time busting my balls all day trying to get the work done and finished. (same as every other self employed guy)Get home try and get the invoices made up which can be quite technical for boat repairs - Tons of parts etc, Send out the invoice then try to keep the balls in the air and chase the money.
If there is anyone on here deals with leisure boat customers say no more - they will know what I mean. They can be a nightmare, they don't use the boat for months, preventative maintenance is out of the window.
Then the boat breaks down and they pester the living daylights out of you at all times of the day. You get the repairs done then they don't want to pay and believe you me I don't have a lot of patience by that point. Some even say there is another problem on the boat ( which has nothing to do with what I was doing or working on) so they say they are withholding payment. then I blow a gasket with the guy on occasion when I know he us taking the p**s. I have even immobilised non payers boats in past. Court cases, decrees against owners and finally sherriff officers arrest the boat once have a decree ( that bit can take a good while)
