| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: How long do you wait before contacting a client about a late payment? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "How long do you wait before contacting a client about a late payment?".
This poll was originally submitted by Stéphane Elner. View the poll results »
| | | | | No follow-up? | Jul 14, 2022 |
While there are currently only 18 votes, "I don't follow up" is in 3rd place. I would be really interested in the reasoning of those who picked that answer. Do you simply accept a delayed payment that may just as well result in a complete non-payment if you don't take any action?
| | | | Birgit Kautz 
France
Local time: 01:21
Member (2020)
French to German
+ ...
| Normal exchange | Jul 14, 2022 |
It's just a normal exchange.
There is a contract, I have to deliever my work until this day, the client has to pay until that day. If I'm late he would contact me quickly too.
| | | | Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 00:21
Member (2008)
Italian to English
| Following up | Jul 14, 2022 |
Alex Lichanow wrote:
While there are currently only 18 votes, "I don't follow up" is in 3rd place. I would be really interested in the reasoning of those who picked that answer. Do you simply accept a delayed payment that may just as well result in a complete non-payment if you don't take any action?
There's no fixed rule. How long I wait would depend on what kind of relationship I have with that particular client.
(If you don't state a payment deadline on your invoices, you're asking for trouble.)
I would start chasing payment the day after the payment deadline on my invoice.
After that, I have my own procedure for ensuring I get paid. But that is not the topic of this thread.
[Edited at 2022-07-14 10:52 GMT]
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John Silva
Brazil
Local time: 21:21
English to Portuguese
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| As soon as possible | Jul 14, 2022 |
I don't wait. I have bills to pay. I always deliver the tasks on time, so when it happens (fortunately, not so often) I get in contact quickly.
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It rarely happens, but I wait a little while, usually not more than a week.
Many of my clients are small agencies or even colleagues, with a lot going on. If I deliver my job at the beginning of the month and the invoice at the end, they may have moved on before it falls due for payment. They apologise and pay at once, end of story. 
I dislike sending reminders, but business is business! I deliver my par... See more It rarely happens, but I wait a little while, usually not more than a week.
Many of my clients are small agencies or even colleagues, with a lot going on. If I deliver my job at the beginning of the month and the invoice at the end, they may have moved on before it falls due for payment. They apologise and pay at once, end of story.
I dislike sending reminders, but business is business! I deliver my part of the bargain and expect to get paid. ▲ Collapse
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All my regulars pay like clockwork, most at 30 days and two of them the day after receiving my invoice. With a new client I will send a reminder as soon as I notice that I haven't been paid. This year so far, I have sent only a reminder and I was paid the following day with apologies for the delay…
[Edited at 2022-07-14 14:55 GMT]
| | | | | A few weeks or months | Jul 14, 2022 |
I don't keep track of payments so I may not notice a missed payment for a while.
There is vanishingly little chance of any of my customers defaulting.
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Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 00:21
Member (2008)
Italian to English
Ice Scream wrote:
I don't keep track of payments so I may not notice a missed payment for a while.
There is vanishingly little chance of any of my customers defaulting.
Oh to have Scandinavian clients...
| | | | | Always contact after few bank days, does not hurt and you should at least get a reply fairly quickly | Jul 14, 2022 |
I'd usually wait a few bank days before contacting, so it depends if there is a weekend in between. Often with long due dates, it is safe to assume that it might take a few days more than expected; however, it is always good to contact after payment being late. In case the client answers, it is usually good to be collaborative and give more time. However, if you get no response within few days, one can assume that payment might be unlikely.
| | | | | Pick your poison | Jul 14, 2022 |
Tom in London wrote:
Ice Scream wrote:
I don't keep track of payments so I may not notice a missed payment for a while.
There is vanishingly little chance of any of my customers defaulting.
Oh to have Scandinavian clients...
It's not the location so much as the type of customer.
Governments and central banks can't default. Large banks and drug companies are highly unlikely to.
| | | | Kay Denney
France
Local time: 01:21
French to English
What happened to "other" as an answer?
I usually start chasing people up if I see that all other bills have been paid for that period.
I have been known to miss the info, and chase up bills several months later.
I earn enough for this not to be a problem.
One client still had several bills owing from 2019 in March 2020, I didn't bother to chase them up because they were only small bills, and since they're an events company I knew they would... See more What happened to "other" as an answer?
I usually start chasing people up if I see that all other bills have been paid for that period.
I have been known to miss the info, and chase up bills several months later.
I earn enough for this not to be a problem.
One client still had several bills owing from 2019 in March 2020, I didn't bother to chase them up because they were only small bills, and since they're an events company I knew they wouldn't have any money to pay me with during Covid. They contacted me a few months ago asking me to translate their website, I said sorry, not if I don't know whether I'll be paid. They were mortified and paid up those outstanding bills immediately. Then I did the work and they paid within the month.
I've noticed that direct clients pay all the more promptly when you bill them almost immediately after delivering, so I no longer wait till the end of the month to bill them. ▲ Collapse
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Michael Harris
Germany
Local time: 01:21
Member (2006)
German to English
| Depends on the customer | Jul 14, 2022 |
and the amount but if it does happen which is very seldom, I chase them up after a few weeks.
| | | | Samuel Murray
Netherlands
Local time: 01:21
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
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Ice Scream wrote:
I don't keep track of payments so I may not notice a missed payment for a while.
There is vanishingly little chance of any of my customers defaulting.
I used to be the same, until the missus convinced me to let her check my bank statements against my invoices every month. That was when I discovered a large client (who was one of my favourite clients) who had never paid. It was all sorted out in the end, but I learnt my lesson.
Most clients do pay. Many clients will tell you if they're missing an invoice. Some clients pay even before you submit the invoice, if they have your banking information. Having someone check the bank statements against the invoices also helps to spot such payments where I may have forgotten to send an invoice, but the client paid anyway.
[Edited at 2022-07-14 12:21 GMT]
| | | | Liena Vijupe
Latvia
Local time: 02:21
Member (2014)
French to Latvian
+ ...
2-3 days for new clients or whenever I notice a significant/unusual delay for everybody else.
I have different payment terms for different clients and I do not check my bank account every day or compare it with due dates on the invoice, I just note the amounts that have been received and see which ones are still on the way. Some clients tend to pay a bit late, but they always pay, no need for a reminder. Once I noticed I have not received payment from a regular client who always pay... See more 2-3 days for new clients or whenever I notice a significant/unusual delay for everybody else.
I have different payment terms for different clients and I do not check my bank account every day or compare it with due dates on the invoice, I just note the amounts that have been received and see which ones are still on the way. Some clients tend to pay a bit late, but they always pay, no need for a reminder. Once I noticed I have not received payment from a regular client who always pays on time, I then checked my e-mails and found that I had forgotten to send them my invoice... ▲ Collapse
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