How to get money out of a client/your employer

gavinlit · 10-19-2005, 06:25 PM

I'm currently owed around the 14k mark from one of my employers. While I continue to receive my regular salary/wage I also charge hourly for unusual contract type jobs. It's these extra payments that are slow in arriving (14 weeks now).

So, given they are a govt dept I know they will come good eventually so I don't want to pss anyone off too much (or maybe no contracts next year right), but I also think there's a limit to anyones patience and polite requests/queries and frankly - I'd like the money now that I've done the work.

How do you guys deal with people being slow on the payment front when you still want to work for them?

motion · 10-19-2005, 07:43 PM

Personally, I just suck it up and be thankful I have work. Times could be worse, ya know?

bryanthompson · bryanthompson's Garage

We're gonna need to go ahead and move you downstairs into storage B. We have some new people coming in, and we need all the space we can get. So if you could go ahead and pack up your stuff and move it down there, that would be terrific, OK?

Joeaksa · 10-19-2005, 08:23 PM

Remind them that after a certain time point that interest accrues on monies owed.

If they are not willing to pay you for the time you have spent while working on their projects, then stop accepting the OT. When they ask why, show them the funds that they owe you and tell them that you are happy to work but your time is as valuable as anyone elses.

JoeA

pbs911 · pbs911's Garage

If you were in CA I could tell you ecxactly your rights. Being down under I would be guessing.

EdT82SC · 10-19-2005, 08:57 PM

I've had long delays on a couple contract jobs I did. I took the advice of my father, who has been contracting for over 30 years now. I was billing net 30. So he told me to send them overdue notices after they're 30 days. Then again at 60 days. At 75 days they get a notice that work will stop if payment is not made by 90 days. That seemed to work for corporate customers. But that's still 90 days.

I used to work for a company that did government contracts with the U.S. government. It was not unusual for them to pay more then 6 months after billing. It kind of came with the territory. You know you'll get paid, but not how quickly. Since we were a small company we were low on the payment totem pole. Sometimes they'd wait to see if they had any money left in the budget at the end of the fiscal year, and pay you if they have money. If not you get paid out of the next year's budget.

Milu · 10-19-2005, 11:24 PM

Add X% to your billable rate.

gavinlit · 10-19-2005, 11:40 PM

Thanks for the advice everyone. I've decided to keep it cool & keep asking for now, but the rate just went up for all hours from this point on

It's the best I can do wrt hitting them for interest.

lendaddy · 10-20-2005, 05:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by gavinlit
Thanks for the advice everyone. I've decided to keep it cool & keep asking for now, but the rate just went up for all hours from this point on It's the best I can do wrt hitting them for interest.

Squeaky wheel gets the grease. Be polite, be persistent, if they have money you'll get paid.

TyFenn · 10-20-2005, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bryanthompson
We're gonna need to go ahead and move you downstairs into storage B. We have some new people coming in, and we need all the space we can get. So if you could go ahead and pack up your stuff and move it down there, that would be terrific, OK?

---"oh! There's my red swingline stapler. I'll go ahead grab that back from you now Milton." "That'd be great!"

asphaltgambler · 10-20-2005, 01:14 PM

Definately do net 30, AND tag on reasonable rate for holding your $$ for "X" amount of days after.

motion · 10-20-2005, 01:18 PM

Another trick is to offer a 3% discount for invoices paid within 15 days of receipt. You're giving up a little, but those bean-counters will go for that more often than not.

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

get your personal deliveries at work:

hmm...maybe I won't ship to work next time

gassy · 10-20-2005, 02:03 PM

We have net 30 on our invoices. Never see payment by then. At 45, a polite call. At 60, a polite call. When paid, a small gift--box o' chocs, etc. and a follow up thank you call. It takes a bit, but eventually when they see your invoices, they may walk them through.