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Poll: How many of your clients only pay after you send a reminder?
Téma indítója: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
MUNKATÁRS
Oct 20, 2013

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "How many of your clients only pay after you send a reminder?".

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Julian Holmes
Julian Holmes  Identity Verified
Japán
Local time: 10:43
Tag (2011 óta)
japán - angol
We are in a Oct 20, 2013

pile of whatsit! According to this poll, only 24.3% of us get paid on time.

I wrote:
I hope this percentage increases. Otherwise it will just be indicative of what an appalling state our profession is in.


We are in a deep mess if only 24.3% of customers pay on time.




[Edited at 2013-10-20 14:11 GMT]


 
Cecilia Civetta
Cecilia Civetta  Identity Verified
Olaszország
Local time: 03:43
Tag (2003 óta)
olasz - spanyol
+ ...
Just one! Oct 20, 2013

Only one -out of a total of about 20 regular clients- needs more than one reminder, every month. I haven't "left" them yet because we've been working together for about 15 years, I know them personally and I like the jobs they send. But sooner or later I know I'll have to draw a line somewhere, I don't think my patience will last much longer!

 
neilmac
neilmac
Spanyolország
Local time: 03:43
spanyol - angol
+ ...
None Oct 20, 2013

At least not usually. I may have had to send a few reminders over the years, but not too many and certainly not regularly. It's not really an issue.

 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugália
Local time: 02:43
Tag (2007 óta)
angol - portugál
+ ...
None Oct 20, 2013

I am also in the group of the lucky ones! The bulk of my customers pay as agreed. Like Neil I may have had to send a few reminders over the years, but not too many and certainly not regularly. Some years ago (10/15 years) I had a payment problem with two Belgian agencies, but my lawyer solved everything quickly.

 
Thayenga
Thayenga  Identity Verified
Németország
Local time: 03:43
Tag (2009 óta)
angol - német
+ ...
None Oct 20, 2013

After I took my parting from those who not only needed reminders, but from the one in püarticular who still owes me a little, all payments come in like clockwork.

 
José Henrique Lamensdorf
José Henrique Lamensdorf  Identity Verified
Brazília
Local time: 22:43
angol - portugál
+ ...
Az Ő emlékére:
It's random! Oct 20, 2013

Sometimes - and this is not generally so rare - the best clients slip, and need a quick reminder.

One of the fastest and most reliable payers once slipped. After my first reminder, he wrote me that he'd be putting a bee under his accountant's hat to remind him. Payment came half an hour later. Ouch!


Those who need more than one reminder are downgraded
... See more
Sometimes - and this is not generally so rare - the best clients slip, and need a quick reminder.

One of the fastest and most reliable payers once slipped. After my first reminder, he wrote me that he'd be putting a bee under his accountant's hat to remind him. Payment came half an hour later. Ouch!


Those who need more than one reminder are downgraded in my priorities list, especially if all or most of their requests are labeled as urgent. Conversely, those that don't need a reminder get both faster service and me walking the extra mile beyond their expectations.

Clients who need to be reminded via Blue Board get suspended from my clients list for 3-5 years. I'll never have time for their needs in this meantime. So far, all those who a had a second chance after this period confirmed my earlier decision. I wonder if it's worth giving them a third chance, but I'll cross that bridge if and when we ever get there.
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inkweaver
inkweaver  Identity Verified
Németország
Local time: 03:43
francia - német
+ ...
None Oct 20, 2013

I stopped collaborating with one agency that needed reminders every single month and with another one that used to be very reliable in the past but unfortunately changed their attitude towards paying on time.

I always deliver on time so I see it as a matter of mutual respect to get paid on time - without reminders.


 
M. Anna Kańduła
M. Anna Kańduła  Identity Verified
Egyesült Királyság
Local time: 02:43
angol - lengyel
None Oct 20, 2013

If we're talking about regular agencies.

It happened on occasion with one-time or not regular agencies.


 
Heather McCrae
Heather McCrae  Identity Verified
Németország
Local time: 03:43
német - angol
not any more Oct 20, 2013

I weeded out the clients that needed reminders over the years. these days, it is more the other way around! Thanks to nice colleagues who email me to ask when I am sending them my invoice - which I forgot to send)))

Simple rule: Do not work for anyone who treats you without respect.


 
Christine Andersen
Christine Andersen  Identity Verified
Dánia
Local time: 03:43
Tag (2003 óta)
dán - angol
+ ...
These results are incredible! Oct 20, 2013

Maybe it is a cultural thing, but I was brought up to pay on time and deliver my part of the bargain on time - from homework onwards.

Of course we are all human, and I have sent reminders once or twice, but if it begins to happen regularly, I drop the client in question.

Everyone else who sends me invoices expects to get paid on time too.


 
Triston Goodwin
Triston Goodwin  Identity Verified
Egyesült Államok
Local time: 19:43
spanyol - angol
+ ...
We've been lucky lately Oct 21, 2013

We haven't had any payments issues for the last year or so. Like many have already mentioned, we weeded out a lot of our clients and we now enjoy getting paid on time and even early sometimes!

 
Marlene Blanshay
Marlene Blanshay  Identity Verified
Kanada
Local time: 21:43
Tag (2009 óta)
francia - angol
+ ...
one or two Oct 21, 2013

Most of them pay on time, monthly or upon receipt. One or two take a bit longer and i sent reminders from PROZ.

 
Elina Sellgren
Elina Sellgren  Identity Verified
Finnország
Local time: 04:43
Tag (2013 óta)
angol - finn
+ ...
Depends Oct 21, 2013

One client usually pays on time but once I had to remind them. Some I never have to remind. If it's a one-person outsourcer, I am more understanding because I can relate to how easily you can forget things if you're not superorganized. And even then I sometimes forget. So reminders every now and then are fine, with human beings.

But NOT with an agency. An agency should have its stuff together and have all financial matters so organized that nothing is forgotten or goes missing. And
... See more
One client usually pays on time but once I had to remind them. Some I never have to remind. If it's a one-person outsourcer, I am more understanding because I can relate to how easily you can forget things if you're not superorganized. And even then I sometimes forget. So reminders every now and then are fine, with human beings.

But NOT with an agency. An agency should have its stuff together and have all financial matters so organized that nothing is forgotten or goes missing. And they should not need loans from translators to keep their cash flow going.
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Marjolein Snippe
Marjolein Snippe  Identity Verified
Hollandia
Local time: 03:43
Tag (2012 óta)
angol - holland
+ ...
not his fault... Oct 21, 2013

I have had to remind one client to pay me - they got back to me asking for the invoice - which it turned out I had never sent them in the first place.... They payed promptly upon receipt.

 
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Poll: How many of your clients only pay after you send a reminder?






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