Customers NOT Paying-Up!!

TheLinkMaster

12 years ago

wow! That's sad, why not start by sending a friendly email to remind them?

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Lesley Huntley

12 years ago

Just stay on them, the first time it happens, email that day with a friendly reminder. Two days later email them again. Two more days later, suspend their site. Hosting companies do it. If I'm late with my host, they suspend me in 5 days.

Do you outline anything like the steps you will take if they default in your contract? If you give them fair warning, there's no reason you shouldn't suspend if they don't pay.

Thanks
1 reply

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StevieJK

12 years ago

Sorry to hear that, but it does happen.

A recent client of mine did the same thing here in the UK.

I get all clients to sign an agreement to their terms and conditions of service, which details what happens with non-payments.

I tend to give them the benefit of the doubt for a while and gradually get more pressing to give them chance to pay. Eventually you can send an official letterhead in the post saying that they need to pay by x date or you will pursue payment through the small claims court.

Cheers,
Steve.

[ 1 ] Thanks
1 reply

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robgee123

12 years ago

Originally Posted by StevieJK

Sorry to hear that, but it does happen.

A recent client of mine did the same thing here in the UK.

I get all clients to sign an agreement to their terms and conditions of service, which details what happens with non-payments.

I tend to give them the benefit of the doubt for a while and gradually get more pressing to give them chance to pay. Eventually you can send an official letterhead in the post saying that they need to pay by x date or you will pursue payment through the small claims court.

Cheers,
Steve.

Thanks for your reply Steve but 2 of them are friends, or friends of friends & I don't want to go down that road. 1 of the sites is an Ecomm site & is doing really well so if I block it he will be the one losing money

Thanks
2 replies

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vndnbrgj

12 years ago

Originally Posted by robgee123

Thanks for your reply Steve but 2 of them are friends, or friends of friends & I don't want to go down that road. 1 of the sites is an Ecomm site & is doing really well so if I block it he will be the one losing money

Well, right now you are loosing money!

You have two options:
1. Shut them down
2. Let them walk all over you

Don't be intimidated. Don't feel like the bad guy.
If their site is making them money and you shut it down.
They will notice.

You want referrals from them? Birds of a feather, flock together.
If I was you, I wouldn't want any more of these kinds of clients.

Thanks

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Eddie Spangler 12 years ago

Originally Posted by robgee123

...1 of the sites is an Ecomm site & is doing really well so if I block it he will be the one losing money

I think he is the one that will pay the quickest if you shut him down.
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RentItNow

12 years ago

There was a really good thread about this recently titled, What do you do with clients who don't pay up on time?

John Durham's advice worked wonders for me. Actually had two new clients from his advice on it as they loved the site the guy was $200 behind on so Karma won.

I have to admit, it was hard not to cut it off and put a pay now page with payment button.

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Lesley Huntley

12 years ago

I am usually really easy going about everything, but when people start expecting everything from you and giving nothing in return, you start to feel undervalued and resentful. I do agree giving people a break, but you can sense when people are taking the pi** and in this case you are better off without the frustration.

Thanks

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Fernando Veloso

12 years ago

This is what we do: http://www.warriorforum.com/offline-...ml#post5940806

It's not perfect, but it works pretty well, especially the last bit of information: when people get mad cause we unplug them (after payment delays), we kindly ask them what happens when they miss Cable TV/Electricity/Water payments... People often relate quite well to that example.

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iAmNameLess

12 years ago

If someone doesn't pay me, then I find someone who will. Referrals from cheap people aren't referrals I want.

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1 reply

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David Miller 12 years ago

Not to add to the confusion, may I ask if you've spoken with them to see what the problem is?
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sweetcrabhoney18

12 years ago

It might be time to make a phone call and if nothing comes from that it's time to turn their websites off.

This is a business it's not some kind of friendship gig. If you want your money you have to suck it up and request it.

I've been there and it can feel odd at first but hey you've done the work why let "friends" walk all over you? Remain polite and firm and you'll get your payment.

Thanks

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keep moving forward

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redlegrich

12 years ago

"You don't want to piss them off"? OK, then you might want to consider your work charity. Otherwise, shut them down. They should be on auto bill, no payment button or the like. No payment, shut down. 5 days is a nice grace period, but better to do it right away. A larger company has some cushion, do you?

If they were friends they would not put you in this position. Referral, what will they say? Well, I did not pay him and he shut my site down! These guys aren't going to do anything for you.

It's your business so get paid for your hard work.

Thanks

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Matt Lee

12 years ago

This can be really frustrating, but keep in mind your clients are human too. They forget, procrastinate, whatever. Most times a friendly email will resolve the situation. Explain the benefit of why they are paying you to maintain their campaign. If you don't hear back from them via email, give them a call. If they can't be reached, then do what others have recommended and suspend their campaign. You don't work for free, so your clients have to understand that they can't put you off.

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craftziner

12 years ago

Originally Posted by robgee123

Hey Warriors I hope you're well.

I am having a bit of a problem with 3 of my customers at the moment.

They are NOT paying my monthly Maintenance Fee, which was agreed!

I even set-up a special members page on my site where they can go & pay via Paypal & I set-up the payment as a subscription so they only have to do it once then they will be billed on the same day every month.

I have considered blocking their sites or re-directing it to the payment page but I don't want to piss them off as I would like referrals etc from them.

Anyone???

Seems like you made it a lot easy for them to make the payment but they still don't want to pay?

If they are bringing in good referrals, maybe you should call them up and strike a deal with them to bring you "x" new paid clients in "y" days and you can waive their maintenance (or a part of it considering it shouldn't put you in trouble)...

If they are looking at moving away from you, then make the exit graceful I'd say, but give them a timeline by which you get back your resources.

None of the above? Then pull the plug - period! Customer might be the King, but the businessman is the Emperor!

Thanks
1 reply

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mcfcok 12 years ago

Hope you manage to get sorted, if all the above fails, send a crack team round to crack a few heads
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- jacquic 12 years ago
  
  I feel for you!
  
  If it was a non-friend and they hadn't replied to my polite requests to settle the bill, I'd put a maintenance notice on their website (with a polite, carefully crafted message, but that tells the world!).
  
  Friends are more difficult to do that to, so send out your meails/make the phone calls, and also explain if they don't pay, you can't pay your people (hosting, bills, etc), so you'll have no option but to shut down...but they could avoid this by setting up their payment.
  
  Use the suggestions made by the others for when you get new clients.
  
  Good luck! Hope it's sorted soon.
  
  Thanks
  
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Tygamonsta

12 years ago

Take them to court!!

Thanks

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Customers NOT Paying-Up!!

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