Invoicing correctly for slow or bad payers

[paul&mandy]

I've a bad feeling I'm going to be messed about big time for some work I've completed. Hopefully I'm wrong...
What's the best way of invoicing? Usually put 30 days but I kind of want less. Nothing was agreed for invoicing terms.
I just want to go in shouting pay me or xyz as I know people have money just won't pay who they think they'll get away with after some homework...

 

[Bob c]

I deliver hay , few loads spread of the month, invoice sent in first day of next month
payments, if no payment received, auto generated reminder invoice sent on day 25, on day 35 auto generated invoice asking payment straight away

on incoming invoice, sheep dipping one day, next day invoice comes, 30 days

 

[Jato]

Deliver and pass the invoice by hand, this then puts the “response to the invoice” over on to the customer. At that point you have the opportunity to state payment terms if they do not offer to pay on receiving your invonce.

 

[Still Farming]

Hope not a BIG bill.
Any bill not paid is a worry though.

 

[David.]

It is not uncommon to get invoices stating payment within 14 days of receipt, or even payment due immediately please.

 

[Chae1]

I've a bad feeling I'm going to be messed about big time for some work I've completed. Hopefully I'm wrong...
What's the best way of invoicing? Usually put 30 days but I kind of want less. Nothing was agreed for invoicing terms.
I just want to go in shouting pay me or xyz as I know people have money just won't pay who they think they'll get away with after some homework...

Why did you do the work in the first place if you thought payment would be a issue?

I'd just put 30 days, which is fairly standard terms in agriculture as far as I'm aware.

 

[Sharpy]

Bill immediately, due date is date of invoice. First stalling tactic is to query invoice, respond rapidly.

 

[som farmer]

add 15% on, and say 10% discount for prompt payment.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Invoice as normal , if he's not payed in 30 days phone him or call and see him

 

[Neil MP]

If you have no “terms of payment” IE payment due in 14/30 days on the invoice, then you have made it very easy for them to wriggle over paying, as if it ends in court, they will claim they had every intention of paying, but hadn’t broken any terms of payment.

 

[PI Stsker]

Make sure you physically write on there the payment terms as said above don’t give them a reason to wiggle.
hand deliver it to them; there no denying it got lost in there email box or signed delivery as you can use this as proof of delivery if you end up in court.

 

[paul&mandy]

Why did you do the work in the first place if you thought payment would be a issue?

I'd just put 30 days, which is fairly standard terms in agriculture as far as I'm aware.

Might still pay promptly but ignoring me to get an email to send invoice to is ringing alarm bells. Ringing round to get email address from other contractors who offered different services has been interesting.

 

[Highland Mule]

Late commercial payments: charging interest and debt recovery

Late commercial payments - interest and debt recovery costs you can charge businesses for late payments

www.gov.uk

30 days by default, but you can make it as short as you like - just make sure it's clearly written on the Invoice. And deliver the invoice by hand if you're in any doubt.

 

[paul&mandy]

Make sure you physically write on there the payment terms as said above don’t give them a reason to wiggle.
hand deliver it to them; there no denying it got lost in there email box or signed delivery as you can use this as proof of delivery if you end up in court.

I always put 30 days as standard on anyone's invoices.

 

[Highland Mule]

I always put 30 days as standard on anyone's invoices.

Make it 15, and then add on a thinly veiled threat by making reference to the Late Payment of Commercial Debt (Interest) act.

 

[Werzle]

Why did you do the work in the first place if you thought payment would be a issue?

I'd just put 30 days, which is fairly standard terms in agriculture as far as I'm aware.

Yep, could also put in the small print that overdue accounts are charged a certain % and after so many days its given over to a named bailiff firm. Not everybody checks emails and they can be missed in spam etc. I would ask who and where im invoicing before i did any work tbh.

 

[Jato]

At least get the bill sent asap, cos he certainly ain’t going to pay the bill you haven’t sent.
Clocks ticking, you are just as bad if you take 30 days to send invoice.

 

[Jsmith2211]

I normally put 7/14 days on invoices, most people ignore the pay by terms anyway makes no difference if you put 14 days or 7 days. Might have to start cracking down on it and putting interest on etc, but that will get complicated and a lot extra agro.

 

[PI Stsker]

The other option is just get a company to factor the invoice and make it their problem if your really concerned.

 

[davidroberts30]

I always put 30 days as standard on anyone's invoices.

Don't forget the tw@ tax