Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: ftp on November 20, 2008, 09:08:07 pm

Title: Paying a month late
Post by: ftp on November 20, 2008, 09:08:07 pm
Got one customer who deliberately posts a cheque to me about two days before her next clean (five weeks). It's beginning to wind me up now so think i'm going to dump her very soon. Would you send a letter/text and tell them you have too much work so will need to cut back or just not turn up? Or explain that you won't tolerate late payments any longer?
Title: Re: Paying a month late
Post by: Steve CM on November 20, 2008, 09:10:14 pm
i have a few customers that go about 6 months without paying. if all my customers paid within a month i would love it ;)
Title: Re: Paying a month late
Post by: Mr H on November 20, 2008, 09:11:03 pm
But she is paying regularly so whats the upset........... I have a few customershat payup every 2 or 3 months...... Yes they are a pain but they pay and I know when they will pay...... Its more the ones that don't pay or complain all the time that I would consider dumping before I got rid of a regular payer...

Regards
Mr H

Title: Re: Paying a month late
Post by: foxy on November 20, 2008, 09:12:53 pm
i got an estate agent that leaves it 60 days to pay by BACSv :P
Title: Re: Paying a month late
Post by: Chris Galloway on November 20, 2008, 09:16:39 pm
Just advise the late payments are detrimentle to running a small business and cash flow is vital. Perhaps request standing order payments if they "forget" to pay on time.

You have given them the onus to decide what happens next.

But id be happy with it just being a month late
Title: Re: Paying a month late
Post by: craig b on November 20, 2008, 09:17:08 pm
use want to try builder cleans to see what late payment really like...
Title: Re: Paying a month late
Post by: ftp on November 20, 2008, 09:19:45 pm
Maybe i'll keep her for a while then. I've got commercial that are way over a month but you expect that. I still can't get my head around the fact that normal folk think they can withold payment.  >:(
Title: Re: Paying a month late
Post by: Londoner on November 20, 2008, 09:34:19 pm
As long as you get paid why dump her?
Title: Re: Paying a month late
Post by: ClearviewServices on November 20, 2008, 09:36:52 pm
I have a few like that and when i asked one of them how do you time it so close to your next clean and she just said (i look at you as if your a credit card bill and pay at the last moment)  :P
Title: Re: Paying a month late
Post by: RSWindows on November 20, 2008, 10:03:51 pm
mabie she gets paid monthly but at strange dates?   :-\
Title: Re: Paying a month late
Post by: peter holley on November 20, 2008, 10:10:39 pm
These custies dont pay tescos, takeaways garage bills,at the end of the month :o why are we different?
Title: Re: Paying a month late
Post by: Trotsky on November 20, 2008, 10:11:20 pm
 ;) Maybe you should talk to her, ask her if she's finding it difficult, due to the financial climate!
perhaps offer a Bi-Monthly clean,  at a higher price, but lower that the two combined!
(£20/monthly = £15/Bi-Monthly)
only a suggestion!
I have found people who always pay late don't like paying... because it hurts (psychologically)! ;) 8)
Title: Re: Paying a month late
Post by: Paul Coleman on November 21, 2008, 06:45:07 am
I usually offer the chance to pay by BACS in order to make it easier for them.  This has resulted in a few last minute payers becoming prompt payers.  Often, it's not the unwillingness tp pay but the hassle of finding the cheque book, finding a stamp etc.  People who aren't self-employed don't always have these items easily to hand - especially as so few cheques are written these days.  I have no problem with people who pay fairly late so long as they pay me.  However, it might cause a cashflow problem if they all did it on the same month.
Title: Re: Paying a month late
Post by: peter holley on November 21, 2008, 07:13:13 am
iv had this , its  nothing to do with them not haing the money, its deliberate and calculated, the cheque arrives just before the next clean is due....i just drop them with no explanation, but it can be resolved . some of them phoned to see why i had stopped, i politely told them that i need payment  return of post ....... they now pay promptly....you have to train your customers. ;D
Title: Re: Paying a month late
Post by: Chris Galloway on November 21, 2008, 09:48:56 am
These custies dont pay tescos, takeaways garage bills,at the end of the month :o why are we different?

The majority pay by card of some description i expect.. maybe try taking card payments :P

Quote from: ClearviewServices
I have a few like that and when i asked one of them how do you time it so close to your next clean and she just said (i look at you as if your a credit card bill and pay at the last moment)   :P
Title: Re: Paying a month late
Post by: lovewindows on November 21, 2008, 10:00:15 am
She probably gets paid monthly ,so is flush for a week or so then skint the rest of the time if the cheque bounces it costs her a bomb so she pays when she knows theres money there.
Go the supermarket last Sat of the mth chocca, mid mth empty.
Title: Re: Paying a month late
Post by: Chris Galloway on November 21, 2008, 10:08:48 am

Go the supermarket last Sat of the mth chocca, mid mth empty.

thats why i go late as poss (open 24 hrs) and during the week and during the middle of the month..c ant stand busy shopping of any type, too many screaming kids and self centred trolley pushers not willing to move out of the way so you can get past..  ive resulted to bumper trolleys now, thank god it dont affect you no claims!  ;D