[Ian101]

Went to buy my ususal batch of 100 2nd class stamps for payment envelopes and lady behind counter tells me that 2nd class stamps going up 5p in April so guessing 1st will be as well.

So what do you do ?

Slowly converting mine over to bank transfer.

[dazmond]

first class stamps i use.mainly  for big stand alone jobs that are a bit out of the way and commercial jobs.

everythings going up mate.started telling some customers of price rise starting from april! ;Dnot lost one yet!!

collecting and cash/cheque on day of clean are my main method of payment with bacs transfer starting to replace some cheque customers.


regards


dazmond

[Sure Cleaning]

When we first started out some 6 years ago, we always left a envelope with a 2nd class stamp on, this would only be left after the 2nd clean was owed from 4 weekly and every clean for 8 weekly customers.

As our business grew we found we were leaving a considerable number of stamped envelopes and found quite a few were not really being used to pay us. They would either pay us online, see us while out and pay etc.

So for the last year or so we now only leave an envelope and the customer pays postage. It has not in any way slowed customers from sending cheques, in fact some now insure they either are in when we call or leave money somewhere to collect, I guess this is to save them a stamp!

We did also try not leaving an envelope at all, this did slow payment returns.

Steve G

[andyM]

Yes if it is agreed in advance or if customer is not home I put a Stamped Self-addressed Envelope through the door.
It has increased cash flow for me and reduced time spent collecting money.

[Lee GLS]

I have never put stamps on the envelops, and i have never gone out collecting either.

[Londoner]

I don't put a stamp on the envelopes. It doesn't seem to make any difference.

[britishwill]

I just leave the invoice and give them the option of pay online or send a cheque, or if they are in pay on the day.

I cannot see the point in doing it, but then I never have?
Maybe because some people have always done it they feel that have to continue.

My advice would be to not start doing sae's (IMO they are not expected)and if the customer want one they are tight wads and will probably cause you hassle in the long run!

[bad trippy]

Never put a stamp on, heck what a waste of money 
We still have a handfull of custies who are long winded in sending payment so iam not prepared to keep buying stamps for these ppl, especially if their only £5 fronts

[Neil Gornall]

I used to leave a bill with a sae, but I changed that from the start of this year.

I found more and more were starting to use online banking therefore wasting my envelopes, so I decided to encourage as many as possible to use that method as this is the cheapest way for me.

I now only leave a bill plus I charge 50p for cheque payment.

It has been a fantastic success. I wish I had done it years ago.

I now have the majority of customers paying online and the few who prefer cheque are happy to pay the extra.
I am now saving money on bank charges, saving on paper and printing costs, saving on time plus making a few pounds extra on charges. win win for me.

And for those wondering, I have lost one small job (£9) and had one moan about it.

[GoodFella2006]

I don't mind paying 32p for the stamp but paying Lloyds TSB 30p for paying in my account each cheque is ridicoulus 

Need to switch to free business banking,probably Santander.

[Neil Gornall]

I don't mind paying 32p for the stamp but paying Lloyds TSB 30p for paying in my account each cheque is ridicoulus 

Need to switch to free business banking,probably Santander.

Pass it on to the customer. Cheques are old school and people know it.

[Gav Camm lammy 283]

got a few which always send me a
cheque they never fail so leave them
 a 1st class pre paid sae
others i just leave an invoice
got more than a few no matter what
method i ask for ring me and say
or you calling for you money
we now owe you x3 cleans ??
tell em pay me on line etc but still end up
collecting em  

[andy1975]

Went to buy my ususal batch of 100 2nd class stamps for payment envelopes and lady behind counter tells me that 2nd class stamps going up 5p in April so guessing 1st will be as well.

So what do you do ?

Slowly converting mine over to bank transfer.

i collect local work and out of town cheques and bank transfers.only problem with bank transfers is that people dont pay on time and has on many occasions got me in trouble cus of cash flow. ooh and i dont give stamps