[Ian101]

Spent a couple of hours this morning collecting from slow payers (anything over 14 days)

Amazing how many were "just about to post it"

£68 better off now .... oh and picked up a friend of a customer I was collecting from 

[richywilts]

14 DAYS!!!!!!!!!!! thats a slow payer

[bobby p]

how long do you spend satdays collecting Ian?  im getting very cheesed off with doing this, i use the "leave it under the doormat for me "method but its a drag when they forget  and i know i get it on the next clean  but  its all time wasted.  im fairly sure leaving a S.A.E wont work on the estates

i try to convince myself  im used to the collecting after 3 years but im not . i know if i let the collecting drift that makes it worse too

[Craig 72]

Most of my slow payers are by online transfer.It does get on my tits when I have to chase money up and like you say it's always,"I was just about to do it..."or "The internets been down....".Not quite in the position that I have the luxury of dropping them if it's persistent but hopefully that time will come soon.The most annoying people are the ones who act like they're doing you a favour by paying you.Feel free to do them yourself,you called me for crying out loud.

[Ian101]

14 DAYS!!!!!!!!!!! thats a slow payer

yup to me it is ... some may say OTT but 14 days soon turns into a month then ur collecting (trying to collect) 2 lots of payments so prefer to keep them up to date

[Ian101]

how long do you spend satdays collecting Ian?  im getting very cheesed off with doing this, i use the "leave it under the doormat for me "method but its a drag when they forget  and i know i get it on the next clean  but  its all time wasted.  im fairly sure leaving a S.A.E wont work on the estates

i try to convince myself  im used to the collecting after 3 years but im not . i know if i let the collecting drift that makes it worse too

did bewtween 11am and 12.30 today and collected from 5 slow payers now debt list is down to next to nothing (apart from them under 14 days of course) ... these slow payers were spread over 3 different rounds.

hardly ever do it these days as there all nearly trained by now ... went thru a period of dropping crap / slow payers earlier this year and shed about 30 who were beyond help and too far gone  and warned about the same if they didnt pay ontime then they need to find a new windie .. all done politely and nice but with emphasis of please dont mess me about in future.

All now pay sae or online or cash on day.


im fairly sure leaving a S.A.E wont work on the estates    .... used to have them as well but bit the bullet and fooked them all off or trained them where possible

[Ian101]

.The most annoying people are the ones who act like they're doing you a favour by paying you.

yes but u wanna see their faces when there oiky windie is in their doorstep on a sat morning asking to be paid then when he has his money gives them "how its going to be from now on" in a nice polite calm but stop messing me about over payment way

[GB Window Cleaning]

ive found getting them to leave cash or cheque seems to work best, i also seem to get fobed off when asking for bank transfers or cheques in the post.

I too cant wait to be in the position to drop these bad/slow payers

[Ian101]

Not quite in the position that I have the luxury of dropping them if it's persistent but hopefully that time will come soon.

Maybe poor advice and dont know ur situation but just my opinion .... if u persevere with the tossers u will tend to keep giving them another chance and another chance (like i used to) ... maybe financial suicide but if u drop em then u have to replace em or be skint  

the way i did it was to drop em and then i knew i had to find their replacement before the month was out.

[Ian101]

I too cant wait to be in the position to drop these bad/slow payers

maybe a catch22 situation but u never will be in a position if u stick with the divies ... drop em and then canvass fresh blood even if u do it say 3 at a time

[dave0123]

all my details say payments within 8 days get most at about that

[Neil Gornall]

Slow payers go with the job I have found,

I have not collected for years, its tough to start with but once your arrears find there natural level your cash flow settles down and you get used to it. mine runs at around 6k

I have some bright yellow stickers which my lads attach to the "just cleaned" slip for anyone who owes more than 3 cleans.
it says, Friendly Reminder... Whilst friendship is essential to the success of our business, financial support is an absolute necessity. May we enjoy both?
Its usually enough to prompt them and payment follows quickly. If not I send letters but only need to do it 2 or 3 times a year.
I refuse to collect, I have found if you do it once they seem to expect it. "It dont matter if I forget to pay, he will come and get it if he wants it!"

[groundhog]

Slow payers go with the job I have found,

I have not collected for years, its tough to start with but once your arrears find there natural level your cash flow settles down and you get used to it. mine runs at around 6k

I have some bright yellow stickers which my lads attach to the "just cleaned" slip for anyone who owes more than 3 cleans.
it says, Friendly Reminder... Whilst friendship is essential to the success of our business, financial support is an absolute necessity. May we enjoy both?
Its usually enough to prompt them and payment follows quickly. If not I send letters but only need to do it 2 or 3 times a year.
I refuse to collect, I have found if you do it once they seem to expect it. "It dont matter if I forget to pay, he will come and get it if he wants it!"

I'm the same, I never collect and I do have a few customers which I will allow to go to the third clean without payment, but not many.. usually I phone if they are late on two payments. 6k arrears.. wow thats a lot!! You must have a couple of vans on the road? mine usually see saws between 1 and 2k

[bobplum]

Spent a couple of hours this morning collecting from slow payers (anything over 14 days)

Amazing how many were "just about to post it"

£68 better off now .... oh and picked up a friend of a customer I was collecting from 

im like you ian dont tend to let it go over 14 days  did a bit of cleaning and collecting today as well
i very rarely have any one owing me double
bob(runs a tight ship) rawlinson,hahaha me artys

[Ian101]

Spent a couple of hours this morning collecting from slow payers (anything over 14 days)

Amazing how many were "just about to post it"

£68 better off now .... oh and picked up a friend of a customer I was collecting from 

im like you ian dont tend to let it go over 14 days  did a bit of cleaning and collecting today as well
i very rarely have any one owing me double
bob(runs a tight ship) rawlinson,hahaha me artys

learned from the best me old shipmate ... bottle of rum and 40 pieces of gold ... har har !!

[Ian101]

Slow payers go with the job I have found,

I have not collected for years, its tough to start with but once your arrears find there natural level your cash flow settles down and you get used to it. mine runs at around 6k

I have some bright yellow stickers which my lads attach to the "just cleaned" slip for anyone who owes more than 3 cleans.
it says, Friendly Reminder... Whilst friendship is essential to the success of our business, financial support is an absolute necessity. May we enjoy both?
Its usually enough to prompt them and payment follows quickly. If not I send letters but only need to do it 2 or 3 times a year.
I refuse to collect, I have found if you do it once they seem to expect it. "It dont matter if I forget to pay, he will come and get it if he wants it!"

6 grand ..... cough !!!

like the yellow stickers though 

[Neil Gornall]

Slow payers go with the job I have found,

I have not collected for years, its tough to start with but once your arrears find there natural level your cash flow settles down and you get used to it. mine runs at around 6k

I have some bright yellow stickers which my lads attach to the "just cleaned" slip for anyone who owes more than 3 cleans.
it says, Friendly Reminder... Whilst friendship is essential to the success of our business, financial support is an absolute necessity. May we enjoy both?
Its usually enough to prompt them and payment follows quickly. If not I send letters but only need to do it 2 or 3 times a year.
I refuse to collect, I have found if you do it once they seem to expect it. "It dont matter if I forget to pay, he will come and get it if he wants it!"

I'm the same, I never collect and I do have a few customers which I will allow to go to the third clean without payment, but not many.. usually I phone if they are late on two payments. 6k arrears.. wow thats a lot!! You must have a couple of vans on the road? mine usually see saws between 1 and 2k

I have 3 vans. 2 vans full time and I am out maybe 25 hours a week on the glass, the rest between the office and general running duties,
6k sounds a lot I guess but not considering how much we turnover, slow payers will always be an issue but I rarely drop them unless it gets serious, I just try to educate them.
I have found by charging for cheque payments many more now pay electronically which has dramatically reduced the waiting time. Slow payers have been "coaxed" into setting up standing orders, that way they don’t forget and I don’t lose a customer.

[GB Window Cleaning]

Slow payers go with the job I have found,

I have not collected for years, its tough to start with but once your arrears find there natural level your cash flow settles down and you get used to it. mine runs at around 6k

I have some bright yellow stickers which my lads attach to the "just cleaned" slip for anyone who owes more than 3 cleans.
it says, Friendly Reminder... Whilst friendship is essential to the success of our business, financial support is an absolute necessity. May we enjoy both?
Its usually enough to prompt them and payment follows quickly. If not I send letters but only need to do it 2 or 3 times a year.
I refuse to collect, I have found if you do it once they seem to expect it. "It dont matter if I forget to pay, he will come and get it if he wants it!"

good advise, thanks mate

[GB Window Cleaning]

I too cant wait to be in the position to drop these bad/slow payers

maybe a catch22 situation but u never will be in a position if u stick with the divies ... drop em and then canvass fresh blood even if u do it say 3 at a time

true

[Neil Gornall]

Here is what my stickers look like.

A bit corny perhaps, but light hearted enough not to be offensive yet at the same time very effective.