[PoleKing]

Darren what's gocardless never heard of it ?
When customers owe quite a few outstanding Invoices you can't start sending dent letters as they can always get someone else as there's loads of windys out there and the big company's won't give a crap if its your company or someone else's who clean there windows. They pay in the end that's the main thing. I get on really well with all mine but the ones that are slow paying are normally management company's whom I never see as I just send invoice off to the head offices.

www.gocardless.com
There's been a few threads on it recently.
It's a company that does direct debits.
Customer only needs to authorize you once.
Then the account is set up.
Once set up, you can take a recurring payment of the same ammount automatically or you can take payment on an ad-hoc basis. There does need to be an element if trust between merchant and client.
The client gets an email a few days beforehand saying £x will be taken on 00/00/2013.
A few days later gocardless takes the money. A week or so later you get your money.
Fee is 1% Upto a maximum £2 charge.
It's awesome! I've got 56 customers signed up so far...
If you go for it, let someone know on here. They do recommend a friend incentive of £50 credit if you get referred.

[Johnny B]

Just drop, and move on, it is part of the job sifting through bad ones.       For me personally I prefer to do without the hassle.

Ok, so accept the loss? Part of the job and all that.... do you have to accept the loss?

No you don't have to accept the loss. I walk away and move on rather than to have to deal with the stress of it all. Others will fight it all the way. Nothing wrong with that. I admire those who have the tenacity which I lack.

John

But isnt that accepting the loss by walking away. Is it worth having your customers sign a service agreement providing the amount is over 25.00 and you can claim it back through small claims?

Yes I suppose it is. I haven't got the mental energy to chase what are essentially small amounts, as it would often take more time, energy and money than I would get back. As for T&C's, people in my locality would laugh at the idea. And so would I, as it would be all but impossible to impose.

John

[dannymack]

Sounds good Darren but the amounts differ and doing that would sod all the vat invoices up. Cheers for the info thou.

[PoleKing]

Sounds good Darren but the amounts differ and doing that would sod all the vat invoices up. Cheers for the info thou.

That's not an issue bud, if you go for as hoc payments (you can have recurring and ad hoc concurrently) you just put in how much you're taking.
Look into it bud rather than just my opinions.
I'd be surprised if you can't benefit from it.
(I'm not a shareholder or anything, I just really like it)

[A & J Owen Window Cleaning]

you tend to find these people have selective  amnesia when its paying uppy time. so a good sunday afternoon door knock seems to remind them you wont let it go why should you its your money and you have done the job.like yesterday this chap owes me a13 squid so I was in the motor sure enough lad slinks by without paying . so today I was on the doorstep.