[koopmaster]

I have a custy that owes me £30 and has said she cant pay so will give the £2 letter a try

[andrew wakeman]

Just forget about it and move on and at night throw a mud ball her windows.

[Bay View WCS]

“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space lies our freedom and power to choose our response. In those choices lie our growth and our happiness.”

If this is winding you up then it is because you are letting it.  It's a difficult concept to grasp but the frustration you are feeling is a result of your reaction to it - not your response to it.

You are right that they are the lowest of the low to do this but then plenty of thieves walk into small businesses every day and help themselves to stuff worth a damn sight more than £14.00.  A butcher friend of mine got stung recently by a customer for £8,000.00 - bang, they closed down and no sign of payment ever coming.  The 'Takes a thief to catch a thief' programme last night showed how shoplifters mass steal and show no remorse.

If you are going to go down the letter route, then, as Dazmond says, just get on with it - but you must treat it as a normal part of your business and take emotion out of the equation.  Otherwise you will keep getting stressed - when you know they have received the letter - how will they react - will they keep you waiting - you'll keep checking Paypal and bank statements to see if they have paid.  And after all that if they choose not to pay you are back in the same position you are today - then you might get more stressed thinking whether you should take them to court or not. 

I too have people that don't pay for the service I have provided - it used to really wind me up but it got so bad I had to change my outlook or that frustration would have turned to anger and the problems that can bring;  I even had one recently that outright told me to my face he was not going to pay me. 

But all it has cost you is your time - yesterday I cleaned the wrong house a couple of doors down from the actual one - all I could do was laugh it off and I do the same with bad payers - you will meet many of these types of people and you must choose how you respond (not react) to this stimulus.

Cheers, Tom 

[dazmond]

i allow for a certain amount of bad debt every year.last year it was £81.the year before was £36-50,the year before about £30.

this is a drop in the ocean in the great scheme of things.annoying as it is some people just WONT PAY!!luckily its very rare that a customer of mine doesnt pay me.

if you ve been chasing her for 3 months for £14 id write it off,move on and forget about it mike.its just not worth it mate.


best wishes


dazmond

[James Bulton]

I find talking face to face, maybe with the husband might just do the business call on a Sunday or Saturday morning. I ill not go in a looser and will stand my ground and if I get no joy would tell him to his face would tell he is stealing fro a poor window cleaner him being a better off business man.Then ask him what his customer would think of him if they knew how mean he is. It will upset him,but I will not care. Then tell all if he did nothing how he steals from the poor windy.

[Paul Coleman]

Yesterday, I finally asked a persistent late payer the magic question.
It was, "Would you ask a banker to clean your windows?"
I'm sure you can have a reasonable guess at what came next.

[Carl2009]

I agree with the OP who says that it's the principle of the matter. I can also see that it's annoying and therefore stressful. I chase money through Thos Higgins, as long as it's worthwhile. I sent a LBA for £15 and didn't get paid. I dropped it and didn't take it any further - just didn't add up financially, but seeing the house still winds me up  But then I laugh to myself as I go home to my paid-for detached 3 bedroom house with and acre and a half of land and think about their scuzzy little property with a fridge in the garden.

Personally I'd send the LBA and then drop it if it doesn't work. Anything over £25-ish i'd probably pursue, and have done. And won in court. And been paid. More painful for the custie long term. To do this you better have water tight terms and conditions and have followed best practice in giving time to pay "If you are having trouble paying please contact us" (so we can be further shafted by allowing you to pay 50p per month) sort of thing.

£14 is a lot of money to some people and why shouldn't he be paid? You can't walk in to Tescos, help yourself to £14 worth of filet steak and walk out with no intention of paying.

All in all a LBA is good value for money, but its best not to let it stress you if possible.

[Window Lickers]

“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space lies our freedom and power to choose our response. In those choices lie our growth and our happiness.”

If this is winding you up then it is because you are letting it.  It's a difficult concept to grasp but the frustration you are feeling is a result of your reaction to it - not your response to it.

You are right that they are the lowest of the low to do this but then plenty of thieves walk into small businesses every day and help themselves to stuff worth a damn sight more than £14.00.  A butcher friend of mine got stung recently by a customer for £8,000.00 - bang, they closed down and no sign of payment ever coming.  The 'Takes a thief to catch a thief' programme last night showed how shoplifters mass steal and show no remorse.

If you are going to go down the letter route, then, as Dazmond says, just get on with it - but you must treat it as a normal part of your business and take emotion out of the equation.  Otherwise you will keep getting stressed - when you know they have received the letter - how will they react - will they keep you waiting - you'll keep checking Paypal and bank statements to see if they have paid.  And after all that if they choose not to pay you are back in the same position you are today - then you might get more stressed thinking whether you should take them to court or not. 

I too have people that don't pay for the service I have provided - it used to really wind me up but it got so bad I had to change my outlook or that frustration would have turned to anger and the problems that can bring;  I even had one recently that outright told me to my face he was not going to pay me. 

But all it has cost you is your time - yesterday I cleaned the wrong house a couple of doors down from the actual one - all I could do was laugh it off and I do the same with bad payers - you will meet many of these types of people and you must choose how you respond (not react) to this stimulus.

Cheers, Tom 

In the same manner you laugh it off when you hit your thumb with a hammer?

[Perfect Windows]

£14 is a lot of money to some people and why shouldn't he be paid? You can't walk in to Tescos, help yourself to £14 worth of filet steak and walk out with no intention of paying.

True, but if they catch you, Tesco are utterly unemotional in deciding whether to prosecute, try to recover the money or forget it.  Their decision is based purely on whether it's worth the time and money chasing you versus the effect on their business.  When you get emotional (about anything) you make bad decisions.

Vin

[Bay View WCS]

“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space lies our freedom and power to choose our response. In those choices lie our growth and our happiness.”

If this is winding you up then it is because you are letting it.  It's a difficult concept to grasp but the frustration you are feeling is a result of your reaction to it - not your response to it.

You are right that they are the lowest of the low to do this but then plenty of thieves walk into small businesses every day and help themselves to stuff worth a damn sight more than £14.00.  A butcher friend of mine got stung recently by a customer for £8,000.00 - bang, they closed down and no sign of payment ever coming.  The 'Takes a thief to catch a thief' programme last night showed how shoplifters mass steal and show no remorse.

If you are going to go down the letter route, then, as Dazmond says, just get on with it - but you must treat it as a normal part of your business and take emotion out of the equation.  Otherwise you will keep getting stressed - when you know they have received the letter - how will they react - will they keep you waiting - you'll keep checking Paypal and bank statements to see if they have paid.  And after all that if they choose not to pay you are back in the same position you are today - then you might get more stressed thinking whether you should take them to court or not. 

I too have people that don't pay for the service I have provided - it used to really wind me up but it got so bad I had to change my outlook or that frustration would have turned to anger and the problems that can bring;  I even had one recently that outright told me to my face he was not going to pay me. 

But all it has cost you is your time - yesterday I cleaned the wrong house a couple of doors down from the actual one - all I could do was laugh it off and I do the same with bad payers - you will meet many of these types of people and you must choose how you respond (not react) to this stimulus.

Cheers, Tom 

In the same manner you laugh it off when you hit your thumb with a hammer?

Oh Lord!!!!!

[windowswashed]

If you are spending time chasing debts getting stressed over it, then write them off and move on. Life's too short for minor debts from crap customers, dump them and enjoy life again

[alfie11]

I have a custy that owes me £30 and has said she cant pay so will give the £2 letter a try

Send her letter, Saying you are sorry that she has fallen on hard times and not to worry about it, slip in a twenty and wish her well for the future.

[bobplum]

Its the principal Dazmond they were a custy for about 4 years or so and the wife never carries money , So always had to call back when husband was in but in recent months he has changed his working pattern .

So is working a lot longer hours when i spoke to the wife last time she had a dont care attitude and just said sorry you will have to call back , I have been chasing the debt for about 3 months now .

In the past i have offered them different payment options  so i could get paid without having to call back 4-6 times and this drags out over weeks .

They have got money as husband is involved with the family business , It is the pure ignorance i cant stand i had them down as good custys in the past .

But now not to even just call me and ask if i can call and collect money  . I have a lot of custys close to them so it is not like they are never going to see me again i park right next to their house due to location .

I almost feel guilty for taking legal action but why should i be walked all over which is what it feels like . Mike

Hi M&M
I would send the letter, just do it
But i think the answer lies in the above statement.
These people should have been dropped years ago, due to your nice nature and willingness to appease and keep the custom its now back fired slightly,
good luck
bob