[geefree]

i think 7 days is a decent amount of time to pay a small bill for a good service.... even if they are late... at least they are on their toes. 

[steve.ternent]

i think 7 days is a decent amount of time to pay a small bill for a good service.... even if they are late... at least they are on their toes. 

  I agree with you, but I don't think putting it on the form adds to peoples "desire"
to pay!
I know this sounds ridiculous but I am sure one customer paid "By Post" and it arrived before I got home (or maybe it seemed that way!) 

Other not, shall we say, not so eager take two weeks! 

But I can live with that!  :

If they don't pay then ...I send the wife in!!!!    
Poor sods! 

[windowwashers]

I print off three of these on computer (then Photocopy them 5p a sheet)

I do it this way because when cut it fits nicely in the envelope without folding!

works out at 1.7p each
Envelopes (good quality 50 for £1)
that's 2p each
Total cost per customer 3.7p

I DON'T PUT A STAMP ON!!! 

       

Window Cleaning    Road, ? Kent CT?? ?.  Telephone ??          
               
Date:   ________________________            
               
Mr / Mrs / Miss   ________________________            
               
Address   ________________________            
               
We are pleased to inform you that your windows have been cleaned today:               
               
payment due   £   ________________________            
               
PLEASE RETURN THIS FORM  and  cheque, made payable to:-         MR ? ? ?   
in the envelope provided, THANK YOU.

    


I also don't give the 7(seven) day deadline   
I think some of my customers would think it a cheek!     :         

7 days and they would think its a cheek Mine has within 48 hours, I do think because I want them to post the payment, I allow 21 days for payments to come in before they are charged a late payment fee

Ian

[steve.ternent]

  I like this bit Ian...

"I allow 21 days for payments to come in before they are charged a late payment fee"

A late payment fee in my books is the WIFE, you don't want her on your doorstep!       

[windowwashers]

I like this bit Ian...

"I allow 21 days for payments to come in before they are charged a late payment fee"

A late payment fee in my books is the WIFE, you don't want her on your doorstep!       

I was being honest  so my fees are cheap, no one would want to get nagged by a wife

[paulscotney]

I have in the past taken ages to pay bills, as long as people pay I am quite happy. We don't have massive inlation rates here , like Rhodesia for instance, so whats the problem whether someone takes one week or 3 weeks to pay.

[jonah]

I like this bit Ian...

"I allow 21 days for payments to come in before they are charged a late payment fee"

A late payment fee in my books is the WIFE, you don't want her on your doorstep!       

I was being honest  so my fees are cheap, no one would want to get nagged by a wife

On my slips I leave with the sae , I emphasise 7 days payment !  whenever I see somone charging a "fee" it puts my back up !  People are having it hard these days , they are looking to cut costs ( arnt we all ) ?  So if you state you are going to charge them a late payment charge , then you are either very brave or very thick skinned !  I cleaned a custys gutters and charged £60 , and told her to pay me over 3 months ! She paid me in two , and it was a nice pickup .  IMHO if you are going to fine people for taking a few extra days to pay you , then all the best for the future  

[windowwashers]

I like this bit Ian...

"I allow 21 days for payments to come in before they are charged a late payment fee"

A late payment fee in my books is the WIFE, you don't want her on your doorstep!       

I was being honest  so my fees are cheap, no one would want to get nagged by a wife

On my slips I leave with the sae , I emphasise 7 days payment !  whenever I see somone charging a "fee" it puts my back up !  People are having it hard these days , they are looking to cut costs ( arnt we all ) ?  So if you state you are going to charge them a late payment charge , then you are either very brave or very thick skinned !  I cleaned a custys gutters and charged £60 , and told her to pay me over 3 months ! She paid me in two , and it was a nice pickup .  IMHO if you are going to fine people for taking a few extra days to pay you , then all the best for the future  

I am just the same as any other company m8, I have been doing it long enough now and I am thick skinned. If I pay BT late I get charged, if I pay mortgage late I get charged, same for credit card stor cars and most things, I am no different I dont do it for love I do it for money, not sending the money IMO is not on, I dont charge anyone a late fee that pays for the service I give them. If I dont pay my bills I get charged should I wear that because times are hard I dont think so am I meant to struggle because they dont pay me ? I dont ever want to charge a late fee and I make that clear to everyone, but if they dont pay they are charged as I am.

I cannot understand why everyone does not do this, but I guess all are different and I respect that.

Ian

[jonah]

I like this bit Ian...

"I allow 21 days for payments to come in before they are charged a late payment fee"

A late payment fee in my books is the WIFE, you don't want her on your doorstep!       

I was being honest  so my fees are cheap, no one would want to get nagged by a wife

On my slips I leave with the sae , I emphasise 7 days payment !  whenever I see somone charging a "fee" it puts my back up !  People are having it hard these days , they are looking to cut costs ( arnt we all ) ?  So if you state you are going to charge them a late payment charge , then you are either very brave or very thick skinned !  I cleaned a custys gutters and charged £60 , and told her to pay me over 3 months ! She paid me in two , and it was a nice pickup .  IMHO if you are going to fine people for taking a few extra days to pay you , then all the best for the future  

I am just the same as any other company m8, I have been doing it long enough now and I am thick skinned. If I pay BT late I get charged, if I pay mortgage late I get charged, same for credit card stor cars and most things, I am no different I dont do it for love I do it for money, not sending the money IMO is not on, I dont charge anyone a late fee that pays for the service I give them. If I dont pay my bills I get charged should I wear that because times are hard I dont think so am I meant to struggle because they dont pay me ? I dont ever want to charge a late fee and I make that clear to everyone, but if they dont pay they are charged as I am.

I cannot understand why everyone does not do this, but I guess all are different and I respect that.

Ian

Not having a pop at you Ian , but you will find in the coming months many will be looking to cut costs !  If they happened to forget to pay you ( it happens ) and you charged them a fee , then you can say goodbye to that customer !   I started window cleaning at 16 , and fallen in and out of love with this trade .  If you even mention the word "charge" or "fee" then you will wind people up .  Many on here can boast that they dont take any nonesence , and if they dont pay up they will drop em , but you have to take each person on merit !   

[paulscotney]

Not trying to be argumentative but surely once you have an established business and are solvent, don't all the payments even themselves out over the year.
 
Obviously the first few months are tough but then it all just evens out.

I wouldn't want threats on my bill.

Some ebay sellers seem more keen to tell you their terms and conditions and how they always leave negative feedback for non payers etc than to describe the item that they are selling properly. It just upsets people IMO.

Even Barclaycard give you 28 days or used to.

[windowwashers]

Not trying to be argumentative but surely once you have an established business and are solvent, don't all the payments even themselves out over the year.
 
Obviously the first few months are tough but then it all just evens out.

I wouldn't want threats on my bill.

Some ebay sellers seem more keen to tell you their terms and conditions and how they always leave negative feedback for non payers etc than to describe the item that they are selling properly. It just upsets people IMO.

Even Barclaycard give you 28 days or used to.

I dont put threats on my bill, I am not even going to try and justify something that any business should do.

But even it's self out over time is just a plain wrong way to do business IMO I am an established business for a reason and something I build on, I know it sounds harsh in text on here but it is not really a big deal, everyone I take or are told about this (it says out loud we do not take oh we forgot to send it, thought I would leave it till next time ect.

Been there before got fed up with it and changed it, minimum hassle now with late payments. Right or wrong it works for me and I am not cold hearted at all, I am very aprouchable I just do not like being messed about with money.


Ian

[jonah]

Not trying to be argumentative but surely once you have an established business and are solvent, don't all the payments even themselves out over the year.
 
Obviously the first few months are tough but then it all just evens out.

I wouldn't want threats on my bill.

Some ebay sellers seem more keen to tell you their terms and conditions and how they always leave negative feedback for non payers etc than to describe the item that they are selling properly. It just upsets people IMO.

Even Barclaycard give you 28 days or used to.

I dont put threats on my bill, I am not even going to try and justify something that any business should do.

But even it's self out over time is just a plain wrong way to do business IMO I am an established business for a reason and something I build on, I know it sounds harsh in text on here but it is not really a big deal, everyone I take or are told about this (it says out loud we do not take oh we forgot to send it, thought I would leave it till next time ect.

Been there before got fed up with it and changed it, minimum hassle now with late payments. Right or wrong it works for me and I am not cold hearted at all, I am very aprouchable I just do not like being messed about with money.


Ian

You are ok Ian mate 

[windowwashers]

Not trying to be argumentative but surely once you have an established business and are solvent, don't all the payments even themselves out over the year.
 
Obviously the first few months are tough but then it all just evens out.

I wouldn't want threats on my bill.

Some ebay sellers seem more keen to tell you their terms and conditions and how they always leave negative feedback for non payers etc than to describe the item that they are selling properly. It just upsets people IMO.

Even Barclaycard give you 28 days or used to.

I dont put threats on my bill, I am not even going to try and justify something that any business should do.

But even it's self out over time is just a plain wrong way to do business IMO I am an established business for a reason and something I build on, I know it sounds harsh in text on here but it is not really a big deal, everyone I take or are told about this (it says out loud we do not take oh we forgot to send it, thought I would leave it till next time ect.

Been there before got fed up with it and changed it, minimum hassle now with late payments. Right or wrong it works for me and I am not cold hearted at all, I am very aprouchable I just do not like being messed about with money.


Ian

You are ok Ian mate 

Thanks, it makes me sound really hard faced and i'm not, but I only think it is fair as I said I get charged so why should they not be if they dont pay, fact of life everything costs (especialy diesal )

[mr D]

i think some of you guys are a bit harsh on your customas.

late payment fee's lol who do you think you are Lloyds TSB? lol

ive only about 3 times had customas not pay within 4 weeks. i think 4 weks is fine. i'm in no rush for it.

although i did have onle lady not send it. when i went back to do them again her daughter came with the enverlope but the stamp had been poorly removed. cheeky cow had tryed to pintch my stamp!! i dont think she wanted her daughter to show me that!lol

[windowwashers]

i think some of you guys are a bit harsh on your customas.

late payment fee's lol who do you think you are Lloyds TSB? lol

ive only about 3 times had customas not pay within 4 weeks. i think 4 weks is fine. i'm in no rush for it.

although i did have onle lady not send it. when i went back to do them again her daughter came with the enverlope but the stamp had been poorly removed. cheeky cow had tryed to pintch my stamp!! i dont think she wanted her daughter to show me that!lol

not Lloydstsb , you can undervalue yourself, but my fees and rates will still stick,

I also dont give out free stamps and envelopes (nor do the post office )

[geefree]

Im in a rush for it !.... of course i am .....i have done a job and i expect my payment just as soon as possible...

7 days to pay for my services is the norm, why would i want to give anyone more time?

In business, some say , you are only as good as your last week.......

i say , you are only as good as your ..next week

if all my cheques came very late... then all my bills will follow suit..


get that money in!

as quick as you can

What i seriously dont understand is , we have all the fundemental questions regarding running a busisness on here....

yet , one of the viital issues, for growth in any business is cashflow. late and non-payment is crippling and expensive.

payments for services  rendered are due...... .... now , nice people.. good payers.. bad payers.....are all the same.. thank you... i have cleaned your windows....


Pay.

Gary..


Gary.

[macmac]

we print our envelopes, company logo  and return address on them.

we also put the stamp on them too.

works out about 30p per envelope.

Same as Alanwilson.

Switched to this method about 5 months ago as i only used to leave invoice/bill. Now get payment much quicker with SAE.

Tony

[windowwashers]

we print our envelopes, company logo  and return address on them.

we also put the stamp on them too.

works out about 30p per envelope.

Same as Alanwilson.

Switched to this method about 5 months ago as i only used to leave invoice/bill. Now get payment much quicker with SAE.

Tony

I could always try this and if they dont send it bill them late fee plus 30p £1 for my time printing them.

I do like the idea of the printed logo on an envelope though and has again got me think about it. still 60/40 against it at the mo but I do listen to what people say, but I will stick with a late fee as I have already explained.

My Logo on it  is swaying me

[macmac]

I think the SAE is good for customer relations too, you make it a little easier/less hassle for them to pay. Also they have no excuse for late payment with SAE.


Tony

[windowwashers]

I think the SAE is good for customer relations too, you make it a little easier/less hassle for them to pay. Also they have no excuse for late payment with SAE.


Tony

thats a good point.