Hi Steve
He may not have paid you because he doesn't have any money! read your own past again, regardless of the fact that he is a big part of your turnover he isn't paying you, you haven't drawn wage for a while, you don't need clients like that.
We do business with clinets on OUR terms and conditions, not theirs. OK, not many of us actually have terms and conditions but we should at least have good debt recovery posilcies in place.
I work on 14 days for commercial. I send one statement of account after 21 days, a reminder and statement advising that we use a debt collection agency for bad debts, after 28 days, a final statement threatening the use of a debt collection agency, with all costs being bourne by the clients, then I pass the debt on to a debt collection agency for them to collect.
Play hard ball, it's your money at the end of the day. Some say that 60 or 90 days is the norm... whateva! When you chase money you are typically dealing with their accounts payable dept. Their job is not to pay until they have to! Doesn't always mean you won't get any more work, they will respect you more for it - trust me, I used to work in these environments.
Pass the debt on. I use a company called P&J Debt Collection Service, google them. Send a final statement with the following text.
Please not that if payment is not received by (at least 7 working days) then we will be passing your debt to a debt collecting agency for collection with all costs being borne by you.
Get yourself some Terms and Conditions and print them on the back of every invoice.
Hope this helps
Chris