[MNWC]

Hi all,

Anyone got a template for dropping a commercial that i can play around with ?

Im dropping it because im sick of chasing payments !!

email marcusnorton@hotmail.co.uk

Cheers

Marcus

[elite mike]

just tell them why marcus

[Gleaming windows]

Write out new terms and conditions informing them of an additional charge for late payment (25% if you really dont want the job)?

[daz1977]

is it a big job, or just 1 shop,  r u in a contract with them,   if not just stop doing it and when they ask why just say havent been payed,   we would do it to domestic so why not commercial

[AuRavelling79]

Good points above.

How much is owed? Chase that and get it first. Here's what I would do.


Dear Tightwads,

Re: Your window cleaning.

As you know I/we have been cleaning your windows for X years and I thank you for your business. However, as of late your payments to us are getting more and more in arrears. I realise these are difficult times but would really appreciate your settling this account or some contact from you to explain your reasons for withholding payment so they can be resolved to our mutual satisfaction.

As we are presently owed £XXX for the last (X = no. of outstanding cleans) cleans I feel it necessary to receive payment before I continue my service.

I do hope you understand the necessity for doing this.

Kind regards,




Iron Fist in a Velvet Glove window cleaning.

Then seven/ten days later if no contact send a letter terminating service and threatening further action if it is worth it.

[MNWC]

ive got my money from them but im sick of chasing its only £55 p/m but is shared with another w/c 60/40 in my favor !! so only worth £30 to me

Thanks for replies by the way !!!

[Gleaming windows]

If your refering to Forpy  I'd keep his 40% as well, he must be a weight round your neck 

(say hello to him from me will you, we used to have a good laugh on here)

 

[Ian_Giles]

I've a couple of commercial accounts that are a pain to screw the money out of  
One is a dental surgery that can take as long as 6 months to get the money from, only a small clean, a tenner a pop, but they have to be invoiced monthly, said invoice is then forwarded to their head office whereby payment eventually comes my way.
sounds bad doesn't it?
If the surgery was allowed to pay with petty cash I'd do this place for a fiver. it's basically two windows, and I've EVEN TOLD THEM SO!!
Their head office are barmy in my opinion, but I don't care as I barely even notice the time it takes and I treat it like a little savings account.

But I do have larger ones that are more of a worry, one of which I have to keep pushing as the guy tries to hold on to his money as long as he can.
But as I invoice him via email I also nag him for payment that way too, very gently and politely at first, but now I am sufficiently blunt that I tell him I'll be due to clean the account in a few days and I want paying before I'll do it again.

Yet another is an apartment block where I am paid by the management company...

This one is more of a worry, the residents are desperate not to lose me, they are after all paying for it out of their service charges, and they too are aware of what a numpty the the guy is...
Because I know the residents are paying whether I clean them or not I do tend to give this account a little more leeway than I should.
The last couple of times they have been due I've not done them, just put through a letter into the management's post box to keep them informed of what is owed, point out the fact I know the residents are paying whether I clean them or not, and to further point out that most of them are prepared to have me continue to clean the windows but of course that will have to be deducted from the service charge....actually that seemed to work well as I had a cheque for £240 in my hands within a few days..curious that eh?

my point is though, I don't think you can have a set template when it comes to chasing bills as each circumstance is different.
Though at least with the recession you can use that in whatever you write as justification insisting on prompt payment or the fact that you can no longer continue cleaning until payment is made in full before each subsequent clean is carried out...

Ian

[daz1977]

ive got my money from them but im sick of chasing its only £55 p/m but is shared with another w/c 60/40 in my favor !! so only worth £30 to me

Thanks for replies by the way !!!

if it was me i wouldnt be that bothered for 30   give the job to the other guy and let him have the hassle,  ,  i am culling a few of what i got   i only have a smallish round but am sick of late payer, dog poo etc, so dumping the crap and keeping good ones, other wise i will just build up bad habbits

[Moderator David@stives]

Its all about credit, control, as soon as payment is past its due date, send them a statement of account, if 14 days later you still havent been paid phone them and ask if there is a problem.
At that point press them for a date when it will be paid, If not paid on that date, phone them again.

Sometimes if you want the job you have to accept there payment methods, late payers dont bother me too much, once I have established there payment pattern I either accept it or I dont.

I have one job which is £500 a month and takes on average 5 months to be paid, i have got used to the fact that they are always 5 payments behind, if for any reason that pattern extends then alarm bells will ring.