| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: When do you usually start sending payment reminders? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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| | Muriel Vasconcellos (X) 
United States
Local time: 04:37
Spanish to English
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| After 30 days | Nov 9, 2013 |
I rarely have to follow up.
Most agencies have a disbursement schedule that can't be changed. International organizations have similar constraints. With agencies and institutions, I always know the terms when I accept a job and I consider myself lucky if payment comes sooner than expected.
With individual clients who don't have these computerized accounting systems, my experience has been very positive. They almost always pay right away.
My only deadbeats... See more I rarely have to follow up.
Most agencies have a disbursement schedule that can't be changed. International organizations have similar constraints. With agencies and institutions, I always know the terms when I accept a job and I consider myself lucky if payment comes sooner than expected.
With individual clients who don't have these computerized accounting systems, my experience has been very positive. They almost always pay right away.
My only deadbeats have been agencies and institutions, not individuals. ▲ Collapse
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If I miss a deadline, I don't think that a client would wait 10 days or more to ask for the translation. He would ask for it a few minutes or hours after the agreed deadline (or sometimes even before!). So why should the punctuality of the delivery be more important than the punctuality of the payment?
[Bearbeitet am 2013-11-09 15:16 GMT]
| | | | Michael Harris
Germany
Local time: 13:37
Member (2006)
German to English
Fortunately it does not happen very often, but it always depends on the customer and amout.
If small amounts are involved that "do not" hurt me, then I let time drag a bit. It the sums are higher, then usually after 7 days. They had the work on time, why should´nt I have my payment "on time"?
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I have been extremely fortunate as most of clients pay as agreed. I very rarely have to send reminders and when I do the problem is solved quickly. In 30 years, I faced 3 more serious non-payment issues that were resolved by my lawyer...
PS I have been waiting (and sending reminders) for a very late payment of a small amount from... an accountant!
[Edited at 2013-11-09 10:53 GMT]
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 13:37
Spanish to English
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After 3 or 4 months I might make enquiries. It's not really an issue for me nowadays as most of my clients pay on time and those that pay later do so for reasons mostly beyond their control, for example university departments. In general I try to avoid taking on clients who look like they will turn out to be dodgy or late payers.
[Edited at 2013-11-09 10:54 GMT]
[Edited at 2013-11-09 10:54 GMT]
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I don't have to send reminders any more.
I haven't had a delinquent payer in so many yonks I've actually completely forgotten when the last one defaulted. Damn, when was that?
'twas a beautiful Autumn day here today in Kyoto. Have a nice weekend, y'all! 
Corrected small typo -- my head must still be in the clouds
[Edited at 2013-11-09 16:25 GMT]
| | | | MikeTrans
Germany
Local time: 13:37
Italian to German
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| countries may have specific regulations about payment of bills | Nov 9, 2013 |
... in Germany, for example bills in usual trading operations should generally be paid within 14 days after receipt if nothing else has been agreed upon. In other countries this may be different.
In our translation industry, payment deadlines that are agreed between freelance translators and translation agencies are usually arranged in a way that the translator is invoicing at the end of the month with a payment deadline of a multiple of a month (pay within 30 days, 60 days, 90 day... See more ... in Germany, for example bills in usual trading operations should generally be paid within 14 days after receipt if nothing else has been agreed upon. In other countries this may be different.
In our translation industry, payment deadlines that are agreed between freelance translators and translation agencies are usually arranged in a way that the translator is invoicing at the end of the month with a payment deadline of a multiple of a month (pay within 30 days, 60 days, 90 days etc.).
So, payment reminders have to be adjusted by giving a reasonable tollerance of the above, also your exact client's history and your working relationship is important.
Greets,
Mike ▲ Collapse
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I sent a few reminders, got instant reply and payment (with explanations on the reason of the delay), so I am among the lucky ones (touch wood my luck does not leave me)
@Julian - in Bucharest the weather is also spectaculary warm and beautiful and this November is absolutely great for spending time outside (.. I fear it will be followed by an awful winter..)
| | | | Mario Chavez (X)
Local time: 07:37
English to Spanish
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| Autumn is the best season | Nov 9, 2013 |
Julian Holmes wrote:
I don't have to send reminders any more.
I haven't had a delinquent payer in so many yonks I've actually completely forgotten when the last one defaulted. Damn, when was that?
'twas a beautiful Autumn day here today in Kyoto. Have a nice weekend, y'all!
Corrected small typo -- my head must still be in the clouds [Edited at 2013-11-09 14:56 GMT]
Thanks, Julian. Same here in Northeast Ohio: multicolored leaves everywhere.
Back to the topic: I don't send reminders. 90% of my clients are good payers and I get checks in the mail almost every day (lucky me, huh?)
There is a couple of deadbeats but I've already told one “pay me what you owe me first, then we'll talk other projects.” Although I doubt I'll take on any more projects from him unless I get a substantial deposit up front.
| | | | Rebecca Garber
Local time: 07:37
Member (2005)
German to English
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| Rare, but it happens. | Nov 9, 2013 |
The email with the invoice goes astray. The internal email never reaches accounting.
I don't have a schedule for figuring this out; I usually notice on the quarters when I am calculating taxes. Then, I contact the PM and we deal with it.
Last time it happened, I sent a follow up email thanking the accounting dept for dealing with it so quickly, and got a lovely response from them directly. It happens. It's not malicious.
Of course, these are companies that... See more The email with the invoice goes astray. The internal email never reaches accounting.
I don't have a schedule for figuring this out; I usually notice on the quarters when I am calculating taxes. Then, I contact the PM and we deal with it.
Last time it happened, I sent a follow up email thanking the accounting dept for dealing with it so quickly, and got a lovely response from them directly. It happens. It's not malicious.
Of course, these are companies that I have been working for for years. The ones that regularly paid late and had to be nagged; I dropped them. So now it's a rare occurrence and we deal with it. ▲ Collapse
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Markus Perndl wrote:
If I miss a deadline, I don't think that a client would wait 10 days or more to ask for the translation.
I wait 24-48h before sending a mail of picking up the phone. After a week, a letter, after 10 days recorded delivery with 8 days to pay up. Thereafter, well, I bring in the heavies!
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John Cutler
Spain
Local time: 13:37
Spanish to English
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How about never?
I weeded out the bad payers years ago and only work for serious clients with serious accounting departments.
I sent my last reminder at least 6 or 7 years ago.
| | | | | Filthy English | Nov 9, 2013 |
The only bad payers I've had have been a couple of English agencies. The German ones seem to pay very promptly. I'm happy to wait a fortnight, a month even, but seven months was the one that strained my patience!
Steve K.
(who recommends you to read "Filthy English" by Jonathan Meades - not for the faint-hearted!)
[Edited at 2013-11-09 22:12 GMT]
| | | | | less than ten days | Nov 10, 2013 |
Most of my clients pay on a regular schedule of 30 days or they pay upon invoice. A few are 45 or even 60. I wait about a week or so before I send a reminder. Usually one reminder is enough and I get the payment right after.
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