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Overheard a client on the phone complaining about their own late payers
I was at a coffee shop in Denver yesterday, trying to get some work done, and the guy at the next table was on a loud call. He was getting really mad at someone for not paying him, saying stuff like 'I sent that invoice six weeks ago, this is ridiculous.' It was so weird to hear the exact same frustration I feel, but from the other side. It hit me that my clients are probably dealing with their own cash flow problems, which is why my invoice is stuck at the bottom of their list. I used to just send the same 'friendly reminder' email over and over, but now I'm trying something new. For my next late payer, I'm going to call and ask if there's a specific problem with the work or if they just need a different payment plan. Maybe being a person instead of just an email will help. Has anyone else tried shifting from just asking for money to asking what's wrong?
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mila_murphy8d agoTop Commenter
Honestly that sounds like a waste of time. They know they owe you money, calling just gives them an excuse to complain.
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ray6137d ago
Tried that once and the guy spent twenty minutes telling me about his divorce and his sick dog. Ended up feeling so bad I almost offered him a discount. It did get me paid though, after I promised not to ask about the dog's surgery again.
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