Used to chase down every single late payment like it was my job. Now I just send one email and wait. | No Pay No Play - Freelance Forum - The Community for Independent Professionals
Used to chase down every single late payment like it was my job. Now I just send one email and wait.
Back in 2021, I'd spend hours tracking down a $400 invoice from a client in Austin. Calling, texting, emailing, the whole thing. Then I realized they'd just ghost me harder the more I pushed. Now I send one polite reminder after 7 days, then a final notice at 14 days, and after that I move on. Has anyone else found that backing off actually gets you paid faster than being aggressive?
Back in 2022 I had a roofing client in Phoenix who owed me $3,200. I sent three reminders in two weeks and got nothing but silence. Then I stopped completely for about a month. They paid the full amount with a apology note attached. I think @vera_green69 is right about the wallet hiding thing. When you back off they stop seeing you as a threat and start seeing the invoice as something they forgot about rather than something they're avoiding.