Business Curse
One of my clients was not paying me. It was a small invoice: $190 + $9.50 for the tax, for a grand total of $199.50. It's not a big invoice. He's Iranian, living in North Vancouver where there is a large Iranian community.
- After 30 days, I sent him a reminder that I haven't been paid yet. Nice and polite.
- After 45 days, still nothing. It's not worth taking the guy to the collection agency. I was pissed off. So I decided to be creative and I sent him this email:
- I still haven't received payment, it's 45 days overdue. I feel that I will not be paid. You took advantage of my good will. When you need help, I did provide it. Now I'm not getting paid for your photos.
- Since it doesn't make any sense for me to take you to the collection agency, I will be placing a curse on you and your business.
- I will be praying every day, asking God that you get in a car accident, that your business burns down, that Revenue Canada1 audits you, that you will become blind and everyone, that works with you, gets sick2.
I did it at 45 days. I also did it at 60 days and at 70 days. last week, 77 days after the original invoice I received the cheque in the mail. I’m not asking why, but I think that with all the snow and ice something happened, a car accident, a fall, an icy sidewalk,... I don't know, I don't care. I got paid!
I am always on top of my receivables. Every week I check my spreadsheet that tells me:
- The total amount I am owed.
- By whom.
- How much does the client owe.
- What their "performance". How quickly do I get paid.
Syv,
Thanks for sharing this success story. I think if it were me I'd try taking a more positive approach. I'd tell him that I'll be praying each day that he'll be extremely successful, win the lottery, and inherit a bunch of money, etc. so that he could send me a check.
Either way, I gained a few good ideas from your post. Thanks.
Tyler
http://www.thinkbigart.com/blog/
1 The old name of the income tax people in Canada, now CRA; Canada Revenue Agency ↑
2 If you are going to a curse, make it big and don't try to be polite or nice ↑
One of my clients was not paying me. It was a small invoice: $190 + $9.50 for the tax, for a grand total of $199.50. It's not a big invoice. He's Iranian, living in North Vancouver where there is a large Iranian community.
- After 30 days, I sent him a reminder that I haven't been paid yet. Nice and polite.
- After 45 days, still nothing. It's not worth taking the guy to the collection agency. I was pissed off. So I decided to be creative and I sent him this email:
- I still haven't received payment, it's 45 days overdue. I feel that I will not be paid. You took advantage of my good will. When you need help, I did provide it. Now I'm not getting paid for your photos.
- Since it doesn't make any sense for me to take you to the collection agency, I will be placing a curse on you and your business.
- I will be praying every day, asking God that you get in a car accident, that your business burns down, that Revenue Canada1 audits you, that you will become blind and everyone, that works with you, gets sick2.
I did it at 45 days. I also did it at 60 days and at 70 days. last week, 77 days after the original invoice I received the cheque in the mail. I’m not asking why, but I think that with all the snow and ice something happened, a car accident, a fall, an icy sidewalk,... I don't know, I don't care. I got paid!
I am always on top of my receivables. Every week I check my spreadsheet that tells me:
- The total amount I am owed.
- By whom.
- How much does the client owe.
- What their "performance". How quickly do I get paid.
Syv,
Thanks for sharing this success story. I think if it were me I'd try taking a more positive approach. I'd tell him that I'll be praying each day that he'll be extremely successful, win the lottery, and inherit a bunch of money, etc. so that he could send me a check.
Either way, I gained a few good ideas from your post. Thanks.
Tyler http://www.thinkbigart.com/blog/
1 The old name of the income tax people in Canada, now CRA; Canada Revenue Agency ↑
2 If you are going to a curse, make it big and don't try to be polite or nice ↑
