Biz
Deadbeats
Deadbeats
Deadbeats
What's a deadbeat? It's somebody that owes you money, and is not paying it. You took the photos, you've delivered the files, you've delivered the prints, and they won't pay.
Is it your fault they haven't paid?
- Did you invoice them when you delivered the photos1? According to a study done by the Association of Chartered Accountants in the United States, more than half of the independent contractors, like photographers, do not get paid because they haven't invoiced their customers.
- Is the invoice correct? For many organizations/companies, you must include the PO2 information with the invoice to be paid.
- Did you thank them for the business?
- A week after the delivery of the photos, did you follow up on whether or not they are satisfied?
- 30 days later they still haven't paid for your photos3. Did you send a statement with “threatening them to send the invoice to the collection agency”?
- Have you made clear on the invoice, that they can't use the photos for publication or otherwise, until you are paid in full?
Is it their fault they haven't paid?
- They've “lost” your invoice.
- The cheque is in the mail. Always ask for the date that the cheque was written, the date that the cheque was mailed and the cheque number. If they can't answer these questions, they have not written and mailed the cheque, ie: they are lying.
- They always knew that they were not going to pay you.
- If you don't get paid within 45 days4, you must go to the collection agency.
- Will you be paid? Most likely, not the full amount but more than what you already have been paid. It will take time because they will claim that the work was not satisfactory.
- You will get the satisfaction that it will go on their credit record and will cost them a lot of money and aggravations in the long run.
Will you keep this client as a customer? Unlikely, but customers who don't pay will put you out of business quickly.
1 This means that you have a proper accounting system. ↑
2 PO: Purchase Order ↑
3 This means that you have a proper accounts receivable system ↑
4 If you haven't been paid in 60 days, chances are that you will never be paid ↑
Deadbeats
What's a deadbeat? It's somebody that owes you money, and is not paying it. You took the photos, you've delivered the files, you've delivered the prints, and they won't pay.
Is it your fault they haven't paid?
- Did you invoice them when you delivered the photos1? According to a study done by the Association of Chartered Accountants in the United States, more than half of the independent contractors, like photographers, do not get paid because they haven't invoiced their customers.
- Is the invoice correct? For many organizations/companies, you must include the PO2 information with the invoice to be paid.
- Did you thank them for the business?
- A week after the delivery of the photos, did you follow up on whether or not they are satisfied?
- 30 days later they still haven't paid for your photos3. Did you send a statement with “threatening them to send the invoice to the collection agency”?
- Have you made clear on the invoice, that they can't use the photos for publication or otherwise, until you are paid in full?
Is it their fault they haven't paid?
- They've “lost” your invoice.
- The cheque is in the mail. Always ask for the date that the cheque was written, the date that the cheque was mailed and the cheque number. If they can't answer these questions, they have not written and mailed the cheque, ie: they are lying.
- They always knew that they were not going to pay you.
- If you don't get paid within 45 days4, you must go to the collection agency.
- Will you be paid? Most likely, not the full amount but more than what you already have been paid. It will take time because they will claim that the work was not satisfactory.
- You will get the satisfaction that it will go on their credit record and will cost them a lot of money and aggravations in the long run.
Will you keep this client as a customer? Unlikely, but customers who don't pay will put you out of business quickly.
1 This means that you have a proper accounting system. ↑
2 PO: Purchase Order ↑
3 This means that you have a proper accounts receivable system ↑
4 If you haven't been paid in 60 days, chances are that you will never be paid ↑
