Greetings Fellow Copywriters,

I have a coaching client who is also a copywriter. They are in the tough position of having given a "famous named" marketer the final copy before the balance was paid.

The marketer started out with replying to emails 2 weeks ago that he hadn't had time yet to review the copy. Now, he's just ignoring follow-up email and even tickets submitted through his help desk.

Obviously, my coaching client could have avoided it if they had gotten payment in full upfront... or only gave a locked PDF of the sales letter.

The issue is getting the balance owed (less than $500).

Besides my favorite tactic of unleashing a pack of rabid lawyers on their butt, what else have you found that works to speed up slow payers?

Thanks,

Mike

Mike

I will just outright let a slow paying client know that I am running a small business and that I cannot handle a delay in payment.

This has always worked.

Some clients have a 30 day pay cycle. If they do, they need to say so.

Hope this helps.

Before your friend goes in all guns blazing, think about it another way -- It could just be the client is really busy or has overlooked it. If the client is running a big business, this is easy to do. I'm not saying it's right but it happens.

I've had a few people send me invoices that I have honestly overlooked or thought I paid where I hadn't. If someone had come to me with a certain tone, I wouldn't work with that person again.

Now Mike, i'm not sure how many times your friend has contacted the client it may be a bit over the top as usually a reminder or two will do the trick. Has he tried sending a Paypal request/reminder? that usually works.

If that doesn't work he should snail mail an invoice (even certified mail). And ask for immediate payment, but word it nicely cause the truth is you're not going to send out a lawyer to collect 500 bucks cause it's not worth it (or is it?). I think in this case the client has the upper hand.

Good answers. I would just add that it doesn't matter whether or not the client (your client's client) has reviewed the copy. The work was done and payment is expected.

While you wouldn't be able to hire a lawyer, I wonder if small claims court is an option (if kinder methods do not work first).

This is also a lesson to your client - one I learned the hard way as well. Ask for full payment up front or at least 50% payment upfront. Do not release the work until you receive the remaining 50% (okay, I never do this - but I've gotten better and now ask for full payment but end up with 50% upfront and then get the other half after I offer the finished product).

Hey, it takes time to get tough.

Janet

I never have trouble getting paid. Because I am very up front about needing rapid payment before I take on a new client. I get a deposit or prepayment at the beginning, just to set the tone of the relationship that I get paid first.

I don't mail invoices, ever. I email them. I follow up with a phone call if needed. I just don't let this stuff go. And then I don't really have a problem. I will dump a client if they don't pay me rapidly.

A client of mine currently just sends me checks without my billing him. That's the relationship I look for -- I will go all out for my client and he or she will make sure I get paid rapidly.

Sorry for the lecture. But after the fact it's very hard to correct this sort of business relationship issue, so I thought I'd wax philosophical and explain my method of working up front with prospective new clients in order to ensure that I am never paid late.

#1. For billing issues I never send past due inquiries through email... it's always a good old-fashioned personal note attached to a copy of the invoice.

#2. The next step is another copy of the invoice with a piece of string and a note saying, "Here's a piece of string to tie around your finger-- so you won't forget about my payment".

#3. Is a more sternly worded letter with a "cc" to my attorney. I may not actually mail a copy to my attorney but seeing the "cc" to John Smith - Attorney At Law seems to work for the worst possible cases.

#4. If it's an online marketer I would not hesitate to come on a forum like this and name - names.

The best thing I've found is to stop worrying about it and go find another client in the meantime.

And put in the agreement that copyright doesn't transfer until fee is paid in full. (next time)

The bottom line is, there isn't a whole lot to do that's worth your time or money.

I've had far more expensive learning experiences

(What do you feed rabid lawyers anyway?)

I like that idea. Or something to the effect of 'license' or 'use of' the copy doesn't transfer until final payment.

This is always a tricky question to answer, so I'll just give my own experience.

I've had only 1 client who never paid me the balance but judged from his
website he never used the copy either. I never pursued him. Took the loss.

I've had other clients who paid slow (2 weeks late) but they gave a good
reason why. Because of my patience, a great business relationship was
forged and they are repeat customers.

It seems that the more you need the money the slower it comes. I tend to
agree with jleister, that you should just concentrate on another job in the
mean time. At the same time I must confess that until I'm paid the
balance on a project (often upwards of $5,000) it's hard to concentrate
on a new one!

If the person is a well-known marketer, then paying a balance of less than
$500 may not be a priority. I'll give him/her the benefit of the doubt.

There was one client I was "steaming" about their late payment because
I expected a check in the mail when it came by FEDEX and was at my
doorstep all the while!!

I'll say your client has more to lose than you for nonpayment so wait before
bringing out the big guns.

-Ray L.,

I agree. I've changed over to asking for full payment up front. There are still a couple of projects going on that started before the new policy kicked in and the difference between these projects and the newer ones is like night and day.

I never realized how much stress was involved in waiting for pending payment.

The only way to avoid this headache is full payment upfront or 50% upfront and the remainder before submitting the first draft (send it to them as a screenshot).