Collections advice?

[Vinny vin]

I get that many jobs a day that people don't pay me then I'm constantly owed / chasing my money down. Any tips on how to lower the amount of none payers I have or a quick way on collections ? Any tips or advice chaps?

 

[peter rogers]

lol i be owed a load sometimes but it always comes in give an invoice with payment options

 

[TolishAPurd]

Probably best to just have a friendly word with them mate. I have 'payment within 3 days' on my invoice, I still get them as and when though.

I just got a late payment tonight, probably 2 weeks late, but he chucked a fiver in to sweeten it. Only had him about 5 months, quiet lad but seems like a good egg.

 

[Dave B]

I get those who aren't in to use paypal or bacs

Paypal you will spend about 30ish pence for a tenner but still cheaper and easier than collecting

 

[heyoh]

i hear you can get a paypal card reader, not sure how much it is, will look into it, happened to me before that they said oh sorry no cash today and i dont do cheques, - but you surely have a debit card lol

 

[Jake]

Probably best to just have a friendly word with them mate. I have 'payment within 3 days' on my invoice, I still get them as and when though.
I just got a late payment tonight, probably 2 weeks late, but he chucked a fiver in to sweeten it. Only had him about 5 months, quiet lad but seems like a good egg.

Exactly what I do.. 3 days, but still takes people a well minimum !

 

[TolishAPurd]

I have had paypal from day one. If I had to go around in the evening collecting I would have given up after the first month.

Card readers a good idea, but with apps on phones and things now, they might be a bit redundant. I have started recommending to my custies to get the paypal app as its quicker and easier... which means they don't put off paying me./emoticons/wink.png

 

[Jacob]

over here we have a app called Mobilepay works a treat just type phone number then amount of cash and then deliver nice and easy. i get pay 7/10 times within a day or so, other than that i use bank transfer. Paypal is really not excisting over here.

Cannot imagine going to collect, doing the round once is enough /emoticons/biggrin.png

 

[Dave B]

Paypal is basically the same

Type my email in and amount and pay

 

[cheapncheerful]

yeh in fact I think the no collecting has made me really love this job...

in my youth I could raz around in my sports car with the roof down and have a pint but nowadays the hardest thing I have to do is work out who has paid online and who hasnt..

I think I know who ben was that sent me £8 but really please put your full address custys..

I do have one slight problem...

I can remember certain custys were out when I did them and I left my online payment but..

I havent had payment ..thats easy to check ..but..

did I call back the same day whilst in the area and pick the money up, now that is more difficult to remember...

yes I know ..right it down but...me and pens and paper...not so good..

so the couple I am thinking off will just get a double bill and see if they protest...

 

[Njones]

Collecting should be left for those bad custies that are about to get dumped - - if you spend 6 or 7 hours a week chasing money like my old fella did when I first started window cleaning, then you're doing 6 or 7 hours work UNPAID.

I printed up a "Your windows have been cleaned" ticket that was put through the letterbox of all our jobs which outlined how to pay by cheque, BACS, paypal etc etc and put a polite note at the bottom saying that due to the time and fuel costs involved in collecting we would only be collecting overdue accounts and would have to add a €2 surcharge for each collection. Within a couple of months we had everyone trained in & we we able to stop collecting almost entirely.

Cashflow does slow down for a few weeks when you first introduce this, it takes a while for ppl to get used to it & you're waiting for cheques to be posted etc & some people do need a reminder every now & then,.. but in the long run its sooooooo much easier than collecting.

The GoCardless system is my favourite though - it puts you in control,.. just click a button after each clean & the variable direct debit system transfers funds to your account in 3-5 days (Custie gets e-mail notification each time & has to signup initially of course). The fees are also a lot lower than paypal. /emoticons/wink.png

 

[tiktik]

tell them it costs more if they take time to pay and have the actual price if they pay before or on the job and call it a discount. ad bout 10% on if they pay later it always works money speaks to people

 

[TolishAPurd]

The GoCardless system is my favourite though - it puts you in control,.. just click a button after each clean & the variable direct debit system transfers funds to your account in 3-5 days (Custie gets e-mail notification each time & has to signup initially of course). The fees are also a lot lower than paypal. /emoticons/wink.png

Tell me more about this witchcraft..

 

[Njones]

Just take a look at www.gocardless.com - brilliant system! /emoticons/smile.png

 

[adamangler]

The best way to sort bad payers is dump them, i dont even have many custies and im always dumping them for one reason or another lol, i cant be arsed with stress or hassle.

Go cardless is great, its just hard to get every customer on it as people dont like to sign up to stuff ive found.

 

[TolishAPurd]

Just take a look at www.gocardless.com - brilliant system! /emoticons/smile.png

Cheersmatey, will do. :thumbsup:

 

[Alien Human]

i hear you can get a paypal card reader, not sure how much it is, will look into it, happened to me before that they said oh sorry no cash today and i dont do cheques, - but you surely have a debit card lol

Is everyone aware that customers can pay over the phone with their card with the PayPal Here app........so not a card reader.....you just type the details in whilst on speaker phone . Cheaper than buying a card reader.

Plus you can manually type the details in on the customers doorstep - again just like a card reader,

The only difference is a card reader might look more professional.

 

[cheapncheerful]

well as long as I get to my twelve pound in an envelope before any toe rag does as its not hidden very well and right by the front door..

well I find it hard to tell them to please hide the envelope...

good excuse to get out early in the morn.

 

[Trev81]

I get that many jobs a day that people don't pay me then I'm constantly owed / chasing my money down. Any tips on how to lower the amount of none payers I have or a quick way on collections ? Any tips or advice chaps?

Get them on Direct Debit, most of mine think it's brilliant and love the idea, no more chasing them to pay via bacs or paypal, clean, go home, then autorise the payment you have full control, lands in your acc in a few days minus only 1%!