Poll: How many overdue invoices do you have at the moment?
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
SITE STAFF
Sep 13, 2018

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "How many overdue invoices do you have at the moment?".

View the poll results »



 
Christine Andersen
Christine Andersen  Identity Verified
Denmark
Local time: 14:57
Member (2003)
Danish to English
+ ...
It's a cultural thing... Sep 13, 2018

Here in northern Europe, an overdue invoice is a serious matter.

OK, it happens for the best. Small agencies or colleagues who outsource often have many irons in the fire, and payment may just be delayed by a day or two after the 30 days on the invoice. That does not happen often.
A week after the due date, if an invoice is still not paid, I send a gentle reminder and ask if there has been a hitch somewhere. I normally receive an instant apology, and I can see the money is in
... See more
Here in northern Europe, an overdue invoice is a serious matter.

OK, it happens for the best. Small agencies or colleagues who outsource often have many irons in the fire, and payment may just be delayed by a day or two after the 30 days on the invoice. That does not happen often.
A week after the due date, if an invoice is still not paid, I send a gentle reminder and ask if there has been a hitch somewhere. I normally receive an instant apology, and I can see the money is in the bank the next day.

I was quite amazed when I said in another thread that any agency which did not have liquidity to pay translators should be filing for bankruptcy: others wrote that public authorities in some countries are notorious slow payers, and agencies themselves have to wait up to 90 days to be paid!

I would be writing to the newspapers and raising a riot if I had to put up with that. Or working in a completely different business.
Collapse


Christopher Schröder
 
neilmac
neilmac
Spain
Local time: 14:57
Spanish to English
+ ...
3-5 Sep 13, 2018

Funny you should ask. Just yesterday, I got an urgent request to translate a couple of emails for one of my long-standing clients, who I actually told to take a hike a few years ago, not for their perennial late payments, but because they tried to blame me along with them for something that had gone wrong that was totally their own fault. They eventually came back after a year or two, and I reluctantly agreed to work with them again, but only after raising my rate by 25%.
They've never bee
... See more
Funny you should ask. Just yesterday, I got an urgent request to translate a couple of emails for one of my long-standing clients, who I actually told to take a hike a few years ago, not for their perennial late payments, but because they tried to blame me along with them for something that had gone wrong that was totally their own fault. They eventually came back after a year or two, and I reluctantly agreed to work with them again, but only after raising my rate by 25%.
They've never been prompt payers, so before accepting their order yesterday I checked my billing records, and it turns out they have three outstanding invoices, one from February, one from May and one from the middle of June. So, I informed the boss of the company and my contact in admin, and they have promised to look into it today. I've got their 2 translated texts sitting here as hostages, and they will be released as soon as I am assured that the outstanding payment is underway.

AFAIK, I don't have many (if any) other outstanding bills, at least none for large amounts. Between now and the beginning of October I'll try to sort out my admin...In fact, that's what I'm doing just now.

[Edited at 2018-09-13 09:00 GMT]
Collapse


 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 13:57
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
One Sep 13, 2018

I’ve just one overdue invoice; it was issued in June to an American translation agency. I’ve sent a reminder 15 days ago and the PM said that she had completely forgotten (?!) to send it to the accounting department. The amount is very small and I’ve been working with them once in a blue moon (two jobs in two years).

I’ve no concerns for all the other invoices as they are within their scheduled date and were issued to repeat customers with excellent track records.


 
Angus Stewart
Angus Stewart  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 13:57
Member (2011)
French to English
+ ...
Three Sep 13, 2018

I have three overdue invoices all relating to the same agency which has dragged its heels over payment since the turn of the year. I have refused to take on any further work for them despite their pleas and a court action to recover the outstanding debt is currently in progress. It should be relatively straight forward from a procedural point of view as they are based in the same legal system as me.

 
neilmac
neilmac
Spain
Local time: 14:57
Spanish to English
+ ...
Update Sep 13, 2018

My delinquent (direct) client has just assured me they will pay the 3 outstanding bills today! Am now a happy bunny (until the next time)...

Angus Stewart
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
 
Nina Khmielnitzky
Nina Khmielnitzky  Identity Verified
Canada
Local time: 09:57
Member (2004)
English to French
Many of my clients are deliquent payers Sep 13, 2018

One in particular has always taken more time than the 30 days net written on my invoice, but he never made me sign a contract agreeing on 45 or 60 days. I always have to remind him he's way past due. I just wrote him this morning to tell him I still had 3 overdue payments and the date I expect to receive them.
I have also noted a remarkable slowing down of the work coming in. Luckily, I have found a 12-month in-house contract I do from home. It will help financially, because I was heading
... See more
One in particular has always taken more time than the 30 days net written on my invoice, but he never made me sign a contract agreeing on 45 or 60 days. I always have to remind him he's way past due. I just wrote him this morning to tell him I still had 3 overdue payments and the date I expect to receive them.
I have also noted a remarkable slowing down of the work coming in. Luckily, I have found a 12-month in-house contract I do from home. It will help financially, because I was heading straight towards bankrupcy.
Collapse


 
Sophie Dzhygir
Sophie Dzhygir  Identity Verified
France
Local time: 14:57
German to French
+ ...
None Sep 13, 2018

It often happens for a couple of days at the beginning of the month, but 13th day of the month is usually not a time when I have an overdue invoice. I already tend to bite by that date

 
Gibril Koroma
Gibril Koroma  Identity Verified
Canada
Local time: 09:57
French to English
+ ...
Only one Sep 13, 2018

Only one. And they have been very polite when I complained. Nice.

 
Muriel Vasconcellos
Muriel Vasconcellos  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 06:57
Member (2003)
Spanish to English
+ ...
One Sep 13, 2018

It's a large amount, and the client usually pays very promptly. I contacted the client yesterday to say that I was counting on the money to use for my quarterly taxes, due next week. She found out it was sitting on someone's desk waiting for approval.

 
EvaVer (X)
EvaVer (X)  Identity Verified
Local time: 14:57
Czech to French
+ ...
One Sep 13, 2018

A small one. Always the same French agency. They always pay in the end, although it takes months.

 
Kay Denney
Kay Denney  Identity Verified
France
Local time: 14:57
French to English
Not sure Sep 14, 2018

I'm not sure right now and I'm not looking into my accounts just to answer the question. I have direct clients who pay as soon as they get the bill, and most agencies pay like clockwork albeit always a bit later than they should. Others need systematic reminding.
One recently acquired client told me payment was always slow but sure. The second, large bill was paid just a little overdue, much like an agency, but they forgot about the first small one, so I don't know whether slow but sure i
... See more
I'm not sure right now and I'm not looking into my accounts just to answer the question. I have direct clients who pay as soon as they get the bill, and most agencies pay like clockwork albeit always a bit later than they should. Others need systematic reminding.
One recently acquired client told me payment was always slow but sure. The second, large bill was paid just a little overdue, much like an agency, but they forgot about the first small one, so I don't know whether slow but sure is really all that correct.
Collapse


 
Mario Freitas
Mario Freitas  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 10:57
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
None Sep 14, 2018

I have three regular clients that will only pay after a reminder. I'm already used to their poor organization or standards (which may very well be on purpose), so I don't complain. When the due date comes, I'll send them the reminder. It's a pain in the neck, yes, but they are sending me jobs regularly, and paying, so let it be.
As to first-time clients that delay payments and require more than one reminder, they will also be last-time clients. One reminder is fine. More than that it's a g
... See more
I have three regular clients that will only pay after a reminder. I'm already used to their poor organization or standards (which may very well be on purpose), so I don't complain. When the due date comes, I'll send them the reminder. It's a pain in the neck, yes, but they are sending me jobs regularly, and paying, so let it be.
As to first-time clients that delay payments and require more than one reminder, they will also be last-time clients. One reminder is fine. More than that it's a goodbye for good.

[Edited at 2018-09-14 16:21 GMT]
Collapse


 


To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator:

Moderator(s) of this forum
Jared Tabor[Call to this topic]

You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request »

Poll: How many overdue invoices do you have at the moment?






Protemos translation business management system
Create your account in minutes, and start working! 3-month trial for agencies, and free for freelancers!

The system lets you keep client/vendor database, with contacts and rates, manage projects and assign jobs to vendors, issue invoices, track payments, store and manage project files, generate business reports on turnover profit per client/manager etc.

More info »
CafeTran Espresso
You've never met a CAT tool this clever!

Translate faster & easier, using a sophisticated CAT tool built by a translator / developer. Accept jobs from clients who use Trados, MemoQ, Wordfast & major CAT tools. Download and start using CafeTran Espresso -- for free

Buy now! »