Freelance work and not being paid

Undervalued

motorguy wrote: »

The trick is not to use one source.

• Post a copy via recorded delivery
• Post another in a different envelope style with the address handwritten. Get a proof of posting
• Send an attached copy of the letter via email.

That is certainly the "belt and braces" approach!

motorguy

Undervalued wrote: »

That is certainly the "belt and braces" approach!

For five minutes effort and an extra stamp its well worth it. Removes all ambiguity and the risk of them saying they never got the LBA.

Mistral001

The OP should have waited until the 30 days were up before contacting the client. By sending them several emails and text messages about the invoice within days of submitting the invoice, the OP either, annoyed the client, or came across as an amateur with little experience of business.

I would not write off this paymentjust yet. Many companies have a policy of paying invoices at the end of the month when the invoice becomes due for payment. This means that if say the invoice is submitted early in the month, the thirty days will be up in the next month and then payment will be made only at the end of that month which means that the invoice will be paid almost two months after the invoice is submitted.

The best way of getting payment, in my experience, is by telephone. Telephone at least once a month but preferably once a week. Always deal with the person who commissioned you to do the work and do not let yourself be fobbed off by being referred to the accounts department.

Small Claim Courts can often be disappointing as even if you win, you might have to call in the bailiffs to get your money.

Undervalued

motorguy wrote: »

For five minutes effort and an extra stamp its well worth it. Removes all ambiguity and the risk of them saying they never got the LBA.

I agree.

As I said earlier I have reservations about simply relying on using recorded delivery / signed for, although not everybody agrees.

Doing as you suggest certainly covers all options. However, as Mistral001 has commented, the OP is perhaps being a little premature here and should probably give it another month before going down this route.

martindow

I've found phoning can be affective. Ring regularly note down who you are speaking to and get them to tell you when payment will be send and always be pleasant and polite. I've found that eventually you get paid ni order to stop being phoned up.


If this doesn't work a letter before action can spring them into action but it is not likely to get you further work with the company.


Regarding signed for or certificate of posting, the advantage of the latter is that courts will accept it as evidence of service two working days later if sent first class. Belt and braces is to send two duplicate letters with CoPs from different POs which is still cheaper than a signed for letter.

Pay_me

Mistral001 wrote: »

The OP should have waited until the 30 days were up before contacting the client. By sending them several emails and text messages about the invoice within days of submitting the invoice, the OP either, annoyed the client, or came across as an amateur with little experience of business.

I would not write off this paymentjust yet. Many companies have a policy of paying invoices at the end of the month when the invoice becomes due for payment. This means that if say the invoice is submitted early in the month, the thirty days will be up in the next month and then payment will be made only at the end of that month which means that the invoice will be paid almost two months after the invoice is submitted.

The best way of getting payment, in my experience, is by telephone. Telephone at least once a month but preferably once a week. Always deal with the person who commissioned you to do the work and do not let yourself be fobbed off by being referred to the accounts department.

Small Claim Courts can often be disappointing as even if you win, you might have to call in the bailiffs to get your money.

You have jumped to a few conclusions there

The terms they provided state that the company will confirm receipt of all invoices. So I don't think it shows inexperience at all it is simply chasing up something that was supposed to happen in the service agreement but never did on their part. See below,

The reason I wanted to check they got my invoice was because the pay is split in to 2 parts part A) £xx and part £x. The agreed service (in writing is) Once I submit the invoice they will send me a link to upload part B directly to them. I have never received the link so I currently have Part B waiting to be sent to them.

The agreed up to 30 days from submitting invoice for payment has now well and truly gone and I am still unsure whether they actually got my invoice.

I have called them on the mobile number provided and also on the office number on their website. On all occasions i have left a voice mail but not yet had a reply. As far as I know only two people work there and everyone else is a freelancer doing odd jobs here and there. All my emails make it clear that I need the link to send Part B to them etc.

Manxman_in_exile

So the agreement (their terms) is that upon receipt of your invoice they (1) must acknowledge it and (2) send you a link so you can directly upload a second(?) invoice, and they've done neither?


Seems an odd arrangement, but maybe it's common practice in the field you work in.


How did you get the first(?) invoice to them? Can't you do the same again?

Pay_me

Manxman_in_exile wrote: »

So the agreement (their terms) is that upon receipt of your invoice they (1) must acknowledge it and (2) send you a link so you can directly upload a second(?) invoice, and they've done neither?


Seems an odd arrangement, but maybe it's common practice in the field you work in.


How did you get the first(?) invoice to them? Can't you do the same again?

Hi, I'll try to explain in a bit more detail

So they advertised for a freelancer to do a specific task and an add on task (Part A (main task) and Part B (add on).

If you just did Part A you got paid £XX but if you included Part B (took me 5 minutes) they pay an extra £X on top.

The agreement was invoice them for Part A and B at same time and they will confirm receipt of the invoice which will also include a link so that Part B can be uploaded directly to them.

I completed Part A (in person) and Part B (to send to them). Submitted my invoice to the email address in the agreement and waited for their confirmation email with the upload link.

After a few days of not receiving the confirmation email I sent another email and again heard nothing. I have then tried to contact them a few times to ask for the link to be sent so I can complete the upload of Part B and for confirmation that they received my original invoice (agreement stated they confirm all invoices because they have to send the link out).

I have not heard anything, not been paid, not had the confirmation that they received my original invoice and not been provided with the upload link.

This way of working is normal in this sector. Every business I have worked for so far has had similar requirements however they have all confirmed receipt of invoices.

Messenger3k

I would take it as a lesson mostly. If you are new to the game you need absolutely protect what Kieth Cunningham calls the cash gap check him out. iThe gap between work done and being paid. If you are chasing £120 and it is putting you out. You’ll need to cut way back on your spending or find something which can give you some cash flow, that’s a bigger priority than using dead energy on chasing him. Go ruthless for what’s reliable. This guy paying you is not. But don’t forget he owes you and just schedule in your chases. Then just don’t think about it after. The universe will answer anyway.