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Downsizer Forum Index -> Small Business Questions, Ideas and Advice

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Hairyloon

Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15425
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 12 11:57 am Post subject:

yummersetter wrote:

Hairyloon wrote:

So you are faced with the choice of losing a customer because you don't want to deal with someone who doesn't pay, and losing a customer because they are upset that you went to court.

I know I am a bit odd, but I am not finding any difficulty in choosing.

I didn't say anything about customers who don't pay. I wrote about customers who pay within two months...

Then I think my comments were not directed at you.

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 12 11:57 am Post subject:
Feh. Man up. I'm just telling the NHS their terms are unacceptable. They'll back down, if they want what you're supplying, and its not ridiculous.

Hairyloon

Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15425
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 12 12:03 pm Post subject:

Midland Spinner wrote:

1) It's up to my friend, I was only commenting in a general way...

As was I.

Midland Spinner

Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Posts: 2931
Location: Under a green roof

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 12 12:04 pm Post subject:

1) No you didn't suggest otherwise, but I'm getting a bit uncomfortable talking about her while she isn't here. And I wanted to make it clear that I'm not talking about myself, so I'm not in full possession of the facts or the motivation. In fact, I'm not going to prolong this discussion after this post.

2) When every customer matters, you don't want to run the risk of scaring them off by getting a reputation for taking people to court or whatever 'at the slightest provocation' as was sort of suggested above (yes, you know, and I know that it's a last resort, but potential customers will just hear that "XXX took so&so to court over a fiddly small amount so don't buy from them" If they hear the reputation for suing for payment first, they won't listen to the reputation for making wonderful things.

3) I hate repairs, I don't sew, so that was a personal judgement - I'd rather stack shelves than try to make a living altering existing garments if I knew that I had the skill to make something wonderful instead if only people would pay me for it)

4) Yummersetter, could you please edit your post to make it a quote from HL not from me - I didn't say that!

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 12 12:10 pm Post subject:

Midland Spinner wrote:

4) Yummersetter, could you please edit your post to make it a quote from HL not from me - I didn't say that!

Quote corrected.

Midland Spinner

Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Posts: 2931
Location: Under a green roof

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 12 12:13 pm Post subject:

Treacodactyl wrote:

Midland Spinner wrote:

4) Yummersetter, could you please edit your post to make it a quote from HL not from me - I didn't say that!

Quote corrected.

Thanks

yummersetter

Joined: 26 Jan 2008
Posts: 3241
Location: Somerset

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 12 12:22 pm Post subject:
So sorry

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 12 12:22 pm Post subject:

Midland Spinner wrote:

2) When every customer matters, you don't want to run the risk of scaring them off by getting a reputation for taking people to court or whatever 'at the slightest provocation' as was sort of suggested above (yes, you know, and I know that it's a last resort, but potential customers will just hear that "XXX took so&so to court over a fiddly small amount so don't buy from them" If they hear the reputation for suing for payment first, they won't listen to the reputation for making wonderful things.

OK we won't discuss this specific case any further but in general terms it's not the right way to go about running a business, putting up with people not paying you because you're scared that genuine customers will be put off by that. Non-payers are a cost to any business and the more of them you have, the more good payers you need to subsidise them. It's a viscous circle if you let it be one.

Lorrainelovesplants

Joined: 13 Oct 2006
Posts: 6521
Location: Dordogne

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 12 12:35 pm Post subject:
Ive actually found dealing with council fine. Ive invoiced them previously for people attending courses and they have paid before the actual course took place.

Midland Spinner

Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Posts: 2931
Location: Under a green roof

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 12 12:38 pm Post subject:

Rob R wrote:

in general terms it's not the right way to go about running a business, putting up with people not paying you because you're scared that genuine customers will be put off by that. Non-payers are a cost to any business and the more of them you have, the more good payers you need to subsidise them. It's a viscous circle if you let it be one.

I agree - it's far far better to have proper paying customers from the start.

chez

Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35934
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 12 1:41 pm Post subject:
I think it's something you learn as you go along, though - and you have to work out how your industry works. The rock and roll industry used to be notorious - I don't know if it still is - but you would rig the gig, test it all then lock down the desks and pocket the key until you were paid in full, in cash, before the gig started.

crofter

Joined: 11 Feb 2007
Posts: 2252

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 12 2:08 pm Post subject:

Hairyloon wrote:

I think people should be quicker to litigate: https://www.moneyclaim.gov.uk

But how quick? If it is somebody who is going to pay, but is slow, you have lost that customer. Soon you may not have many left. No customers = no business. I agree with yummersetter, up to 60 days is normal for most businesses, for some, under 2 months is considered quick!

Hairyloon

Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15425
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.

Posted: Wed Nov 21, 12 6:03 pm Post subject:

crofter wrote:

Hairyloon wrote:

I think people should be quicker to litigate: https://www.moneyclaim.gov.uk

But how quick? If it is somebody who is going to pay, but is slow, you have lost that customer.

You are obliged by CPR to write a Letter Before Action before you take the step of going to court.
You can try to make it as friendly a letter as possible.

Shan

Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Posts: 9075
Location: South Wales

Posted: Thu Nov 22, 12 9:01 am Post subject:

crofter wrote:

Hairyloon wrote:

I think people should be quicker to litigate: https://www.moneyclaim.gov.uk

Agreed, 60 days is quite normal and whilst we would like it to be 60 days from invoice, more often than not, it is 60 days from the statement.

I have to say, I actually find it easier to get money out of bigger companies than small ones because big companies have a system they stick to, whereas it is often hand to mouth for small companies.

MarkS

Joined: 01 Aug 2006
Posts: 2626

Posted: Sun Dec 30, 12 8:01 pm Post subject:

I know several small firms who have used this company on late payers: https://www.thomashiggins.com/

They'll do a warning letter for £2 which has remarkable success. It indicates that you're serious and are using professionals to deal with it, which is often enough to encourage payment. Too many people think they can use their suppliers as an overdraft.

Other debt collection agencies are available; I have no connection; YMMV; etc.

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