Quote:
Originally Posted by EddieLeon
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Also, as a rule of thumb, you should have large watermarks on all renderings until final payment is received. Especially with small first-time clients.
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That would not work for us... Working to tight deadlines were things are going to press you need to adopt a 'part of the team' attitude....and on the first job for a new client you can not afford to be aggressive with this type of thing... there is an element of trust given here... you can not go and say.... "I will remove the water mark when I get full payment". as you hand over the job... that is just going to alienate the client right away...
I think... that you should get to know who signs the cheque and who is the account manager for the firm, who signs off the work, when it was signed off and when the account has been passed to payment... what the terms are for payment in the company you are working for. All this info is available if you ask.... just be polite but firm when chasing payment... follow a procedure... phone calls... emails... letters... If you know how the firm works with regards payment then you know what you are dealing with, and WHO to talk to....you will get a lot further I have found...
Also you get to meet a lot more people, as a networking thing...
I am not saying this works on all accounts though... I had a client recently who dropped me in it by stipulating on completion of the job that.... " you will not get payed until we get payed", this was back in January.... After 3 months I had to force the thing through, by threatening a solicitors letter and I got payed the next day... No more work from the firm, but small companies need cash flow.. so you take the hit... I know for a fact that the firm still has not been payed.... So I would still be waiting for the money.... .... It was hard to make that decision but necessary ...
My little bit anyway
Lee