Noise

Hi

We are having some major difficulties with some clients not paying so, what are other companies doing to avoid this ?

Possibly all images sent out should go with a prominent watermark - this will be removed when we receive payment in full but this might not sit well with some clients.

Chasing payment is mighty stressful and very time consuming and contracts are not the solution as they require alot of time, effort and money to follow up, what do you think ?

Regards

N

martin walker

a solicitors letter usually does the job, especially as you are entitled to a percentage interest rate after 30 days (or something like)

have a look on the web under DTI stuff

Ive only had to resort to it once, but it did the trick

Noise

Hi Martin

We are more of the opinion that payment should be made before the imagery can be used. The 30 day thing is rarely adhered to and to bring in solicitors is an added cost and hassel which could be avoided if the payment was made on receipt of the imagery.

But, will clients accept this strategy ?

Brian Smith

yeah that all sucks but it is a risk that is sometimes unavoidable. did you at least get a deposit? i recommend requiring 50% payment up front. if you feel that the client drags its feet during any part of the process, whether getting you the initial payment, giving you feedback, returning your calls, then you might want to put a watermark in the image to protect yourself. fortunately, years from now i think you'll find that 75% or more of your work is repeat business

__________________
Brian Smith
www.3dats.com
3D Architectural Training Solutions

ihabkal

"repeat business" you mean by that same clients?
thanks

Noise

Good suggestions Brian. The main quandry is - how can the client see the images but not copy them ?

Possibly a client login on our website where the images are not downloadable but they could still take a screen shot ?????

Maybe some form of distortion of the image ?

ZFact

It really depends on what your competitors are doing. If they aint
charging 50% up front, and are crediting 30 days plus their work
is up to par then its going to be difficult. Alot of people want that
30 days credit as they pay all there bills at month end.

I think its madness all this credit giving... if i could rewrite the unwritten
rule book it would state.. man does job, man gets paid when job done.

To try and be more helpful but... perhaps a security locked pdf of the image
could be sent out, then send Cd when payment is recieved. Dont
know if that will help you much but. We are all caught between a rock
and a hard place!!

Noise

We are really talking about new clients here so, you are right - it would be easy for them to go elsewhere.

Brian Smith

I ALWAYS insist 50% up front to new clients...period. Even most of my repeat clients pay 50% up front because they expect it since it was done that way from the first job. I have a couple of clients that i start work for with a verbal OK, and they pay when it's convenient. As far as it depending on what my competitors are doing, i disagree. Everyone that does 3D is essentially my competitors and everyone in the business could be doing work without a deposit and i will still insist on one. I was burned once too many times when i first started out and it aint ever happening again.

__________________
Brian Smith
www.3dats.com
3D Architectural Training Solutions

ZFact

Valid point Brian;
Probably easier to do but once you have a really strong client base
and can afford to let a few jobs walk!!

That said, your better of not doing a job at all than doing a job for
nothing, but that goes without saying.