People who say the check is in the mail and even haven't come close to writing the actual check

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Sole proprietors and small business owners, you know what I'm talking about. You do the work, you submit the invoice, you ask two, three, four times for the money and you're lied to each time. Share your war stories here.

[Critters2]

1. I said I'd send it, godammit!! nt

[Amerigo Vespucci]

2. OK, I trust you, I'm SURE it will arrive tomorrow...or the next day...or the next day...or...

:rofl:

[Critters2]

3. Damn post office! nt

[China_cat]

4. Perhaps I was very lucky.

In the 10 years I had my business open I had 2 bad checks (which got promptly picked up) and only stiffed once...by a church group that even got an extra discount from me. Except for that one group, I never had a problem getting paid for my work.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

5. You were definitely ahead of the curve...

...and I agree with Sales guru Jeffrey Gitomer. The clients who pay the LEAST demand the MOST and are the worst when it comes to on-time payments.

:toast:

[Wcross]

6. It's hard to write a check when you don't have the money.

I would seriously consider any payment from them "found money" & never do business with them again.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

7. Author Michael Port discusses the "Red Velvet Rope Policy"...

...in his book "Book Yourself Solid" (http://www.amazon.com/Book-Yourself-Solid-Reliable-Marketing/dp/0471783935/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1207868481&sr=8-2),

...basically, that clients must be carefully chosen.

I have no shortage of people who want what I provide (strategic marketing, Web Sites, digital photography, etc).

Whenever I get the story about how they want it but can't pay for it, I tell them "call me when you can."

My landlord wants his rent on the 1st of the month. If I don't send it, I'm out on my ass.

I did a Web Site for MY DOCTOR...a man I've known for a couple of DECADES...and had to chase him for the money.

Finally I sent him an email that said "Thanks in advance if you've already mailed the check. If you haven't, I will be visiting a client in your area tomorrow and would like to pick it up in person after my appointment."

The check was there when I arrived.

If I'd handled it differently, I would STILL be WAITING.

:toast:

[begin_within]

8. There's always the Till Tap

Till tap / Keeper

If the judgment debtor's business does has lots of cash on the premises, you may send a sheriff out for a till tap or a keeper. A till tap is where a deputy sheriff goes out to the business and collects all cash and cash equivalent in the cash registers or containers on the premises. The fee for this service is $85.00. A keeper is where a deputy sheriff is sent out for a set number of hours to stay at the debtor's business and collect money that comes in. The cost is substantially more and depends on the number of hours the deputy sheriff is directed to stay at the debtor's business premises. (Sacramento Small Claims Advisory Clinic http://www.scacadvice.com/)

[Amerigo Vespucci]

9. The irony of "Hardball"...

...and I don't mean Chris Matthews on MSNBC...

I have a client who recently advised me to play "hardball" with my other clients. Then THAT client got possessed by demons or something, I don't know...did a 180 degree turn, became combative, sat on invoices they promised to pay...

...so I am playing hardball with THEM.

I hate every minute of it, but like I said earlier in the thread, my landlord knows when the rent is due, and he wants it on the due date.