non paying customers !

[pjohn]

Put their name and address on a postcard. Big red 'OUTSTANDING MONIES' and then the amount, what it was for, your details and stick it through the next door neighbours letterbox.

I know you're only joking, but please nobody do that, it's very much against the law.

The other option is to look into factoring companies, they pay you up front (charging a small percentage) and then they are the ones who chase for payment if none is forthcoming.

 

[SimonG]

Not joking at all. I'd also love to know which precise law posting something through the 'wrong' letterbox contravenes?

 

[pjohn]

Not joking at all. I'd also love to know which precise law posting something through the 'wrong' letterbox contravenes?

Harrassment, the argument that you put it through the wrong letterbox would not hold water as you'd worked at their property.

Harassment by creditors

The actual law that covers this is the Administration of Justice Act 1970

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1970/31


(40)A person commits an offence if, with the object of coercing another person to pay money claimed from the other as a debt due under a contract, he—

(a)harasses the other with demands for payment which, in respect of their frequency or the manner or occasion of making any such demand, or of any threat or publicity by which any demand is accompanied, are calculated to subject him or members of his family or household to alarm, distress or humiliation;

 

[SimonG]

I'd still do it. Somebody else dropped it off for me.

If the custard was an obnoxious pratt I would just sell it to the leg breaking squad.

 

[pjohn]

I'd still do it. Somebody else dropped it off for me.

If the custard was an obnoxious pratt I would just sell it to the leg breaking squad.

As you wish, just wanted to point out that it's generally a bad idea that can get you in hot water

 

[SimonG]

Doubt it, but would be typical of this country that you could be classed as harassing somebody whilst chasing your hard earned coin.

Info is stored and shared. Unofficial customer blacklist.

 

[pjohn]

Doubt it, but would be typical of this country that you could be classed as harassing somebody whilst chasing your hard earned coin.

Info is stored and shared. Unofficial customer blacklist.

It's a pity you can't credit check them before starting work and buying materials, because it's a huge wodge of cash if they don't pay up, but guess you'd have little to no business doing that ... but look into factoring companies for bigger jobs, or where you think they may be a problem payer, but you have to offset that against their charges.

Should add, just had our en-suites redone (plumber finished today) and I'll be transferring the cash as soon as I get his final invoice in, some of us pay our debts on time, and I've been self employed before and know how much a non-paying customer can hurt.

 

[SimonG]

Cash flow is king. Most customers pay via internet.

 

[Best]

I would call it accidental humiliation.
Getting someone to post it for you, but they made a mistake and posted in wrong door. Or 'accidently' calling at the customers door when they have visitors.
Am sure we all have at some time been spoken to about an unpaid account at a merchants in front of other customers. It happens.

 

[RJA]

Would it help if you could receive card payments instantly without needing a chip and pin machine? Thinking of an idea for no monthly fee etc...

 

[SimonG]

Would it help if you could receive card payments instantly without needing a chip and pin machine? Thinking of an idea for no monthly fee etc...

Aye, it's called bank transfer.

 

[RJA]

Do you take bank transfers on the spot? Does that work well? Maybe a card machine is not necessary then?

 

[Harvest Fields]

Do you take bank transfers on the spot? Does that work well? Maybe a card machine is not necessary then?

Happy with cash and bank transfer myself. But happy to hear your idea.

 

[RJA]

It only makes sense if bank transfers are an issue to be honest.

Just thought an easier way might be an instant invoice. You create instant invoice via your phone and then when customer pays by credit/debit card on their phone, you get an immediate confirmation.

As everything on mobile and you get immediate feedback, you can ask them to do it while waiting. So could be easier than bank transfer as most people regularly pay for stuff by card on mobile now.

But if bank transfer not an issue probably doesn't make sense!

 

[Harvest Fields]

It only makes sense if bank transfers are an issue to be honest.

Just thought an easier way might be an instant invoice. You create instant invoice via your phone and then when customer pays by credit/debit card on their phone, you get an immediate confirmation.

As everything on mobile and you get immediate feedback, you can ask them to do it while waiting. So could be easier than bank transfer as most people regularly pay for stuff by card on mobile now.

But if bank transfer not an issue probably doesn't make sense!

I have something that does that already mate. But thanks anyway.

 

[RJA]

I have something that does that already mate. But thanks anyway.

Nice, what's it called? Is it good

 

[RJA]

Nice, what's it called? Is it good

And how are the fees?

 

[Harvest Fields]

Gas engineer software and I do not need a card reader as I am happy with my customers Bacs me the money once job is complete.

 

[johnduffell]

As you wish, just wanted to point out that it's generally a bad idea that can get you in hot water

agreed, it's 100% down to the person sending the message to take all reasonable steps to get it right.

Where I work people often make up emails if they don't have one "[email protected]" or something, but if we start sending out account info and reset password links to that address it would be us in trouble. This is because it's our responsibility to ensure we are verifying things reasonably before sharing personal data. That's why nowadays there are so many layers of verification and questions to do anything online or on the phone.

 

[rpm]

It only makes sense if bank transfers are an issue to be honest.

Just thought an easier way might be an instant invoice. You create instant invoice via your phone and then when customer pays by credit/debit card on their phone, you get an immediate confirmation.

As everything on mobile and you get immediate feedback, you can ask them to do it while waiting. So could be easier than bank transfer as most people regularly pay for stuff by card on mobile now.

But if bank transfer not an issue probably doesn't make sense!

"as most people regularly pay for stuff by card on phone now."
Er, only those of a certain generation do.

 

[rpm]

Gas engineer software and I do not need a card reader as I am happy with my customers Bacs me the money once job is complete.

Not everybody knows how to pay by Bacs though Harvest.

 

[Harvest Fields]

Not everybody knows how to pay by Bacs though Harvest.

True. But also still happy to collect cash.