Re: FN-FORUM: client not paying(advice)

date posted 14th June 2003 08:10

re the email thing - if you dont pay your gas bill, the gas company come and
turn your gas off. so, if you dont pay your email bill...

harsh it may be, but as long as folk know whats going to happen to their
stuff if they dont pay for it, i sleep easy at night.

rgrds,

iain
www.bspin.co.uk

----- Original Message -----
From: [EMAIL REMOVED]
To: [EMAIL REMOVED]
Sent: Friday, June 13, 2003 8:16 PM
Subject: Re: FN-FORUM: client not paying(advice)


> Hi
> >
> >1. Payment in stages:
> >
> >30% of total at project start - "project start-up fee"
> >50% of total at project delivery
> >20% of total 30 days after project delivery - "support stage"
>
> This is similar to what we use - although we're less nice.
>
> We work on a 40% deposit, 60% on delivery with 15 day terms on=
> the invoices
> and the system is:
> - production work on the project starts when the deposit is=
> paid.
> - throughout production the site is visible (passworded) on a=
> subdomain of our own domain.
> - when final payment is paid we flick the switch and the site=
> goes live on its real domain.
> - email is typically set up before final payment is made, for=
> smooth transfer.
>
> It works because
> - we paid a sollicitor to write really clear and watertight T&Cs=
> for us.
> - we make it clear up front that this will be the procedure.
> - the client has been playing with the site on the subdomain and=
> can verify that the site is 100% on spec. He's not paying the=
> final invoice on blind faith.
>
> We find we only have a problem when subcontracting - working=
> for/with another web company or freelancer group. The "client=
> hasnt paid yet" excuse and similar things. Not totally sure how=
> to play that one yet.
>
> We do sometimes agree to different payment terms for clients who=
> just cannot afford to pay it all at once. Then we have very=
> clear procedures on what happens should a payment be missed.
>
> Until now we have never dared turn email off - I'm concerned that=
> a client could claim we hurt his business in a disproportionate=
> way. If i turn the whole thing off then emails bounce and it's=
> very bad. If i only turn pop off so that email still gets=
> collected it's less bad but the client could argue that i am=
> stealing company correspondance or something. Don't clients get=
> real upset when you turn their email off?
>
> -- [EMAIL REMOVED] [EMAIL REMOVED] on 13/06/2003
>
>
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