Poll: Do you place a limit on how much any one client can owe you at a time? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
|
This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you place a limit on how much any one client can owe you at a time?".
View the poll results »
| | | neilmac Spain Local time: 09:57 Spanish to English + ...
Not really. Most of my regulars pay within a reasonable time, although some might take several months, but I'm used to it by now, and know that they are not trying to dodge payment, simply suffering the same cash flow problems as many other businesses. However, once the amount outstanding gets to around €2000, I might make a polite enquiry or send them a reminder, but it doesn't usually happen. | | |
Not really. In principle, I do not accept huge jobs as a first assignment from a new client, with the exception of big international organizations. If a client fails to pay as agreed, I will say “Sorry, I’m not available” after the first reminder, whatever the amount. This strategy has served me well as in over 30 years I had very few cases of non-payment (all from direct clients and for small amounts, except one invoice still pending for 215€ but I do know she is really struggling after... See more Not really. In principle, I do not accept huge jobs as a first assignment from a new client, with the exception of big international organizations. If a client fails to pay as agreed, I will say “Sorry, I’m not available” after the first reminder, whatever the amount. This strategy has served me well as in over 30 years I had very few cases of non-payment (all from direct clients and for small amounts, except one invoice still pending for 215€ but I do know she is really struggling after the death of her husband). ▲ Collapse | | | Thayenga Germany Local time: 09:57 Member (2009) English to German + ...
There's absolutely no need for that. | |
|
|
No, but it might be a good idea | Jan 8, 2017 |
Back in the 1990s, I once was owed over US$9,000 by a large international organization that I trusted (I had once been on their full-time staff as a matter of fact). It took them two years to pay up. I should have stopped much sooner. | | |
But I may want to do so if one of my regular clients overwhelms me with huge projects leaving no room for other clients and life
[Редактировалось 2017-01-08 11:33 GMT] | | | Julian Holmes Japan Local time: 17:57 Member (2011) Japanese to English
Because there is no need to - Japanese customers pay on time. Even if they were to be delinquent in paying, the threat of shaming them would be enough to prompt them to action. | | | Reed James Chile Local time: 05:57 Member (2005) Spanish to English I do my homework first | Jan 8, 2017 |
I have never put in place such a policy. It is better to assess the trustworthiness of an agency beforehand. I base this on Blueboard entries and the country they're based in. I've only had problems when meglecting to enforce these checks. | |
|
|
But as I bill monthly, there is an implicit limit of two months' sales. Given that I would never work for just one customer for two straight months, this means that even in the busy season I wouldn't normally have any one exposure beyond £10k. And let's face it you're unlikely to be stiffed by a government body or central bank anyway. So for me credit control is not something to lose sleep over. Which is nice. | | | Erzsébet Czopyk Hungary Local time: 09:57 Member (2006) Russian to Hungarian + ... SITE LOCALIZER the other side of the world / definitely yes | Jan 8, 2017 |
Julian Holmes wrote: Because there is no need to - Japanese customers pay on time. Even if they were to be delinquent in paying, the threat of shaming them would be enough to prompt them to action. Definitely yes... Because there is a profound need of - Hungarian customers do not pay on time. Even if they are in delay, the threat of shaming them would be totally ineffective and completely fruitless So the border is somewhere around EUR 500 but in case of the first order it is a lot lower / I ask some down payment. Just approx. 6 weeks ago I made an exception (the job was announced here on ProZ.com) and I am still awaiting my 40 euros...
[Edited at 2017-01-08 15:41 GMT] | | | Mario Freitas Brazil Local time: 05:57 Member (2014) English to Portuguese + ... In some cases | Jan 8, 2017 |
For regular clients that pay me on time, that is, that I already know, no limit applies. For new or recent clients, sometimes I do set a limit and/or refuse additional jobs until the previous one is paid. But even then, I'll do it once or twice, and consider the client became regular and a good payer after the third document. Of course I make a thorough search in the web for all new or potential clients. I have no clients in India, China, Southern Hemisphere and Spain (very few in Brazil, since ... See more For regular clients that pay me on time, that is, that I already know, no limit applies. For new or recent clients, sometimes I do set a limit and/or refuse additional jobs until the previous one is paid. But even then, I'll do it once or twice, and consider the client became regular and a good payer after the third document. Of course I make a thorough search in the web for all new or potential clients. I have no clients in India, China, Southern Hemisphere and Spain (very few in Brazil, since I live here). So the chances of not getting paid are already cut by more than 50%.
[Edited at 2017-01-08 16:24 GMT] ▲ Collapse | | | Mario Freitas Brazil Local time: 05:57 Member (2014) English to Portuguese + ... Japanese clients | Jan 8, 2017 |
Julian Holmes wrote: Because there is no need to - Japanese customers pay on time. Even if they were to be delinquent in paying, the threat of shaming them would be enough to prompt them to action. Most freelance translators have clients in many different countries. As a matter of fact, you are the only one I know who is lucky enough to have all their clients in a single country, above all in Japan, where we know people are serious and disciplined and very unlikely to become delinquent. However, you are still a rare exception in the world of translators, IMO. | |
|
|
Michael Harris Germany Local time: 09:57 Member (2006) German to English
But if someone does push the line, then they are out of the "inner circle". Fortunately I do not have a problem with this sort of stuff (touch wood)! | | | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » Poll: Do you place a limit on how much any one client can owe you at a time? CafeTran Espresso | You've never met a CAT tool this clever!
Translate faster & easier, using a sophisticated CAT tool built by a translator / developer.
Accept jobs from clients who use Trados, MemoQ, Wordfast & major CAT tools.
Download and start using CafeTran Espresso -- for free
Buy now! » |
| Trados Business Manager Lite | Create customer quotes and invoices from within Trados Studio
Trados Business Manager Lite helps to simplify and speed up some of the daily tasks, such as invoicing and reporting, associated with running your freelance translation business.
More info » |
|
| | | | X Sign in to your ProZ.com account... | | | | | |