tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27479087.post3989792222189813719..comments2018-11-16T08:53:35.792+00:00Comments on Diary of a Wordsmith: Late payers and lazy freelancesAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09575696613288942467noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27479087.post-24093348444678301892007-12-15T23:16:00.000+00:002007-12-15T23:16:00.000+00:00Agreed. Although I read them because I wish there ...Agreed. <BR/><BR/>Although I read them because I wish there *were* some tips I didn't know about on how to get the buggers to pay you on time. <BR/><BR/>I think yes, treat it as a business but go in with your eyes open and realise that most big publishing companies don't give a stuff that you have a mortgage to pay, if it doesn't fit with their cheque run or "pay on publication" policy. <BR/><BR/>Grrrr. Think I'm feeling grouchy this week, too!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27479087.post-48854537276287870542007-12-14T16:47:00.000+00:002007-12-14T16:47:00.000+00:00I wouldn't actually disagree with a lot of what yo...I wouldn't actually disagree with a lot of what you are saying. On the journalism side, I accept late payment goes with the territory and that trying to push for prompt payment can result in being dropped. Which is why I emphasised that contracts and T&Cs are what I use for copywriting and editing clients. And that sometimes it's better to wait a couple of weeks until a payment cycle kicks in. <BR/><BR/>My gripe was twofold - firstly against lazy freelances who expect colleagues to repeatedly post info on forums about what to do if they need to take action because they can't be arsed to STFA. And secondly that they should take the time to learn that freelancing is a business, not a hobby, and should be treated as a business. Frankly, any business - whether it's a freelance hack, a plumber or a corner shop - does not deserve to survive if they wait 6 or 9 months or longer before deciding to ask around about what to do with a client who hasn't paid up yet. Except that plumbers and corner shop owners are probably way more sussed at getting paid.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09575696613288942467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27479087.post-53182857323169613792007-12-14T16:10:00.000+00:002007-12-14T16:10:00.000+00:00Contracts are great, and terms and conditions are ...Contracts are great, and terms and conditions are useful, as are stating terms. I do all of that. But if you’re setting out as a freelancer, it’s worth noting that many large organisations don’t give a stuff about your payment terms, and the best advice is suck it up. <BR/><BR/>I’ve freelanced since 2001, and late payment is just part of the job. Sure, issue letters before action or invoice for interest charges, but accept those clients will never hire you again. And if the client is a major newspaper or the BBC, you have to balance the cost of being paid late against the cost of never working for that publication again. It’s not like we’re plumbers with an endless supply of new clients out there. For hacks, the majority of the work probably comes from half a dozen papers and a dozen magazine publishers. <BR/><BR/>This week, I’m waiting for a little over £4,000 in overdue invoices from three clients, but there’s just no point stamping my feet because the cash is owed by the BBC, a top 10 PR agency and an online magazine that generally gives me 2 or 3 features a month, and which has just upped my rates. <BR/><BR/>My advice is simply to be polite, to talk to accountants not editors, and to keep gently pushing people. And sometimes it pays off – the accounts lady at the online mag has agreed (after three days of me being incredibly polite and grateful for all her efforts, through gritted teeth), to send a cheque by recorded mail today for the late payment.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com