Non Paying Clients!!!

[designerwhere]

Ever meet clients who promised e world but could not even deliver on payments?

Was talking to a model a few hrs back n realised that some companies just love to delay paying e models n photographers.

Some pay u a few months late despite u calling them up everyday.... call transfer u all over e place... give excuse like wat boss not around to sign e cheque.... or accounting pple bo zo kang.......

Has anyone experienced such situations?

Anyway to prevent it from happening?

 

[hacknet]

yeah, its pretty common, not only with photography...

 

[wesley]

Ever meet clients who promised e world but could not even deliver on payments?

Was talking to a model a few hrs back n realised that some companies just love to delay paying e models n photographers.

Some pay u a few months late despite u calling them up everyday.... call transfer u all over e place... give excuse like wat boss not around to sign e cheque.... or accounting pple bo zo kang.......

Has anyone experienced such situations?

Anyway to prevent it from happening?

Hello Designerwhere,

I am sorry to hear that this has happened to you. The company you are dealing with sounds fishy. I hope that you will find better clients that pay on time. We have come up with a few steps to negotiate with potential non-paying or late paying clients. I am assuming that this is the 1st job for the client.

1. When you are shooting a for new client, try to do a background check with your peers or your client's peers about their reputation. If clients are the late/non paying types, folks in the industry will hear about their misdoings soon enough. Singapore is a really small city and word gets around very fast.

2. If the company is very new (eg < 6 to 12 months), that is another sign to note. Some new companies will give 3 month payment terms hoping they can rollover because of cash flow issues. This is especially true of companies with low startup capital.

3. After gathering the information, you still have a choice of working OR not working with them.

4. If you are going to work with them, ask for a 50% deposit on signing the contract and before work starts and the other 50% with a 30 day term on delivery. By ensuring that you get the 50%, it will give you funds to get pay for assistants, transport, work material, etc. Make sure your contract covers all the angles.

5. If the company is willing to pay the 50%, it means that they are serious about getting you to shoot for them. It also probably means they have real money in the bank. That is a good sign. If the company says that their boss or finance person is not around to sign the 50% cheque, it's a REALLY bad sign. It's a very common excuse for stalling/non payment. If you decide to carry on the shoot without the 50%, there's a high chance that they will not pay you on time after delivery.

6. If the company is not willing to give a 50% payment and you still want to work for them, ask for COD (Cash or Cheque on Delivery). It literally means that the cheque has to be in your hands before you hand over the deliverables. If the amount is small, you can ask for a cash cheque or real cash. It all depends on how you negotiate. If the cheque bounces, you can take legal action.

Best
Wesley

 

[designerwhere]

Hello Designerwhere,

I am sorry to hear that this has happened to you. The company you are dealing with sounds fishy. I hope that you will find better clients that pay on time. We have come up with a few steps to negotiate with potential non-paying or late paying clients. I am assuming that this is the 1st job for the client.

1. When you are shooting a for new client, try to do a background check with your peers or your client's peers about their reputation. If clients are the late/non paying types, folks in the industry will hear about their misdoings soon enough. Singapore is a really small city and word gets around very fast.

2. If the company is very new (eg < 6 to 12 months), that is another sign to note. Some new companies will give 3 month payment terms hoping they can rollover because of cash flow issues. This is especially true of companies with low startup capital.

3. After gathering the information, you still have a choice of working OR not working with them.

4. If you are going to work with them, ask for a 50% deposit on signing the contract and before work starts and the other 50% with a 30 day term on delivery. By ensuring that you get the 50%, it will give you funds to get pay for assistants, transport, work material, etc. Make sure your contract covers all the angles.

5. If the company is willing to pay the 50%, it means that they are serious about getting you to shoot for them. It also probably means they have real money in the bank. That is a good sign. If the company says that their boss or finance person is not around to sign the 50% cheque, it's a REALLY bad sign. It's a very common excuse for stalling/non payment. If you decide to carry on the shoot without the 50%, there's a high chance that they will not pay you on time after delivery.

6. If the company is not willing to give a 50% payment and you still want to work for them, ask for COD (Cash or Cheque on Delivery). It literally means that the cheque has to be in your hands before you hand over the deliverables. If the amount is small, you can ask for a cash cheque or real cash. It all depends on how you negotiate. If the cheque bounces, you can take legal action.

Best
Wesley

The trouble with freelancers is pple keep thinking they can rip u off.

 

[wainism]

you can send them a formal reminder, both by email and by post. stating that you have rendered service and xxx date and all details of the job. give them 7 days to respond. after 7 days, if there is still nothing heard, tell them you have no choice but to seek legal recourse to recover the outstanding sum if no payment is made with 7 days.

by now u have given them extra 14 days grace and if they still dont pay. go to small claims court. as a free lancer, u can take them to small claims as an individual against a company.

 

[vince123123]

Yeap, and not forgetting, please post the name of the person and company here, and then inform them that they will be featured on the leading photography forum in Singapore.

 

[designerwhere]

Yeap, and not forgetting, please post the name of the person and company here, and then inform them that they will be featured on the leading photography forum in Singapore.

Whoa. That one stings. :bsmilie:

 

[vince123123]

Yeap, we are waiting for you to reveal who the mystery perpetrators are!

Whoa. That one stings. :bsmilie:

 

[karkadann]

Can i throw e first stone?:devil:

 

[vince123123]

go ahead

 

[snowspeeder]

Can i throw e first stone?:devil:

Where's the target? :hammer:

 

[jfoo]

Hello Designerwhere,

I am sorry to hear that this has happened to you. The company you are dealing with sounds fishy. I hope that you will find better clients that pay on time. We have come up with a few steps to negotiate with potential non-paying or late paying clients. I am assuming that this is the 1st job for the client.

1. When you are shooting a for new client, try to do a background check with your peers or your client's peers about their reputation. If clients are the late/non paying types, folks in the industry will hear about their misdoings soon enough. Singapore is a really small city and word gets around very fast.

2. If the company is very new (eg < 6 to 12 months), that is another sign to note. Some new companies will give 3 month payment terms hoping they can rollover because of cash flow issues. This is especially true of companies with low startup capital.

3. After gathering the information, you still have a choice of working OR not working with them.

4. If you are going to work with them, ask for a 50% deposit on signing the contract and before work starts and the other 50% with a 30 day term on delivery. By ensuring that you get the 50%, it will give you funds to get pay for assistants, transport, work material, etc. Make sure your contract covers all the angles.

5. If the company is willing to pay the 50%, it means that they are serious about getting you to shoot for them. It also probably means they have real money in the bank. That is a good sign. If the company says that their boss or finance person is not around to sign the 50% cheque, it's a REALLY bad sign. It's a very common excuse for stalling/non payment. If you decide to carry on the shoot without the 50%, there's a high chance that they will not pay you on time after delivery.

6. If the company is not willing to give a 50% payment and you still want to work for them, ask for COD (Cash or Cheque on Delivery). It literally means that the cheque has to be in your hands before you hand over the deliverables. If the amount is small, you can ask for a cash cheque or real cash. It all depends on how you negotiate. If the cheque bounces, you can take legal action.

Best
Wesley

most event companies or even wedding planners collect upfront payment from the clients they are representing to obtain your services so it's only right they should hand you a deposit to retain your services for the date.

i must also add that full payment is collected by them well in advance before the event date or on the date of the event itself. there's no reason for them to withhold payment from you once you deliver.

 

[designerwhere]

2 words : Bounced Cheque!:bsmilie:

 

[Godzilla Invades]

Simple.

No FULL payment, no photos.:sticktong

 

[snowspeeder]

2 words : Bounced Cheque!:bsmilie:

Or just as bad...post dated cheque (the month or year written in the future).

 

[blueskye168]

yeah, its pretty common, not only with photography...

That's right even other trades too.:complain:but aiyalor+:bsmilie:

 

[blueskye168]

Simple.

No FULL payment, no photos.:sticktong

Yes:thumbsup: precisely, :angry:bcos of quite rather common 'happenings', that's why helps/forced to come up with this applicable and 'workable ideas':thumbsup:

Btw, No FULL payment=No photos and/or CDs

 

[delong72]

for those who think only fishy company do this..u r very wrong..
I been in biz long enuff..even Big COs.. will makan u if possible..
so..do watever necessary to protect yourself..CASH ON DELIVERY..full stop..

Cheers and gd luck..

 

[designerwhere]

for those who think only fishy company do this..u r very wrong..
I been in biz long enuff..even Big COs.. will makan u if possible..
so..do watever necessary to protect yourself..CASH ON DELIVERY..full stop..

Cheers and gd luck..

Yup. They take forever to issue u a cheque cos gotta clear so many departments n go thru so many big shots.:bsmilie:

 

[Cheesecake]

50% on accepting the job and the last 50% on C.O.D.

unless the amount is really small, u might consider goin straight for C.O.D. and stick to it. if no $$, no goods.

some better clients pay u full amount straight on the spot upon confirmation of hiring u for the job but these are far and few in between.