In dealing with getting paid, I always ensure that the bulk of the money is paid during a Contract and then if the firm goes under, 3 of ours did this year, we were only owed retention and from one company very little of the contract money. The signs were there, and I was on the phone weekly getting monies in and I am very persuasive.
I have been accused of being annoying, irritating, abusive, aggressive etc when I am chasing monies, but I prefer to be known as professional and successful and do not take no for an answer.
Fortunately, most of our clients are the better ones and pay on time.
I always send a 7 day warning letter if money is late and not likely to be forthcoming and having been successful in the small claims court, never hesitate to issue court proceedings and follow through to get paid.
Three years ago, we were working for a company, which went under, and the Liquidators are still dealing with the money chase - I learned a lot of lessons from this on good credit control and that is why I have always tried to help others on the Forum when they have been knocked.
Anne
