[REQUEST] Billing after a remote repair - Late Payments

[Choppie]

In my area, and my type of clients, in 12 years in this area, never had a single issue, always paid by check or cash onsite, and when I remote, the problem is on my end, I procrastinate sending out the invoice. Every time, always get paid with in a week of me sending out the invoice along with a nice thank you note. Cypress can back me up on that I'm sure. As long as we stay west of Military Trail . I'm working out of West Palm Beach, FL and some of the clients don't even want to know the price, they just have the house keep pay. There are times I don't see a check for a few weeks and that means, then it's a client whose house keeper just sits down at the end of each month to write out checks all in one shot, one day a week. So back to answering this question, I would say give it two weeks, then send another email or a call. And if you feel funny about coming off as a bit pushy, you can always say, hey, I'm having trouble in our neighborhood with our mail driver putting mail in wrong boxes, just checking to see if you sent out the check yet or if it got lost....just my two bits

 

[cypress]

In my area, and my type of clients, in 12 years in this area, never had a single issue, always paid by check or cash onsite, and when I remote, the problem is on my end, I procrastinate sending out the invoice. Every time, always get paid with in a week of me sending out the invoice along with a nice thank you note. Cypress can back me up on that I'm sure. As long as we stay west of Military Trail . I'm working out of West Palm Beach, FL and some of the clients don't even want to know the price, they just have the house keep pay. There are times I don't see a check for a few weeks and that means, then it's a client whose house keeper just sits down at the end of each month to write out checks all in one shot, one day a week. So back to answering this question, I would say give it two weeks, then send another email or a call. And if you feel funny about coming off as a bit pushy, you can always say, hey, I'm having trouble in our neighborhood with our mail driver putting mail in wrong boxes, just checking to see if you sent out the check yet or if it got lost....just my two bits

LMAO! This is hilarious and so true. Certain parts of town that you just know the clients are a heck of a lot better. I completely agree with this.

I'll give them up to 2 weeks on clients I have already built a good relationship with and the check is usually in the mail well before that. Lately they have been paying with Credit card through invoice.

 

[Your PCMD]

Here is whats at the bottom of every invoice I send out.

Terms
Make checks payable to: Your PCMD

Residential: Payment due upon completion of services or delivery of goods.
Commercial: As residential above or NET 10 only if on account. See site for terms.​

NET 10 overdue accounts incur a late fee of $50 (11-29 days), $100 (30-44 days) 45th day remits to collections.

I have only had 1 client hit the 11-29 day. Never had one hit the 30-44 day mark and never had to go to collections on any either.

 

[AML]

We do it a little different, we have the tech call in after completion, and we speak to the customer. We then ask the customer if everything is completed to their satisfaction, and is there anything else we can do for you before we take your payment over the phone. We take their credit card or debit card. If they wish to pay cash that is fine. We do not accept cheques, only from businesses.

 

[GTP]

NET 10 overdue accounts incur a late fee of $50 (11-29 days), $100 (30-44 days) 45th day remits to collections.

Late fees are illegal here, so all you can do is keep calling them.

 

[glennd]

Late fees are illegal here, so all you can do is keep calling them.

Not according to my Telstra bill. It clearly states a late fee of $15.

 

[GTP]

Not according to my Telstra bill. It clearly states a late fee of $15.

They can tell you there's a late fee but they cannot make you pay it. Most people pay up thinking they have to.
If you don't pay it, it is illegal for them to make you.
Found this old article, but AFAIK, it is illegal to charge late fees.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-08-20/telstra-faces-legal-action-over-late-payment-fees/5683180

 

[Your PCMD]

Late fees are illegal here, so all you can do is keep calling them.

Really? Wow! Not here, this is 'Merica - we get all we can here.

Also, we can (in Texas at least) add a fee for using credit/debit cards as well although cannot exceed 4% of the sale.

 

[nlinecomputers]

Also, we can (in Texas at least) add a fee for using credit/debit cards as well although cannot exceed 4% of the sale.

I don't think you are correct on that.

http://occc.texas.gov/publications/credit-card-surcharges

 

[Your PCMD]

I don't think you are correct on that.

http://occc.texas.gov/publications/credit-card-surcharges

Actually, yes we can. Its not a surcharge, but a convenience fee.

Section 339.001 does not prohibit fees that are uniform for all forms of payment, whether these fees are labeled “convenience fee,” “service fee,” or something else. A convenience fee that is uniform for all forms of payment is not a prohibited credit card surcharge.

The Texas attorney general reached this conclusion in Opinion No. GA ‐0951 (2012). The attorney general held that Section 339.001 does not prohibit a seller from imposing a standard, properly disclosed “service fee” for all transactions over $10. This conclusion was based on the assumption that the service fee was not “limited to consumers who pay with a credit card.”

This "convenience fee" is used for credit/debit cards and checks, falling inline with the guideline of uniformity.

 

[nlinecomputers]

Actually, yes we can. Its not a surcharge, but a convenience fee.



This "convenience fee" is used for credit/debit cards and checks, falling inline with the guideline of uniformity.

You have to do it for ALL forms of payment, including cash.

 

[Porthos]

I have to agree with nline. You can only offer a cash/check discount. You can not charge more to accept a credit card. I price my services assuming everyone is using a card and offer cash discounts.

 

[AML]

Add your 4% to everything... offer a discount of 4% for cash or debit.

 

[nlinecomputers]

Add your 4% to everything... offer a discount of 4% for cash or debit.

Texas law directly prohibits that workaround.

 

[Your PCMD]

You have to do it for ALL forms of payment, including cash.

Right, 98% pay by card, the remaining pay by check. I have not had a cash customer in 2 years.

@AML that circumvents the process. Thats illegal. I've asked my lawyers a few times over the years and they agree that thats not the right way to do things.

 

[AML]

@AML that circumvents the process. Thats illegal. I've asked my lawyers a few times over the years and they agree that thats not the right way to do things.[/QUOTE]

I don't know Texas Law, but I can offer a cash discount here. Not illegal, I can give anyone a discount at my discretion.

 

[Archon Prime]

Yes, @AML , you can. And it's legal for Ontario/Canada law. I do 4% on my stuff as well and offer cash 4% discount. a lot of computer stores in my area do the same thing.

https://www.canada.ca/en/financial-consumer-agency/services/merchants/credit-fees-merchant.html

 

[nlinecomputers]

@AML that circumvents the process. Thats illegal. I've asked my lawyers a few times over the years and they agree that thats not the right way to do things.

I don't know Texas Law, but I can offer a cash discount here. Not illegal, I can give anyone a discount at my discretion.

You can offer a discount but you can't structure your discount to be the same as charging for CC use. You can either only offer a discount or always charge a fee, not both.

A seller may not combine a cash discount with a convenience fee. For example, a seller may not charge a $0.50 convenience fee for all forms of payment with a $0.25 discount for paying by cash, check, or debit cards. In reality, this practice results in a non‐uniform increase from the regular price ($0.50 for credit cards and $0.25 for cash, check, or debit card), and is therefore a prohibited credit card surcharge.

http://occc.texas.gov/sites/default...redit-card-surcharge-alternatives-6-25-15.pdf

 

[Your PCMD]

Truth be told, 99.999997% of the time I don't bother with a convenience fee, mainly because I always forget, but also, I make enough off a sale/service that it negates the fees I have to pay for being able to take a card. I mean really, $2 per $100 is not going to break me.

 

[AML]

http://occc.texas.gov/sites/default...redit-card-surcharge-alternatives-6-25-15.pdf[/QUOTE]

I guess I'm not understanding, item 3 on what you provided states Cash discount Section 339.001 prohibits surcharges for paying by credit card, but it does not prohibit discounts for paying by cash, check, debit card, or other methods. A surcharge is an increase from the regular price of a good or service, but a discount is a decrease from the regular price.

What i said was raise all your prices to the 4% and then offer a discount to those paying cash or debit as it allows.
Unless I'm missing something and if I am +1 to Canada