Collecting on site

[NeutronTech]

Do you guys bill your customers mostly or collect money when you finish the job? I prefer to collect at the time I do the service. However, I realize that it is harder with business so I will allow them to send me a check. I don't offer it, I tell them how much it is and give them the bill, then sometimes they pay me then other times they ask if they can mail me my payment. I'm okay with that for the most part with business, I don't allow it with residential. Do you tell the customer on the phone when they set up the service call that the payment will be due when you complete the service?

I had a job the other day where the guy was on SSI and he did not handle his own money. He had a guardian provided by the court who handled his money. I didn't know that until I finished the work and gave him the bill. Then he told me about it. So I had to get the phone number for his guardian and then left him a message. Thankfully he called me Monday morning and asked where to send the check to and I got it today. I was afraid I was going to get screwed over on it. This sort of thing happen to any of you?

 

[vdub12]

I get payment at time of service from everyone.

The only exceptions I will make is on previous customers depending on the experience I have had with them in the past.

 

[Alan22]

It all depends. Most I collect on-site. Some clients I bill monthly and with others I'll leave an invoice and they'll send a check.

 

[rainmaker2112]

New customers I get payment from when the service is rendered.

Businesses or regular residential customers I've done work for before I will let them mail me the payment or tell me when to pick it up. Normally it's within a week.

Customers I do remote work for pay for the first hour before I start work and then I followup if additional payment is required.

 

[donte10]

Most of all my on-site visits, the client pays once services are completed. If I take the PC offsite, I will charge them once I return. Business I at times give them some leeway, if I've done business with them in the past.

 

[jimmm33]

For residential calls I collect when I deliver or complete the job. For businesses I send a bill.

 

[MM PC Solutions]

Residential: Immediate payment. Payment made via Cash, Cheque (With guarantee card) or Visa (Via paypal + additional £5.00 fee for this service).

Business: Must pay within 30 days. Payment made via Cheque, BACS or again Visa Via paypal (£5.00 charge).

 

[Appleby]

New Residential Customers
On-Site Service = immediate payment when job completed
In-Office Service = immediate payment when job completed

New and Current Business Customers
Snail mail bill every time

Current Residential Customers
On-Site Service = immediate if they want, bill if they prefer
In-Office Service = immediate if they want, bill if they prefer

I have 0 problems billing a customer who I know will pay. Same thing with business, new or old. I feel it looks unprofessional to do it any other way.

Obviously, if someone burns me or is very slow to pay, then I'll remember that and request an immediate payment. In 4 years I've been burned by 2 residential customers and 1 business. The business was for two bills totaling nearly $500. It was a franchise of a national chain restaurant and the owners started ignoring my calls/letters and then I found out 6 months later he sold the business. I was considering taking it up with the new owners and maybe telling them I'd waive the bill since it wasn't really "their" debt in hopes of getting future business. Then I was told by a reputable source that these people don't pay their bills either. I just deleted the invoices and moved on after a year. The past owner had been an excellent customer for 2 years and had paid every other invoice immediately. I think he just got into money trouble and figured he could ignore the "little guy".

 

[MrUnknown]

I guess I am in line with everyone else. My Terms state payment due immediately upon completion of the work or when I return the computer unless another agreement has been met before the work has started. I go over these terms before I start, so they have that time to let me know if they can pay me now or later.

MM PC, I don't know about the UK agreement for PayPal, but I know in the US you can't charge more to accept a payment through PayPal. The main reason for that is the agreement that PayPal has with the CC companies states they can't do it. I doubt you would get caught, but figured I would give a heads up.

 

[MM PC Solutions]

MM PC, I don't know about the UK agreement for PayPal, but I know in the US you can't charge more to accept a payment through PayPal. The main reason for that is the agreement that PayPal has with the CC companies states they can't do it. I doubt you would get caught, but figured I would give a heads up.

I wasn't aware, however, I make it clear to the customer (residential) of the additional charge & why. I've not had a single complaint yet as it saves them running to the bank!

 

[SThompson86]

I take payment onsite, and I try to of course get cash.

 

[vdub12]

I was surprised at the amount paypal dings you when you use them. Also I always though paypal to paypal payments where free. I thought they only charged for CC purchases. However, the last payment I received was paypal to paypal and they charged me almost $5 for it.

 

[MrUnknown]

I was surprised at the amount paypal dings you when you use them. Also I always though paypal to paypal payments where free. I thought they only charged for CC purchases. However, the last payment I received was paypal to paypal and they charged me almost $5 for it.

Basic PayPal accounts do not accept credit cards and have free transactions. Business or Premier accounts accept credit cards and charge the fee. Yea, it's stupid.

 

[StringTech]

SquareUp.com

I can't wait for Square to come out with the iPhone App at the end of the month. I think this will really help.

https://squareup.com/features

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSzsFAJAKHI

 

[maclaptech]

I take all payments right after I've done the job unless it is hardware repair. I try to collect upfront for all hardware repairs (cost of parts and labor).

I never give anyone the option to mail the payment. They pay when I hand them their computer.

Computer and Laptop Repair

 

[callthatgirl]

All payments due after service, with the exceptiion of those that tell me to invoice.

yah, I don't like that...but sometimes if it's a business I understand. I have changed my processes a bit to get a pre-auth.

I don't do many business accounts though.

 

[Hercomputers]

Since I just getting started, it's been once the job has been completed. I haven't had any issues with someone not wanting to pay, just one person who wanted me to charge her next to nothing and I had to turn her down-

 

[johnwaddy]

Payment at time of collection. Since you can process nearly any type of payment with a smartphone or laptop, I don't bill. I also setup businesses with prpaid hours, and send renew requests after you have less than a quarter or your hours left.

Most people are trust worthy but keeping a tight operation can save you some headaches.

However if you do bill, never extend it to first time cuatomers. If a customer needs 7-10 days do a debit card / credit card preauthorization and authorize the payment in however many days the customer needs. (disclamer: I do not preauthorize).

 

[NeutronTech]

However if you do bill, never extend it to first time cuatomers.

What do you tell the customer when the call for service? Or rather, how do you tell them they have to pay when you complete the service? I'm trying to figure out how to let the customer know about my pricing and payment options up front. Some customers don't ask about it so I'm not sure how to lead into that topic. If the customer asks, then it's easy.

 

[BrianB]

What do you tell the customer when the call for service? Or rather, how do you tell them they have to pay when you complete the service? I'm trying to figure out how to let the customer know about my pricing and payment options up front. Some customers don't ask about it so I'm not sure how to lead into that topic. If the customer asks, then it's easy.

You could just steal a line from those doctor's office signs and mention it with the price: "I charge $10,000 an hour with a one hour minimum, due when services are rendered."