Clients Not Paying

[Horhe]

I dont know if its was already mentioned in this post - but what you could do is provide the client with a low res render, (probably you should state it in the contract) and supplying him with a high resolution image after he transfers the capital. That should do the trick.

 

 

And always and i mean always sign agreements with clients!

[Horhe]

Oh and one more thing. The client is you source of income, not your friend. You have to be strict with him in some matters, where neccesary.

[alexg]

Guys, I'm not saying I agree with that. It's just that from our personal experience being in both arch and arch-viz that is exactly the reason of late payments (well, somebody did ask why architects pay late, right?). I'm not asking for approval of their conduct.

I hate it as much as you do, it's my bread and butter too, but that is the general idea of how some clients think.

There are good clients too, but we are not talking about them in this thread.

Understanding your enemy (non-paying clients) can lead up to finding a good counter.

 

The delaying payment method is what the big bossess ideas of saving money. But more often than not, the paying schedule decision comes from accounting dept. They are better person to deal with as they have their deadlines too on paperwork etc. If forcing your way through the bosses came to a long delayed process, then it's better to steer of him and ask your invoice progress straight to the accounts dept. The admin usually has their own hierarchy, and usually the payment decision can be made from financial controller / acc.manager rather than the person that instructs you the job.

I know people who works as accountants, and I know that they put bulk amount of cheques for signing to the directors daily. Once it came from their own acc. dept, most are just signed blindly.

 

When I find a big boulder blocking my way, I'd rather walk around rather than trying to remove it. Everyone has their own way, just sharing mine. Not trying to offend anybody here.

[Devin Johnston]

Don't worry my friend no one is insulted; I think most of us are just venting our frustrations at the situation, it's not personal.

[Ernest Burden III]

why architects pay late

 

The answer to that is the same as the joke that asks why dogs lick themselves..because they can.

 

Many of my clients I would consider friends. And it does get difficult to ask for retainers from people like that, but not doing so is a recipe for trouble. Same with contracts--use them. No, I do not always always use my contract or require a retainer. But then I'm an idiot.

 

The real problem comes from many of us being small studios where the owner is also the negotiation and collection guy. That sucks. The larger studios have people for those things, people who are good at those thing. The rest of us could learn a few things from them.

[Brian Smith]

yes i was just venting...i wasnt implying that you agree with it...and yes alex is definitely right as to why some pay late...i just dont agree with any client trying to sell it to me

[Justin Hunt]

Its the "I'll pay you when I get paid" excuse that gives we the Sh#ts.

 

I have been fairly lucky with payments, mostly I get paid within the week. Only once did I have to threaten sikking the debt collectors, (not that I had any) I was finally paid two days later. This was after six months of "the cheque is in the mail" and "sorry I sent it to the wrong address" excusses even down right rudness of hanging up on me in mid sentence.

 

Once I go paid I sent a letter informing the client that I will not take on any more of their work. A small price to pay for the crap he put me through.

 

JHV

[alexg]

The real problem comes from many of us being small studios where the owner is also the negotiation and collection guy. That sucks. The larger studios have people for those things, people who are good at those thing. The rest of us could learn a few things from them.

 

EB, that is absolutely correct !

 

If I have the luxury of having my own collection dept, then they can do the invoicing-collection job.

I can just do modelling n rendering. Simple life. No need to worry, all is taken care of.

[ihabkal]

Its the "I'll pay you when I get paid" excuse that gives we the Sh#ts.

 

 

JHV

 

what about the excuse "if I don't get paid you should not expect payment"

so if the architect's design is not accepted by his client or if he didn't get the bid or win the competition what's that have to do with me?

a lot of that here in the middle east, a few weeks ago I had one architect say that to me, I told him I don't have time for your project, sorry.

[Jefferson Grigsby]

I would never work for anyone that I can not trust with a handshake deal. Nobody wants to get into litigation over fees, so just don;t work for deadbeats, they have no place in our business.

 

Also, when somebody pays late, after 30 days in some peoples minds, then you need to charge interest. I used to tell my clients that I am in the business of renderings, not loaning money. Make the penalties steep in your contract and they will pay in time.