Not Getting Paid for Work I Have Done – Recover Owed Money
Last modified: January 6, 2024Not Getting Paid for Work I Have Done – Recover Owed Money
If you have provided goods or services to a customer, it is only right that you should be paid. Whilst most agreements go smoothly, there will unfortunately always be those people that choose to withhold payment.
Larger organisations have dedicated credit control departments that can chase a client for payment. This may not be an option for smaller organisations or those that are self-employed. In businesses like this, it is generally up to the owner to deal with customers who refuse to pay.
Self-employed people and small business owners may not have the time or resources necessary to do debt recovery on their own. When this happens, it is very easy for a debt to be written off, something which will lead to cash flow issues.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, it has been estimated the 4 out of every 5 small businesses was owed money due to not getting paid for work done. This resulted in many business owners taking deductions from their own wages just to keep the business alive.
In this article, our debt collection experts have provided 5 tips for resolving issues when a customer has not paid on time.
Not Getting Paid for Work I Have Done | Get Expert Help From A Private Debt Collection Agency Now
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Not Getting Paid for Work I Have Done UK – 5 Expert Debt Collection Tips
In any business, it is essential that customers pay on time. If there is any failure to pay, it can cause countless issues for the company in question.
There are many options available to help in a situation like this. These can include the small claims court, the citizen’s advice bureau, or instructing a debt collection agency. Before committing to one course of action, there are also some steps you can take yourself.
Document Everything
For any business, be that a large company or a self-employed contractor, you should always keep a written record of anything relating to an agreement. For example, this might be a contract, a message of confirmation or even an invoice.
Keeping an organised and clear file for any agreement you make can help to resolve matters if there is any situation involving debt.
For example, a self-employed builder has done some work for a large construction company. During that time, they needed to take a few days off as they were unwell.
Later, they discover that they have not been paid for that time. In situations like this, it is vital to have documentation on the terms of the builder’s agreement with the construction company. In this, it may have details on the rights concerning holiday pay or sick pay.
It is good to provide or ask for payment terms before committing to an agreement. Without this, you may not have any proof that you are owed money should that situation arise.
Contact the Debtor
Before taking any other action, it is always a good idea to contact the debtor directly. In many cases, there is a simple explanation as to why the debtor has not paid you. Often contacting the customer may remind them that they need to pay, and if not, you can have a professional conversation to discuss the subject.
It is important not to contact the debtor excessively, or outside of appropriate hours. Doing so will only serve to anger them, and could even lead to them taking action against you. This may also give them grounds to not pay the debt.
Make it Easier for the Debtor to Pay
In some cases, the debtor may be unable to pay due to financial difficulties. If this has happened, it may be impossible for them to pay the full amount of what they owe to you in one lump sum.
If this has happened, it is sometimes better to work with the debtor to set up a repayment plan. This will allow them to repay you in a way that is manageable for them. It is common for businesses to build this scenario into their payment terms.
Send a Final Payment Reminder Letter
If you have contacted the debtor multiple times and they are still refusing to pay, it is a good idea to send a final reminder. A good time to send this is 30 days after the payment was due. You should use professional language and include information or documents that relate to the payment, such as a copy of the invoice.
This letter should state your intention to escalate the matter to a professional if payment is not forthcoming.
Hire Professional Help
Are you a small business owner or self-employed and not been paid,? If so, you may not have the time or resources that are required in order to chase a debt beyond what is listed above.
In cases like this, it is better to instruct a professional debt collection agency. Frontline Collections have been helping those that are not paid for work done self-employed since our openings in 2005.
Our professional debt collection experts can recover your money promptly and professionally at a low cost. Not getting paid for work I have done is not the end of the world. There are professionals that can help you.
For more information, speak to one of our friendly debt collection experts now.
Not Getting Paid for Work I Have Done | Get Expert Help From A Private Debt Collection Agency Now
Our friendly team of Debt Collection Experts is happy to help you today