www.iva.co.uk

Yet again (it happens far too often), clients are late in paying for my work. This is so unfair, their employees get paid on time so WHY DON'T I???? Meanwhile bills have to be paid and it's not easy at the best of times in an IVA and yet again we are worried about finding money.

Yes we will get the payments eventually but in the clients' time (more than one client here) not mine. These clients are professional organisations that should know better but of course if one makes a fuss they can always go elsewhere.

IVAs are hard enough but even worse when you're self employed and clients are somewhat lackadaisical about paying you.

Rant over.

Its not on!! You wouldn't go into a shop and take something without paying.

It isn't fair.... not sure how you stop it apart from tightening your payment terms on your invoices maybe or asking a percentage upfront and balance on day of completion?

Use a carrot, rather than a stick, and offer a discount upon payment within 7 days.

Alas I wish I could. They are big companies, use their own invoices and basically can tell you to stuff it if you make a fuss. It seems to be the way things are going these days, I am lucky to have the work I guess.

Yeah I know what you mean --- the ex was a translator for a few large companies who all seemed to want to pay when they felt like it !! We had a 10% penalty in our terms, but never pushed it as they'd just use someone else. Thought the discount would be a runner, but would only appeal to smaller outfits who pay manually, rather than waiting for a computerised pay run.

Yep. They have you by the short and wotsits. Your ex and me, we are in a similar position pay-wise.