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  Phil Voice October 7, 2010 at 11:39am

  Keep at them James until you get payment and establish a schedule of payments. If it's a regular sum then ask them to set up a standing order, otherwise.....be prepared to walk away from any new work until you can establish that you'll bet paid on the day you're promised.
  
  If payments are not forthcoming at this early stage in your relationship then it begs the question of what it'll be like when it comes to the last scheduled payment?
  
  I realise you probably need this job and income and that you don't wish to upset anyone but you also cannot be their banker either.
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  Jigsawgardens.co.uk October 7, 2010 at 11:53am

  Thanks Philip! I believed I had set up a schedule of payments as our agreement letter said payment would be monthly in arrears but yes , you're right, I need to get in writing when I will be paid and how regularly, thanks for that.
  That's my concern too re: what will relationship be like in future. I actually received confirmation I had the contract on the day they wanted me to start which wasn't a very professional beginning i.m.o.
  Unfazed, I got on top of things, and still am but the side issue with this job is that it is maintaining the communal land surrounding my own home so I do feel a bit of added pressure to keep it tip top and fear that the management firm, who are aware of this, may be taking liberties because of this!
  
  
  Philip Voice said:

  Keep at them James until you get payment and establish a schedule of payments. If it's a regular sum then ask them to set up a standing order, otherwise.....be prepared to walk away from any new work until you can establish that you'll bet paid on the day you're promised.
  
  If payments are not forthcoming at this early stage in your relationship then it begs the question of what it'll be like when it comes to the last scheduled payment?
  
  I realise you probably need this job and income and that you don't wish to upset anyone but you also cannot be their banker either.
• PRO

  Gary RK October 7, 2010 at 6:16pm

  Pretty much agree with above, but experience has shown me that the first payment on a new contract tends to be late, as no-one has set up on the purchasing system, no-one has your details etc.
  
  Especially true for large companies as invoice submisssion and approval can go thru so many people.
  
  It's worth finding out who the right person is in the back office (you often find it's not the Boss who has the last say over timing), just knowing the admin person and establishing a good dialogue allows to you 'to just call them up' in the future
  
  I know it should not be like that, but generally things do settle down and the relationship builds etc.
  
  Ultimately 'gut feel' for your new commercial customer is vital.
  
  You can tell a lot on how you are treated, responded to etc.
• PRO

  Nick @ NM Garden Services Ltd October 7, 2010 at 7:10pm

  How about this transcript from a colleague of mine:
  
  "My colleague: Hello, payment is due this week, is it on its way?
  Customer: No, our payment terms are 60 days.
  My colleague: But mine are 30, and that's what was agreed in our contract.
  Customer: Ours are 60, we won't pay you until day 60.
  My colleague: You didn't mention that before.
  Customer: That's company policy.
  My colleague: But that will be a month late, I'm going to have to charge you interest.
  Customer:Ok."
  
  Perhaps this is worth a try!
  
  -Nick
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  Graeme @ BGS October 7, 2010 at 7:56pm

  As Gary said, new contracts can be very bad for getting their 1st payment to you.
  
  I had a block of flats and the management company took nearly three months as they reckoned half the tenants were in arrears!!
  
  You will find that if the "lady" in accounts receives a little hamper from you at Xmas you will be amazed at how quickly your account is taken care of in future.
• PRO

  Gary RK October 7, 2010 at 8:01pm

  yep, good advice - for us, it's a bottle of good vino to the important accounts ladies
  
  Graeme @ BGS said:

  As Gary said, new contracts can be very bad for getting their 1st payment to you.
  
  I had a block of flats and the management company took nearly three months as they reckoned half the tenants were in arrears!!
  
  You will find that if the "lady" in accounts receives a little hamper from you at Xmas you will be amazed at how quickly your account is taken care of in future.
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  Cesare Harradine October 7, 2010 at 9:13pm

  Stick with it. BACS can be glitchy setting up and they've probably got their own financial systems to set up to accomadate the new account.
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  Jigsawgardens.co.uk October 8, 2010 at 12:05am

  Thanks to all of you for your invaluable time, advice and support. As always LJN folk help each other out- it's a breath of fresh air on here. Your words have helped me feel I've pursued the right path pressing them to sort out the payment. The outcome is they have paid me today (though let's face it, it;s still gonna take a few days to clear) and yes, there were bureaucratic problems setting it up. We've agreed though that, as soon as I've done my contracted work for the month to fire off the invoice by email and I'll be paid the following Tuesday so, hopefully, within seven days in future.
  Thanks again guys/gals!
  James
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  Jigsawgardens.co.uk October 8, 2010 at 12:06am

  PS - yes some form of Xmas sweetener could help going into 2011!
  
  
  
  James Iles said:

  Thanks to all of you for your invaluable time, advice and support. As always LJN folk help each other out- it's a breath of fresh air on here. Your words have helped me feel I've pursued the right path pressing them to sort out the payment. The outcome is they have paid me today (though let's face it, it;s still gonna take a few days to clear) and yes, there were bureaucratic problems setting it up. We've agreed though that, as soon as I've done my contracted work for the month to fire off the invoice by email and I'll be paid the following Tuesday so, hopefully, within seven days in future.
  Thanks again guys/gals!
  James
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  Lawncare-4u.co.uk October 8, 2010 at 12:24am

  no invoice - no payment !! one of my clients told me this regarding her lawn cut (she works for BT) lol
  
  fair comment !