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Freelance translators depend on their customers’ cash-flow to receive their payments. Some customers pay right on time while others can be quite reluctant to let their money go. They request duplicate invoices to be sent, claim that they will pay us on the following week or give us a thousand and one excuses to explain to us why we haven’t been paid yet.
Dealing with these clients is not only stressing and annoying but also time consuming. You can easily find yourself devoting two or three hours per day to chase these late-payers instead of translating new documents or outreaching potential clients. Fortunately, there are different strategies you can put into practice in order to manage these difficult clients correctly.
Contact the Client Immediately
One of the biggest mistakes that freelance translators do when a client misses a payment deadline is not following up with them right away. Of course, it is true that nobody wants to seem desperate about money but it is not false either that the longer you wait to collect a missed payment, the fewer chances you have of being paid.
You should call your client immediately after he misses a payment deadline and you should leave a message daily reminding him that he owes you money. If you are able to reach your client, make sure you’re informed of the reasons why he hasn’t paid you yet and, if possible, make arrangements for the payment to be made. Be polite but strong at all times.
Don’t Take Broken Promises Lightly
If the new due date arrives and your check is nowhere to be found, then your client is not trustworthy. In that case, keep hold of any pending job you have for him and do not do anything further until the payment is made. Many a time this is the best strategy to finally get the payment: if the client needs your services and/or the translated documents you have, he will eventually send you the money sooner or later.
This may be the best time to switch to more formal means of communication. Sending an email to your client expressing your concern that the payment has not been made yet despite your efforts to arrange a second due date usually works, especially if you keep sending the same email each week.
You should also consider sending a formal letter compelling the client to pay what he owes you. You can find different options of these letters here to get you inspired.
Broaden your Payment Options
Let your non-paying client know all your payment options. For instance, you can tell him that he can pay you over the phone with his debit or credit card or that they can immediately credit your money to your personal bank account.
Threaten to Hire a Debt Collection Agency
This should be used as a last resort. Requesting the services of a debt collection agency is many times the best and only way to put an end to this problem. A debt collector will harass your client constantly on the phone compelling him to make the payment. And they can be quite rude!
Tell Other Translators About a Non-Paying Client
There are some sites where you can leave feedback on translation clients and agencies. They are good places to spread the word so that other colleagues are aware of those bad clients.
