Poll: Do you place a limit on how much any one client can owe you at a time?
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
ProZ.com Staff
SITE STAFF
Jan 8, 2017

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you place a limit on how much any one client can owe you at a time?".

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neilmac
neilmac
Spain
Local time: 11:56
Spanish to English
+ ...
Other Jan 8, 2017

Not really. Most of my regulars pay within a reasonable time, although some might take several months, but I'm used to it by now, and know that they are not trying to dodge payment, simply suffering the same cash flow problems as many other businesses.

However, once the amount outstanding gets to around €2000, I might make a polite enquiry or send them a reminder, but it doesn't usually happen.


 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 10:56
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Other Jan 8, 2017

Not really. In principle, I do not accept huge jobs as a first assignment from a new client, with the exception of big international organizations. If a client fails to pay as agreed, I will say “Sorry, I’m not available” after the first reminder, whatever the amount. This strategy has served me well as in over 30 years I had very few cases of non-payment (all from direct clients and for small amounts, except one invoice still pending for 215€ but I do know she is really struggling after... See more
Not really. In principle, I do not accept huge jobs as a first assignment from a new client, with the exception of big international organizations. If a client fails to pay as agreed, I will say “Sorry, I’m not available” after the first reminder, whatever the amount. This strategy has served me well as in over 30 years I had very few cases of non-payment (all from direct clients and for small amounts, except one invoice still pending for 215€ but I do know she is really struggling after the death of her husband).Collapse


 
Thayenga
Thayenga  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 11:56
Member (2009)
English to German
+ ...
Other Jan 8, 2017

There's absolutely no need for that.

 
Muriel Vasconcellos
Muriel Vasconcellos  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 03:56
Member (2003)
Spanish to English
+ ...
No, but it might be a good idea Jan 8, 2017

Back in the 1990s, I once was owed over US$9,000 by a large international organization that I trusted (I had once been on their full-time staff as a matter of fact). It took them two years to pay up. I should have stopped much sooner.

 
Platon Danilov
Platon Danilov  Identity Verified
Ukraine
Local time: 12:56
English to Russian
+ ...
Not yet Jan 8, 2017

But I may want to do so if one of my regular clients overwhelms me with huge projects leaving no room for other clients and life

[Редактировалось 2017-01-08 11:33 GMT]


 
Julian Holmes
Julian Holmes  Identity Verified
Japan
Local time: 19:56
Member (2011)
Japanese to English
No Jan 8, 2017

Because there is no need to - Japanese customers pay on time. Even if they were to be delinquent in paying, the threat of shaming them would be enough to prompt them to action.

 
Reed James
Reed James
Chile
Local time: 07:56
Member (2005)
Spanish to English
I do my homework first Jan 8, 2017

I have never put in place such a policy. It is better to assess the trustworthiness of an agency beforehand. I base this on Blueboard entries and the country they're based in. I've only had problems when meglecting to enforce these checks.

 
Christopher Schröder
Christopher Schröder
United Kingdom
Member (2011)
Swedish to English
+ ...
No Jan 8, 2017

But as I bill monthly, there is an implicit limit of two months' sales.

Given that I would never work for just one customer for two straight months, this means that even in the busy season I wouldn't normally have any one exposure beyond £10k.

And let's face it you're unlikely to be stiffed by a government body or central bank anyway.

So for me credit control is not something to lose sleep over. Which is nice.


 
Erzsébet Czopyk
Erzsébet Czopyk  Identity Verified
Hungary
Local time: 11:56
Member (2006)
Russian to Hungarian
+ ...
SITE LOCALIZER
the other side of the world / definitely yes Jan 8, 2017

Julian Holmes wrote:

Because there is no need to - Japanese customers pay on time. Even if they were to be delinquent in paying, the threat of shaming them would be enough to prompt them to action.


Definitely yes... Because there is a profound need of - Hungarian customers do not pay on time. Even if they are in delay, the threat of shaming them would be totally ineffective and completely fruitless

So the border is somewhere around EUR 500 but in case of the first order it is a lot lower / I ask some down payment. Just approx. 6 weeks ago I made an exception (the job was announced here on ProZ.com) and I am still awaiting my 40 euros...

[Edited at 2017-01-08 15:41 GMT]


 
Mario Freitas
Mario Freitas  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 07:56
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
In some cases Jan 8, 2017

For regular clients that pay me on time, that is, that I already know, no limit applies. For new or recent clients, sometimes I do set a limit and/or refuse additional jobs until the previous one is paid. But even then, I'll do it once or twice, and consider the client became regular and a good payer after the third document. Of course I make a thorough search in the web for all new or potential clients. I have no clients in India, China, Southern Hemisphere and Spain (very few in Brazil, since ... See more
For regular clients that pay me on time, that is, that I already know, no limit applies. For new or recent clients, sometimes I do set a limit and/or refuse additional jobs until the previous one is paid. But even then, I'll do it once or twice, and consider the client became regular and a good payer after the third document. Of course I make a thorough search in the web for all new or potential clients. I have no clients in India, China, Southern Hemisphere and Spain (very few in Brazil, since I live here). So the chances of not getting paid are already cut by more than 50%.

[Edited at 2017-01-08 16:24 GMT]
Collapse


 
Mario Freitas
Mario Freitas  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 07:56
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Japanese clients Jan 8, 2017

Julian Holmes wrote:

Because there is no need to - Japanese customers pay on time. Even if they were to be delinquent in paying, the threat of shaming them would be enough to prompt them to action.


Most freelance translators have clients in many different countries. As a matter of fact, you are the only one I know who is lucky enough to have all their clients in a single country, above all in Japan, where we know people are serious and disciplined and very unlikely to become delinquent. However, you are still a rare exception in the world of translators, IMO.


 
Michael Harris
Michael Harris  Identity Verified
Germany
Local time: 11:56
Member (2006)
German to English
No Jan 8, 2017

But if someone does push the line, then they are out of the "inner circle".

Fortunately I do not have a problem with this sort of stuff (touch wood)!


 


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Poll: Do you place a limit on how much any one client can owe you at a time?






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