Poll: Are you flexible with payment terms with some of your clients? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Are you flexible with payment terms with some of your clients?".
This poll was originally submitted by Mariam Osmane. View the poll results »
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I answered No, but it depends on how you understand flexible.
I usually issue my invoices with 30 days' due date and I do not tolerate even 1 day's delay. So in that respect I am not flexible at all.
However, there is one agency which I grant a 45-days payment date, since they provide me with large volumes of work, but again - if there is no payment on the 46th day, I intervene.
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some of my clients have been with me for over 20 years. This means of course that I am much more flexible with them than with a new client...
| | | | Thayenga 
Germany
Local time: 07:16
Member (2009)
English to German
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This should actually read... yes and no.
With clients, who provide me with large volumes of work and/or who have done so for a certain amount of time, e. g. 10 years, I am more inclined to a certain flexibility.
New clients and/or tardy payers must honor my invoice on the agreed upon day.
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| 'Flexible' vs. 'flexible' | Aug 21, 2010 |
I answered 'YES' on this, because I do actually bill clients differently. As others have said, I can often allow 30 days from my invoice or even 45 days, for some. But my 'flexibility' includes stipulating immediate or 15-day payment on new and unknown clients/outsourcers, on 'urgent' or small 2-3 page assignments, or on private individuals requesting services. This sort of decision is just a part of doing business for a profit.
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I am flexible with some and not flexible with others.
Long term clients have my complete flexibility - And I have to say I have theirs
| | | | Amy Duncan (X)
Brazil
Local time: 02:16
Portuguese to English
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| Yes, in many cases | Aug 21, 2010 |
If I like a client and we have a good working relationship, I tend to be very flexible about payments. I know some here say that the company always must pay even if their client has not paid, but in some cases that just isn't realistic. If a large project is involved, sometimes the company just doesn't have the cash flow to pay on time when a client hasn't paid or is slow in paying. "You can't get blood from a stone." So in cases like that, I am patient and flexible.
| | | | Dinny
Greece
Local time: 08:16
Italian to Danish
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| Is it vice versa? | Aug 21, 2010 |
If I would ever have a client that would be flexible about the agreed deadline (Noooo problem delivering a couple of days late, lol) ... then I might be flexible when it comes to the agreed payment date. Since this has never happened to me in 20 years in this business, I guess my replying "no" to this poll is the most appropriate.
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| Do we have a choice? | Aug 21, 2010 |
In the end, the decision to cough up the money rests with the client. If the client doesn't pay on time, what choice do we have? The most we can do is remind and complain.
I start with gentle reminders and escalate my claim as time goes on.
| | | | Nicole Schnell
United States
Local time: 22:16
English to German
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In memoriam | Flexibility vs. pain treshold | Aug 22, 2010 |
Should never be mixed up.
Flexibility = when the client asks for extended payment terms beforehand due to the nature of a project. In such cases I might agree on such extended payment terms before I start work and they will be part of the PO.
Pain treshold = when the client is late with payment and begs for your "flexibity", a euphemism for eternal patience.
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