Payment Terms

[badhorsey]

I've done some freelance work for a client, and submitted an invoice with my terms as 'on presentation'. They've come back and said that their terms are 30 days - which has not been discussed before. Am I in a position to enforce my terms?

[ummmm]

You can try but you probably won't get anywhere.

Most larger companies use software that issues payments 30 days from invoice. It's crap...but that's how they do it.

[The Builder]

Ummmm's right.

Terms should be arranged at the outset, before any work is carried out.

[bednobs]

Unless it's a person, no company is going to be able to pay you the instant they receive the invoice.

[Zacs-Master]

Did you submit a quote which was accepted by the client stating that your invoice would be pro-forma?

[Old_Geezer]

Unsure what you signed up to, but you could inform them that your terms aren't. Perhaps you should give them the work 30 days after they've paid ?

[EdmundD]

In their accounting software (assuming they do have same) you would most likely have been set up as a supplier with payment terms set at 30 days (probably their default setting) System payment proposals would look to see when any invoices are due to be paid.

Also when the software is being configured the company defines what payment terms it wishes to apply - they may not have a 0 days option.

Did they give you a Purchase Order for the work? That would state terms of payment.

As others have said I suspect you will wait the 30 days.

[AuntPollyGrey]

Wait the 30 days without making a fuss or you might not get anymore work from them. It works both ways -if you need supplies to fulfil your freelance work then you will more than likely have 30 days grace to pay for them.

[Buenchico]

Your terms of business can only apply in law if you made the client aware of them before accepting the job. (That would have given the potential client the opportunity to either agree to them or to look elsewhere for someone to do the work). You can't simply spring them on him when you submit your invoice.

Similarly, if you've not agreed payment terms in advance with the client, he can't suddenly tell you that his terms give him a year to pay.

The legal position is that, without a prior agreement about payment terms, the client has SIXTY days within which to make his payment to you. So, by making his payment within just 30 days, the client is actually being generous to you.

[BagPussAA]

You are lucky its only 30 days. If you did work for my company, our payment terms are 90 days!