Reasonable time to phone

[sherrardk]

I have been lumbered with the task of ringing one of my husband's customers to ask where our payment is. Up to what time would you consider it to be OK to phone (have the distinct impression that they are trying to avoid us). Thanks.

[pretty_snowdrop]

Where I work we are allowed to call customers from 9am til 9pm ( different times on Sundays and bank holidays). I presume this is the industry standard. Phone them now sherrardk and get it over with.

[Khandro]

I was taught not to telephone before 8:30 am or after 8:30 pm, and I have always stuck to that, unless circumstances demanded othewise.

[Buenchico]

When I'm phoning around people to recruit them for delivering Yellow Pages, I don't hesitate to call up until 9pm. If I particularly need to speak to someone urgently, I might extend my self-imposed deadline to 10pm. (When I was organising inter-regional schoolboy cricket, several regional secretaries would call - and I would call them - up until 1am).

Around 9-ish might be a good time to call. It's not 'excessively late' but it hints that you don't mind disturbing their evenings if that's the only way in which your hubby can get his money!

[albaqwerty]

If you think they are trying to avoid you and avoid payment, phone at any time

(My OH was self employed once and got stung for just over £3000)

[sherrardk]

Thanks all - I have no trouble with phoning them (have just phoned at 7.30) and whilst we want our money and I am no pushover, I also do not want to be rude or inconsiderate (I get p***ed off if someone rings here after 7.30!). I shall keel ringing every half an hour until 9.00 (remembering to withhold my phone number). (Just makes me so bloody cross that they will quite happily have the job done, knowing it is payment on completion and then drag their heels overhear paying!)

[Buenchico]

The Institute of Fundraising has a Code of Practice for telephone fundraising. It states:
"Telephone calls to recipients ought not to be made later than 9.00pm
unless expressly invited by the recipient"

That might be a good guideline..

[Maydup]

Different type of "fundraising" I think! lol

The longer they leave it to pay, the later I'd start ringing them the following day. Who they gonna complain to anyway?

[albaqwerty]

Chris, it's not for fundraising, it's for payment for work carried out.


Sherr, if you eave a voicemail, let them know they have 7 days to satisfy the debt or the work will either be undone or go to court. Also send them a recorded delivery letter of the same (which means the 7 days will become about 14)

[sherrardk]

Hi Alba - there's this lot who were going to pay the money straight to our account via BACs and then another bloke who was supposed to be taking the cash into our showroom this afternoon (he didn't show up either) - need the money so my husband can book our holiday! This happens quite a lot and it really annoys me (between the two of them they owe us nearly £3000).

Hi Buenchico - will ring until 9.00, serves them right if it disturbs them, should have paid us when they said they would!

[Dee Sa]

Iwould say 8.30pm latest, because if they are in the middle of a good tv programme they are not going to be very happy to be disturbed.
Have you tried actually turning up on their doorstep before 8.30pm ? I think its awful they way people expect a job to be done pronto and then wont pay up.I hope you get the money owing.

[Buenchico]

Be wary of falling foul of Section 40 (1(a)) of the Administration of Justice Act 1970, which states:
"A person commits an offence if, with the object of coercing another person to pay money claimed from the other as a debt due under a contract, he . . . harasses the other with demands for payment which, in respect of their frequency or the manner or occasion of making any such demand, or of any threat or publicity by which any demand is accompanied, are calculated to subject him or members of his family or household to alarm, distress or humiliation".

[albaqwerty]

Folk like this get my goat big style. I know it's a pian for you as you have other commitments but ring up until 11pm.

Then do the recorded stuff on Monday x

Really ticks me off that people have the gumption to do something for themselves and others think it's all right to try and stiff them. The folk who try to stiff them get my goat (I should rephrase)

[sherrardk]

Hi Buenchico - surely if I am phoning and they are not answering I can presume they are not in (and therefore don't know I am phoning). If they are in and not answering their phone then it's hardly my fault. I see what you mean but they have either gone away or they are avoiding us (which has happened before with other customers). It annoys me so much as what we sell, etc is not an essential item and is more a lifestyle thing - if you can't actually afford it don't have the work done (or buy one you can afford).

[sherrardk]

Hi Alba - we don't have much cash flow as the things we supply can be expensive so we need the cash in to pay for the stuff for the next couple of jobs (shouldn't really go on holiday but my husband works hard for his money). I don't know why he gets me to do the chasing - probably because I won't give up (he just gets ally annoyed, but he is going to see the other man tomorrow). You wouldn't go to Asda, get your shopping and say you'll be back at the end of the week to pay for it. As I say, what we supply is probably classed more as a luxury item so it is not even an essential that you might have to duck and dive to get if you were skint (like a new boiler if yours broke).

[albaqwerty]

Chris, I can understand part of what you are saying, but surely if the customer has 'entered into a contract' (hate that terminology) they are duty bound to pay?

[albaqwerty]

Sherr, it doesn't matter what you supply. The work is carried out, whether it's a replacement heating system, a driveway, a kitchen, a bathroom. So on and so forth. (Well, obviously it matters to your hubby and yourself, I hope you understand my gist) Work is done, work needs paid for.

My OH used to get me to chase up late payments. Part of the joy of having done that for a living.

[sherrardk]

Hi Alba - I know what you mean (it's just that I could understand it a bit more if it was something essential and someone was having to rob Peter to pay Paul). But this is more cosmetic stuff (it's wood burning stoves - hardly a necessity). I don't actually work for the business (and for some reason my husband doesn't get the lady who works in the showroom to ring these people up). Still annoying though.

[sherrardk]

Finally got hold of the old hag, sorry - I mean customer, at 5.50 tonight. 'oh, I haven't got round to it and I need to discuss it with my husband'!!!! Discuss what, hasn't he noticed a great big wood burner sitting in you fireplace? (And the other bloke, Mr I will bring the cash to the showroom on Friday (after he got a discount for a cash job) still hasnt shown up!) I am bloody livid.

[evil__sheep]

i hope you will un discount him!