Agency is overdue with payment. What can I do? Thread poster: Pia Myeong-Jin Lampert
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Hi everyone,
this is the first time that this is happening to me. One of the agencies I am working for is overdue with payment (Net 30). It's been two weeks now. They have already been banned by Proz for payment issues. When I started to work for them, I did not know about Proz and for one year their payment was on time.
Upon request, they send me a receipt with proof that the payment had already been approved a month ago and the status is set as completed. However, th... See more Hi everyone,
this is the first time that this is happening to me. One of the agencies I am working for is overdue with payment (Net 30). It's been two weeks now. They have already been banned by Proz for payment issues. When I started to work for them, I did not know about Proz and for one year their payment was on time.
Upon request, they send me a receipt with proof that the payment had already been approved a month ago and the status is set as completed. However, the payment team has not yet confirmed the payment.
The headquarter of the company is situated in the UK, but I am being paid by the US branch. I am residing in Switzerland.
What would be the next step? They cannot be banned twice so I am not sure if it is helpful to leave a negtive comment.
Thank you. ▲ Collapse
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As you say that for one year their payment was on time, I would wait another week as staff vacations might play a role in the delay. Then, my next step would be sending them a registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt. Anyway, I would leave a negative comment even if they are banned, as the ban decision can be reversed.
| | | | | Blue Board and more | Aug 21, 2023 |
It is always a good idea to file a Blue Board record in such cases.
It gives Proz staff an overview of the outsourcer's behaviour.
It also gives you the option to file a non-payment report after you have filed the Blue Board record. Proz staff use them to decide when to ban and lift the ban, so they need as much information as possible.
It also helps your colleagues to inform them of bad behaviour.
I don't agree with Maria Teresa Borges that we... See more It is always a good idea to file a Blue Board record in such cases.
It gives Proz staff an overview of the outsourcer's behaviour.
It also gives you the option to file a non-payment report after you have filed the Blue Board record. Proz staff use them to decide when to ban and lift the ban, so they need as much information as possible.
It also helps your colleagues to inform them of bad behaviour.
I don't agree with Maria Teresa Borges that we should take possible staff holidays into account. Staff holiday is not an excuse for breach of contract, just as we could not use a holiday as an excuse to deliver our work two weeks late. Payments can be programmed in advance in today's banking systems, so if they intend to take a holiday, they can simply program their payments in advance – or simply pay before going on holiday to ensure their obligations are met. What they cannot do is use us as financial buffer for their internal matters.
You can send a recorded letter, and you can also look for ways to contact managers in the company, for example on LinkedIn. Also try to call them, if necessary repeatedly, until they pay. Insistence often pays off. You can also add comments to their social media mentioning their behaviour. Managers' LinkedIn accounts, Twitter, Facebook, etc.
Another thing that may help is to inform them that given their breach of contract, you will consider contacting their end clients to inform them that you are still the copyright owner, since the agency hasn't paid for your work. This often works.
In other words, you need to cause so much trouble for them that they prefer to pay just to get rid of you. It's sad, but that's how people are sometimes. ▲ Collapse
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I suppose Pia is speaking of an agency for whom until March 2023 she had “completed around 100 assignments (…). Payment on time, direct response.” That’s why I suggested she waited another week…
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Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida wrote:
I suppose Pia is speaking of an agency for whom until March 2023 she had “completed around 100 assignments (…). Payment on time, direct response.” That’s why I suggested she waited another week…
Is that from the Blue Board?
Pia hasn't said anything about 100 assignments, so we don't know if it's that one. We also don't know how big or small any assignments were.
Each of us can decide how long we wait before we start chasing bad payers depending on the circumstances, but if a client ignores reminders for no known and acceptable reason, I myself wouldn't wait any further. In the rare cases where a company is having financial problems, it's better to get money out them before they go into administration.
A phone call may still help, as it's more difficult to ignore than an email.
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Yes, it’s from the BB. I may have jumped to a conclusion too soon, but she has only one BB entry and by coincidence for a banned agency. I haven’t had a single delayed payment for some time (touch wood!), but in the past I had one or two payment delays in August for the reason I mentioned (from small agencies, which doesn't seem to be the case here).
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Well, it's speculation until Pia confirms it, but even a good past client is without interest for the future if it stops paying.
I had to chase up a fairly recent small US translation company client a few months ago for minor amounts. They managed to pay both invoices ever issued to them late, the second using another method than agreed so a fee was deducted, which I then had to chase them up to pay too. The methods I indicated worked. They had a good BB record when I signed up with... See more Well, it's speculation until Pia confirms it, but even a good past client is without interest for the future if it stops paying.
I had to chase up a fairly recent small US translation company client a few months ago for minor amounts. They managed to pay both invoices ever issued to them late, the second using another method than agreed so a fee was deducted, which I then had to chase them up to pay too. The methods I indicated worked. They had a good BB record when I signed up with them, and then it suddenly went bad. They seemed to change their accounting manager as frequently as the rest of us change our shirt. The video interview on signing up was carried out by an intern, probably unpaid. It's probably a horrible and messy place to work. The CEO likes to brag about himself online. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Zea_Mays 
Italy
Local time: 11:38
Member (2009)
English to German
+ ...
I would base any action on my previous experience with the agency.
If this happened for the first time and rates, jobs and communication with the PMs have been good so far,
I would ask for the reason and be a bit accomodating if it was due to human or technical failure.
I collaborate with an agency that outsourced their accounting some years ago,
which led to very late payments for quite a while. After some time things got sorted out and they are now paying regula... See more I would base any action on my previous experience with the agency.
If this happened for the first time and rates, jobs and communication with the PMs have been good so far,
I would ask for the reason and be a bit accomodating if it was due to human or technical failure.
I collaborate with an agency that outsourced their accounting some years ago,
which led to very late payments for quite a while. After some time things got sorted out and they are now paying regularly.
As they are good payers and their projects are interesting, I stuck with them, and it was the right decision. ▲ Collapse
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Sarper Aman
Türkiye
Local time: 12:38
Member (2019)
English to Turkish
+ ...
| | Blueboard and future projects | Aug 21, 2023 |
Thanks to everyone for your advice. Yes, when I made the BB entry I was content with the agency. However, since then they have decreased my rate "we need to stay competitive" and some of the PMs have turned out to be rude and disrespectful treating me like an employee without the benefits, and now they are overdue with payment.
I am currently involved in a project which will last until December, and I am wondering whether I have to put it on hold very soon. The project started befo... See more Thanks to everyone for your advice. Yes, when I made the BB entry I was content with the agency. However, since then they have decreased my rate "we need to stay competitive" and some of the PMs have turned out to be rude and disrespectful treating me like an employee without the benefits, and now they are overdue with payment.
I am currently involved in a project which will last until December, and I am wondering whether I have to put it on hold very soon. The project started before the payment issue arouse. Calling may be a good idea. I do not know about debt collection agencies. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Michael Newton
United States
Local time: 05:38
Japanese to English
+ ...
| Overdue payment | Aug 22, 2023 |
I think you should do this one project that lasts until December. Look for other clients in the meantime and then bow out gracefully with this late-payer. Make the project your swansong. No translator deserves to be treated the way they are treating you.
| | | | | It’s only been a fortnight | Aug 22, 2023 |
No need to panic yet. These things happen, as Teresa says. Talk to them.
If that doesn’t help, go down the Thomas/Tom route.
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| Don't keep working with them. | Aug 22, 2023 |
Pia Myeong-Jin Lampert wrote:
I am currently involved in a project which will last until December, and I am wondering whether I have to put it on hold very soon. The project started before the payment issue arouse. Calling may be a good idea. I do not know about debt collection agencies.
What's the guarantee that you'll be paid for the project that lasts until December? Put it on hold now until you get paid and spend the time looking for other clients.
| | | | Matthieu Ledoré
France
Local time: 11:38
Member (2022)
English to French
+ ...
| One of my mentors said... | Aug 22, 2023 |
"As long as they have a payment overdue, I don't deliver anything, and if it happens three times, they're out."
Of course, the feasibility of this principle depends on your personal position. I, for one, don't apply it, as one of my regular clients is consistently late, but ends up paying.
Best of luck!
Matthieu.
| | | | | payment issues with the agency | Feb 7 |
Pia Myeong-Jin Lampert wrote:
Hi everyone,
this is the first time that this is happening to me. One of the agencies I am working for is overdue with payment (Net 30). It's been two weeks now. They have already been banned by Proz for payment issues. When I started to work for them, I did not know about Proz and for one year their payment was on time.
Upon request, they send me a receipt with proof that the payment had already been approved a month ago and the status is set as completed. However, the payment team has not yet confirmed the payment.
The headquarter of the company is situated in the UK, but I am being paid by the US branch. I am residing in Switzerland.
What would be the next step? They cannot be banned twice so I am not sure if it is helpful to leave a negtive comment.
Thank you.
Hi there,
You could consider reaching out directly to the UK headquarters or the US branch's higher management, explaining the situation and providing the evidence you have received.
As for leaving a comment, while it's understandable that you may be hesitant to leave a negative one, sharing your experience could serve as a cautionary tale for other freelancers. You could express your concerns without necessarily resorting to a negative tone. Honest feedback can be valuable for others navigating similar situations.
Wishing you a swift resolution to your payment matter.
[Edited at 2024-02-07 16:19 GMT]
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