| Pages in topic: < [1 2 3] > | How to deal with an old customer who cannot pay Thread poster: ksbtranslation
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| You are also a business | Dec 28, 2007 |
Margreet Logmans wrote:
Tell him you do this out of respect for him. Also tell him you will not take on any more work from him until this has been sorted out.
If his Blue Board is totally blank at this time, I wouldn't post just yet. A blank record does not make a terribly good impression as is. If payment has not been (partially) received in another two or three months, I'd make an entry, not before.
Hi,
I have two remarks on this discussion: first, I know how hard it can be to override your natural reaction and forget that you owe that man respect. Anyway, you have to keep in mind that, just like him, you own a business and that, should he not pay you, you might lose money. You are not working for free, every work deserves payment, whatever the circumstances!
I often feel unconfortable asking clients why they are late in their payments, though I should not be, but I think I have to improve myself: I lost a great deal of money this year for trusting the employees of a company I got along well with. They closed a few days ago without notice AND after telling me that the payment was on the way... and I am left with several unpaid invoices.
I could not have done much against it, since it was proven that an amployee had committed fraud. But anyway, what I should have done earlier is post my comments on the blueboard. Maybe this could have prevented other freelancers from working with them and thus losing money as well... Because I noticed something: once I posted a first bad comment on the Blueboard, several other freelancers did the same. The same might happen to you after you post a comment on the blue board, maybe you'll realize that you are not the only one having problems with this outsourcer...
Good luck and a happy new year to everyone!
Annelise
| | | | Mervyn Henderson (X) 
Spain
Local time: 19:01
Spanish to English
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| What if the roles were reversed? | Dec 28, 2007 |
Hi Iwan!
You might like to consider what could have been the consequences of a horribly late delivery on your part with this customer - whether your fault, underestimating the difficulty of the text, whether your laptop fell under a truck, or due to circumstances beyond your control, acts of God, whatever.
Perhaps if the boot were on the other foot, that nice old gent in question wouldn't torture himself just as much as you are now as to whether he's doing you a terribl... See more Hi Iwan!
You might like to consider what could have been the consequences of a horribly late delivery on your part with this customer - whether your fault, underestimating the difficulty of the text, whether your laptop fell under a truck, or due to circumstances beyond your control, acts of God, whatever.
Perhaps if the boot were on the other foot, that nice old gent in question wouldn't torture himself just as much as you are now as to whether he's doing you a terrible injustice by blaming you for the mishap and maybe penalising you economically.
Do what you think is best, but remember if this profession remains as pusilanimous and guilt-ridden as it traditionally has been, you won't be doing it any favours by asserting the most basic commercial right - getting paid.
Regards,
Mervyn ▲ Collapse
| | | | Mervyn Henderson (X)
Spain
Local time: 19:01
Spanish to English
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By NOT asserting it, I mean!!! ... (how embarrassing)
Mervyn
| | | | ksbtranslation
Indonesia
Local time: 00:01
Indonesian to English
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TOPIC STARTER
Annelise Meyer wrote:
The same might happen to you after you post a comment on the blue board, maybe you'll realize that you are not the only one having problems with this outsourcer...
What if my BB's comment would only make it worse? He was too good to be treated like that.
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ksbtranslation
Indonesia
Local time: 00:01
Indonesian to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | The jobs were ok. | Dec 28, 2007 |
Mervyn Henderson wrote:
Hi Iwan!
You might like to consider what could have been the consequences of a horribly late delivery on your part with this customer - whether your fault, underestimating the difficulty of the text, whether your laptop fell under a truck, or due to circumstances beyond your control, acts of God, whatever.
Perhaps if the boot were on the other foot, that nice old gent in question wouldn't torture himself just as much as you are now as to whether he's doing you a terrible injustice by blaming you for the mishap and maybe penalising you economically.
Hi Mervyn,
No the jobs were delivered before the deadlines and in accordance with specifications. The jobs were also done by our best translator. The old man admitted it.
| | | | ksbtranslation
Indonesia
Local time: 00:01
Indonesian to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | All I need is a win-win solution | Dec 28, 2007 |
Lawyer-Linguist wrote: ksbtranslation wrote:
Our culture makes me act like this. We pay respect to the elderly people. It has nothing to do with anything you call in law. It's very laudable that your culture pays respect to the elderly. Actually many others do too, it's not that unique. However, the age of your debtor remains irrelevant. After all, you're in business not a charity organisation. He is a debtor, whether 21, 81, black, white, heterosexual, homosexual, Jewish or Hare Krisna and irrespective of whether his head of state is on speaking terms with yours. And so, if your culture respects women are you going to refrain from taking action against female defaulters too? Where do you draw the line if you want to stay afloat? If you want to do global business, you have to adopt that attitude or you're going to get taken for a ride again and again. Unfortunately not everyone else in the world is as respectful as you. You are asking for suggestions and are free to take them or leave them. Nobody is knocking your culture here, just trying to give advice from a different perspective. If acting as suggested really makes you uncomfortable, don't do it. But, be warned, this is probably exactly what your shrewd debtor is banking on. Best of luck D [Edited at 2007-12-28 14:53]
Thanks a lot for your advice. I am just wondering if anyone knows how to deal with a defaulter who happens to be an old man. All I need is a win-win solution. No offense to him and no big loss to us.
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I think everything was ok until he stopped communicating with you.
I also could have waited, helped, whatever but the moment he is not reporting how he is doing or WHEN he thinks things will be clear. Thats the turning point.
You could also warn him on an extra charge due to waiting, and posting him on the blue board and if he still does not respond then you could just do it!
If it is not a big amount then I would forget it and as the british translator says you ... See more I think everything was ok until he stopped communicating with you.
I also could have waited, helped, whatever but the moment he is not reporting how he is doing or WHEN he thinks things will be clear. Thats the turning point.
You could also warn him on an extra charge due to waiting, and posting him on the blue board and if he still does not respond then you could just do it!
If it is not a big amount then I would forget it and as the british translator says you just face it, sometimes we win, sometimes we dont.
An old friend of ours just did it last year, he was not only a respectable client, but a friend of ours, not close but friend. He ordered a project and at the end just complained it was too much money and did not want to pay. I was broke and when I was almost in tears another big, huge, terrific project fell from heaven and at least i was not as bittered as I was before. It was not pennies but it was good money nobody has the right to take from you, I even devoted sacred holiday time to do it and then not getting paid was what made things worse.
Good luck! ▲ Collapse
| | | | Mervyn Henderson (X)
Spain
Local time: 19:01
Spanish to English
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| No, I don't mean you WERE late ... | Dec 28, 2007 |
Hi Iwan,
Imagine you HAD been late, imagine you had done a bad job, imagine you had screwed up somehow. Would the man have wrestled with his conscience so much?
I also am struck by the "Jewish" reference. I can't imagine anyone saying "he's an old Roman Catholic translator", or "he's an old Zen Buddhist translator", so I can't see where the Jewish bit comes in.
Best regards,
Mervyn
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ksbtranslation wrote:
Thanks a lot for your advice. I am just wondering if anyone knows how to deal with a defaulter who happens to be an old man. All I need is a win-win solution. No offense to him and no big loss to us.
How exactly do you know he's old? Do you actually know for sure how old he is?
I still maintain a debtor's age (among other things) is irrelevant, but I'm just trying to be more flexible when it comes to defaulters than I am normally. Before we try figure out a way that makes you comfortable, I'd like to know how you know he's old and what do you term as elderly enough to warrant this level of respect you have referred to above.
I deal with people from all the world, and I frankly don't know their age (or religion for that matter). So, although I might think I have a fair idea, I may be totally wrong about it.
| | | | | Two possibilities | Dec 28, 2007 |
There are two possibilities for his non-fulfillment:
1. He's having a big problem with MoneyBookers as many colleagues have informed (retention of their monies and no way to withdrawal/send/receive. Get informed about that.)
2. He, unfortunately, passed away.
If he's been so good to you in the past, he had already written to you explaining the situation. So, there is only left the second possibility.
I am very sorry.
| | | | ksbtranslation
Indonesia
Local time: 00:01
Indonesian to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | He told me in the 1st phase of the job | Dec 29, 2007 |
Lawyer-Linguist wrote: ksbtranslation wrote:
Thanks a lot for your advice. I am just wondering if anyone knows how to deal with a defaulter who happens to be an old man. All I need is a win-win solution. No offense to him and no big loss to us. How exactly do you know he's old? Do you actually know for sure how old he is? I still maintain a debtor's age (among other things) is irrelevant, but I'm just trying to be more flexible when it comes to defaulters than I am normally. Before we try figure out a way that makes you comfortable, I'd like to know how you know he's old and what do you term as elderly enough to warrant this level of respect you have referred to above. I deal with people from all the world, and I frankly don't know their age (or religion for that matter). So, although I might think I have a fair idea, I may be totally wrong about it.
He told me on the telephone during the first phase of the job that he was celebrating his 30th Anniversary with his wife.
| | | | sandhya
Local time: 22:31
German to English
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| This is business.... so be professional | Dec 29, 2007 |
Hi,
I respect your desire to be respectul to someone you consider "elderly" and nice. However, as someone already mentioned the Internet out there is really a dangerous place and you can't always believe stories that people tell you.
As far as I see this is a business deal, not a personal relationship. So the equation is pretty simple - you work for the client, the client must pay - and this regardless of nationality, age or religion or a host of other criteria!
<... See more Hi,
I respect your desire to be respectul to someone you consider "elderly" and nice. However, as someone already mentioned the Internet out there is really a dangerous place and you can't always believe stories that people tell you.
As far as I see this is a business deal, not a personal relationship. So the equation is pretty simple - you work for the client, the client must pay - and this regardless of nationality, age or religion or a host of other criteria!
This is for you to decide, to be professional and business-like or to allow emotions to rule your decision
cheers
Sandhya ▲ Collapse
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ksbtranslation wrote:
He told me on the telephone during the first phase of the job that he was celebrating his 30th Anniversary with his wife.
I've been married 16 years and I'm 37, so it's conceivable this "elderly man" has just made his half century - hardly old for crying out loud!
And that's assuming he's even telling the truth about that. For all you know, he's on to to wife number three, that's lasted a whole six months, and he's not even 40.
[Edited at 2007-12-29 02:18]
| | | | ksbtranslation
Indonesia
Local time: 00:01
Indonesian to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | At least 70 years old | Dec 29, 2007 |
Lawyer-Linguist wrote: ksbtranslation wrote:
He told me on the telephone during the first phase of the job that he was celebrating his 30th Anniversary with his wife. I've been married 16 years and I'm 37, so it's conceivable this "elderly man" has just made his half century - hardly old for crying out loud! And that's assuming he's even telling the truth about that. For all you know, he's on to to wife number three, that's lasted a whole six months, and he's not even 40. [Edited at 2007-12-29 02:18]
I am quite sure that he is at least over 70 years old. I could see from his voice and emails.
| | | | ksbtranslation
Indonesia
Local time: 00:01
Indonesian to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | I don't expect both to happen | Dec 29, 2007 |
Tadzio Carvallo wrote:
There are two possibilities for his non-fulfillment:
1. He's having a big problem with MoneyBookers as many colleagues have informed (retention of their monies and no way to withdrawal/send/receive. Get informed about that.)
2. He, unfortunately, passed away.
If he's been so good to you in the past, he had already written to you explaining the situation. So, there is only left the second possibility.
I am very sorry.
I don't expect both to happen. But at least his wife should have sent me an email in case of his decease. As for the payment method I have suggested that he could send it by Western Union.
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