Had a client string me along for three months with excuse after excuse. It felt like they were just playing games to hold onto their cash longer.
Wondering how others deal with these situations when the delay seems intentional.
Set a payment deadline and stick to it. After that date passes, add collection fees to their balance and let them know you’re turning it over.
Most clients who drag payments out for months are hoping you’ll just write it off. Once they see you’re serious about collecting, they usually find the money fast. I’ve seen contractors chase payments for half a year when they should have started collection after 30 days.
Stop working and tell them payment is due now. Most people pay up once the work stops.
I just ask for half up front these days.
I learned this the hard way after getting burned a few times. Now I track payment patterns from the start.
If someone pays their first invoice late, I watch them closer on the next one. Two late payments and they go on my problem client list.
For the chronic delayers, I changed my payment terms. Net 15 instead of Net 30. And I started calling instead of just emailing. Way harder to dodge a phone call than ignore an email.
Also found that sending invoices on Mondays gets faster responses than Fridays. People actually open them when the week starts.
Three months though? That client is banking your money and earning interest on it. Time to get aggressive or walk away.
Send a final demand letter with a clear deadline. If they still don’t pay, consider small claims court. Some clients stall until they face real consequences. Filing in small claims often leads to quick payment since court costs more than settling up. Keep your emails and invoices organized to simplify the process if needed.
Three months is way too long to let this slide. Here’s what I do when clients start the excuse game:
- Stop all work immediately until payment comes through
- Send a firm but professional email with exact payment deadline (usually 7-10 days)
- Add late fees if your contract allows it
- Follow up weekly with shorter, direct messages
If they keep making excuses after that, I move to collection mode. Sometimes clients test you to see how much they can get away with.
The key is cutting off work fast. Once they realize the project stops moving, payment usually shows up pretty quick.