Late Paying Customer!!!!

[LoneStarLawn]

I have a customer that has a very little yard that we do for $20 each cut (10 for the front and 10 for the back) The back can only be cut when he is home since the only access is through the garage ..its a garden home. Anyways, the customer is paying his bill a month behind (30 - day delinquent). My partner ignores his messages lately because he has been so behind. Should we:

A: Keep the customer as a a prepaying customer.
B: Drop the account all together.
C: Return his call after the third message (Since he's late paying we should be late calling)
D: Or forget the whole thing and accept that he is going to pay late.

Thanks in advance

[BUSHMASTER]

First if the customers call you i think you should call right back.Find out why he is behind.work with him if you wnat to keep his bizz.he's always 30 past due,if you want him see if he can make a payment for a month and a 1/4 or amonth and a half maybe he's calling you to tell you what is problem is. Does he know he's behind? if you keep him or not its your choice.But here in ga if a home owner owes money on services done to the property and its not a lot of money or if it is and you were going to take the lost you can file a labor lein with the city that way even ten years later you'll get the money rather than not.just my thoughts.

[LoneStarLawn]

Past due on the statement should be an indication of being late. Plus he only calls when he has paid up.....He knows he's late...

[landscaper3]

It might be harsh but we stop sevices till we get paid not to let them aqure a larger bill that then they wont pay

[cos]

Its your turn to play hard ball. This customer has no problem calling you (complaint,or any other problem) so now you should (the next time you talk to him) say hay you know that your a little late with your last payment. If this customer decides to complain about any little nagging thing after paying you, than I would personally drop them like a hot potato. Let the next guy that cuts thier grass deal with his crap.

[65hoss]

Maybe on thing that causes him to be behind is that he gets a little upset because his calls aren't returned. Your upset because he hasn't paid. Maybe its just miscommunication.

[diggerman]

30 days is nothing if you think hell pay just keep on him.He isn't going anywhere.When he gets 60 or 90 days then shut him off and start calling reguarly and bill w/intrest there is money to be made here.

[LoneStarLawn]

1. Late payers will always be late....eventually he'll be 90 - days behind ...don't want to get there.
2. He only calls after he has paid in full....we just got the two calls from him over the weekend (closed on weekends) and one today...we will return the call tomorrow. He has been very late twice before today....this is the first time we haven't been prompt on calling him back.
3. If a customer is getting us back for not being prompt on returing calls by paying late...that is definitely a customer I do not won't. No miscommunication there.

[65hoss]

Of couse, if all else fails, go to his house to collect the check.

[Edited by 65hoss on 09-13-2000 at 04:03 AM]

[BUSHMASTER]

another thought,when he calls go to his home and collect.when he calls back for service go up on price i hate firing cutomers.and make him pay per service in advance
cause it sounds like you don.t really want to drop him?

[LoneStarLawn]

To be honest I don't like dropping accounts either, but I do not want to add more headaches for myself. Going to his house to recieve payment is out of the question. Going to his house only when he is available is a huge headache. Prepayment is the option I'm leaning towards but, that has its headaches as well.

[Five Star Lawn Care LLC]

im involed in a lawsuit right now where the same situation started to occure. it was a 6 acre property that i was cutting biweekly for 240 dollars a cut..we stoped cutting after his account was deliquint for 2 months and now he owes my company $960. so i filled a small claims suit agganst him, it is still going through the system and it might take up to 8 weeks just to get a court date....the only advice i can give u is chose your customers wisely, u dont want to get screwed.

[excel25]

Tell him what day you will be there and tell hlm to leave a ck. in a envelope taped to the door, if it's not there don't mow. I have a Dr. office 90 day's no pay. sent a letter telling him I was adjusting my mowing to his payment cycle, after 3 week's of no mowing had past due and 1 mounth in advance:)

[Stinger]

Lone Star: Listen, the next time he's cought up on paying and calls for service tell him i'ts cash in advance from now on! Just polietly explain if he cant leave a check under the door mat or mail some $$$ to you then see ya. These types will string along whoever they can get to play there game. When my bills are due there due! Otherwise I get cut off, no difference here. Hey, how much rain did you get last night? It's about time huh?

[Scraper]

Lonestar...if he must be there for you to mow the back yard, then confront him then. Or knowing that he is there only cut the front then leave. Bet he calls asking why you didn't ask for access to the back yard. Gives you a chance to ask about why he hasn't paid.

[LoneStarLawn]

Well we got more of a light show than rain...we got about an half an inch here...better than nothing though.

[Getmow]

Sounds like a pain in the neck all the way around - drop that account.

[bob]

Going through the garage? Thats reason enough right there for me to drop him!