Posting names on websites for non-payment

[Gregory A. Liebig]

What do you think about creating a page on individual websites for clients who have not paid? I only have two right now. One is an Insurance company that I've done work for in the past and I've been trying to collect this debt since last August. The second was for an inspection for a rental property that closed and somehow our invoice did not "get on the closing statement" as agreed upon. This was perfomed last October.

What would you call the page? Wall of Shame??

I haven't done this as of now, but I'm seriously considering it and at least using it as a threat that if payment is not received check out the link. Normally, I do not release the report until payment is received and this isn't usually a problem except for an occasional bounced check.

Thank you in advance for your opinion.

[rmaday]

What would you gain by this?

Would you get the $$ faster?

What would it look like to potential clients?

What would it look like to current clients?

Answer these questions and you'll have your answer.

[cduphily]

Originally Posted by rmaday

What would you gain by this?

Would you get the $$ faster?

What would it look like to potential clients?

What would it look like to current clients?

Answer these questions and you'll have your answer.

Great advise, thank you.

[Bob Elliott]

Thats why I accept payment on site only.

[Gregory A. Liebig]

Originally Posted by relliott

Thats why I accept payment on site only.

That's works great when the client is On-Site. But in each case forementioned, this was not possible/practical.

[Gregory A. Liebig]

Originally Posted by rmaday

What would you gain by this?

1. Would you get the $$ faster?

2. What would it look like to potential clients?

3. What would it look like to current clients?

Answer these questions and you'll have your answer.

1. This would not be used unless the payment is not received within say 30 days.

2. I would hope that it would show that we are a professional company that needs to run their business as a business. If bills are paid, there is no reason for concern.

3. I see lots of small businesses around town that post bounced checks around the register or on a bulletin board. Since I have no more room in my office this would not be that effective.

[rmaday]

Greg,

I wouldn't do it.

What you would gain? - possible embarrasment to the non-payee. A bit different than the local store who posts the bad checks. Most of the time, those are (were) customers who came in regularly and were posted to remind the clerk that John Smith needed to pay for the bad check.

Would you get the money faster? - probably not, I don't think they'd be visiting your site to see their name on the wall of shame.

What would it look like to current/potential clients? - Probably like you're a bit vindictive, IMO. That may be a reason for someone to pass you by.

You may want to contact a local collection service - no need to expose your business finances to everyone on the web. You could also sue criminally, if you were so inclined.

Worst case, write it off as bad debt.

And get paid by credit card (in advance) next time client won't be there.

[David P. Valley]

I trusted one of my clients (last year), but I'll never trust another client ever again, I don't care who they are.

She asked if she could mail me a check, so I agreed and gave her the report on-site. Weeks went by, I tried to contact her with no response. I filed for a small claims and she failed to show up twice. The court issued a capias warrant for her arrest. I then hired a local constable to go pick her arse up and then the constable found they she moved.

This cost me over a thousand dollars to attempt to collect $400.00. It wasn't worth it in the first place but I wanted her arrested on PRINCIPAL. I got screwed and learned my lesson from it.

[Doug Edwards]

Contact your State' Attorney. In some places this is called "stealing services". You can at least get some real answers instead of mine and others "ideas". While helpful they may or may not work for you. Usually a call from the State' Attorney will be all it takes to get them up off their wallet and send you a check. Hopefully, you have a paper trail where it shows you have in good faith tried to get paid. It is akin to someone writing a worthless check only in this case they just have refused to pay you for your services. As far as posting on your website, while it may make you feel good I don't see it accomplishing what you want it to and may open you up to something you don't need or want.

[Dominic J. Maricic]

I wouldn't post it on your website. I think it would look bad to potential clients. In the future I'd stop accepting payment through escrow as well. Like the others suggested, you can file a small claim suit, you can put a lien on the apartment as well.

[klott]

You cannot place a Lien on the sellers property, if the buyer,(Your Client) defaults on the agreement made with you for services rendered. You can file for theft of services.

[ROBERT W. NEWLAND, JR.]

Originally Posted by dmaricic

I wouldn't post it on your website. I think it would look bad to potential clients.

I agree. Also, if client is not going to be present to pay at start of inspection, I require credit card payment in advance.

[Dominic J. Maricic]

Originally Posted by klott

You cannot place a Lien on the sellers property, if the buyer,(Your Client) defaults on the agreement made with you for services rendered. You can file for theft of services.

It's not the sellers property anymore, it's the buyers. He said the deal went through.

[John McKenna]

Payment due at the time of the inspection or before.

No pay... no report.

Never have any problems now.

[Billy Boerner]

This is why I take credit cards. I inspect send out a invoice via email with a link to make payment. Client pays they get report. Never had a problem yet.