While we all wish to see the best in each of our clients, there are certain indicators that might suggest a customer won’t pay an invoice on time. This can be an incredibly frustrating situation to find yourself in, leaving you short of the money you were owed when needing to pay bills at the end of the month. Today we’re going to share some of the top signs that a customer won’t pay their invoice on time, so that you can act swiftly to avoid further issues. Visit our page to learn more about the services we offer that could help your business this year.
Poor Communication
One of the top indicators that a customer won’t pay an invoice is that they offer poor communication with your team. This could be demonstrated when they don’t reply to emails or phone calls, as they are simply trying to avoid interacting with you. Some people think if they just disappear off the face of the earth, they won’t have to pay the bills that they have been sent.
While poor communication is a very frustrating thing to deal with, we encourage you to show persistence with your communication. Try different methods of communication as well, as sometimes this is just a simple misunderstanding with an incorrect phone number or email address. As you continue to contact the customer, ensure you share the terms of your invoices and the penalties they’ll receive if they don’t pay on time. Of course, you can also consider legal action if this continues for too long, and our team will be here to advise you about the best options based on your unique situation.
Requests for Discounts
If a customer enquires about discounts on their invoice, then this is another of the top customer can’t pay an invoice signs. Many of us find ourselves in difficult situations unexpectedly, so they may be wondering if you are able to offer a reduction in the invoice just to help them out. The best way to overcome this issue without losing revenue for your business is to suggest a payment plan.
If you are able to help the customer out in this way, you can spread out the payments to make it more affordable for them. Of course, make sure this is something you can accommodate as well, as you don’t want to be left in a difficult financial situation either.
Complaints About Your Product or Service
It’s not unusual for customers to find issues with a product or service when they don’t want to pay an invoice. While there could be a genuine issue with your offering, when the customer comes back just a day or two before the payment is due, this shows that they are likely trying to get out of paying their bill. Make sure your customer service team are well trained in how to deal with tricky customers who try to pull off this. While it’s never ideal to deal with complaints, by listening and trying to reason with the client, you will be more likely to receive your payment. If they refuse to pay, ensure you take back everything you’ve given them, so that you don’t lose your products at the same time.
Frequent Conversations with Your Customer Service Team
Some people opt to use delaying tactics to try and put off paying an invoice. If someone is constantly calling or emailing your team with questions about the invoice or their purchase, they might be trying to find a way out of this payment. You need to be very firm with people like this, reminding them every time they contact you of the date by which they need to pay their invoice. You’ll need patience and kindness to deal with difficult customers, but always stand firm when it comes to collecting payments. Remember, you need to be able to stay afloat as a business owner too, so ensure you keep this in mind instead of offering too many favours to your customers.
These are just a few of the top signs that a customer can’t pay their bill. We always recommend that you take each situation one at a time, as people do often find themselves in times of hardship unexpectedly. Of course, make sure you protect yourself from scams, so that you don’t end up out of pocket too often or in a difficult situation yourself. Our team will be here to support you with the tools that you need to collect unpaid payments. We know this can be a huge challenge for business owners, so let us help you with this task. Contact us today for more information about how we can assist you or to discuss any questions about this topic.