Invoice payments - how do they work?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ian T
  • Start date Start date
I

Ian T

Guest
Ok, to cut a long story short, a local newspaper used a load of my photos without permission, having copied them off my website and cut off my watermark. So I sent them a wordy letter, and an invoice, which they agreed to pay. This is the first time I've billed a newspaper for work, BTW.

So far I've been talking to the head guy at their pictures desk, and he's a bit vague and kept asking for more details. Eventually he asked for a new copy of the invoice together with bank details, as they pay by BACS. I sent this, and he contacted me (in return to a message left on his answerphone) to say that my details 'should have been sent' to the payments department.

So I phoned the payments lot today, and they've received nothing from him. I'm guessing that my next move should be to get hold of the pictures guy (tricky, he's never in...) and confront him and tell him to sort himself out. They've had over a month now...

What I'm trying to find out is how long is usual to wait for payment? This guy has been in posession of the original invoice for a month, and keeps saying payment should be within a couple of weeks. Is this normal? Or are they just stringing me along?

Thanks in advance for any advice.
 
not sure where the legal standing is - but on all my invoices I put at the bottom "All payments should be made within 30 days of reciept of this invoice" - just so I have something to state if they are taking their time, and they do! no one ever wants to pay, but if their payments department have not heard anything then I would deffinatly chase it up...
 
They are stringing you along. Your next letter to them should be sent by recorded delivery and tell them that you have been fobbed off and lied to and that you believe that they have no intention of paying you, consequently if they don't pay up in seven days you will initiate proceedings at the small claims court.

Don't go and confront anyone there, they will claim harrassment or assault something.

If you still don't get paid, go to the small claims court (don't make threats you won't keep) If you have something in writing from the paper, agreeing to pay you it will go easier, if not gather as much evidence as you can and keep it safe just in case.

In my years in business it wasn't unusual to wait months for payment but the moment you start hearing bull**it is the time to start getting tough.
 
Good advice, thanks. I'd never go to the offices and confront them, but I'm going to try and phone the guy later today. If I get no response from him (in fairness to him, he's got back to me when I've left messages a couple of times and given me his direct number), then I'll send another letter like you suggest.

I'll happily take them to the small claims court - I've been told by a couple of pro-photographers who work with papers that I'd win. They broke copyright law after all. But yes, I agree - don't make a threat you can't follow through.

Cheers.
 
Ian T said:
Good advice, thanks. I'd never go to the offices and confront them, but I'm going to try and phone the guy later today. If I get no response from him (in fairness to him, he's got back to me when I've left messages a couple of times and given me his direct number), then I'll send another letter like you suggest.

I'll happily take them to the small claims court - I've been told by a couple of pro-photographers who work with papers that I'd win. They broke copyright law after all. But yes, I agree - don't make a threat you can't follow through.

Cheers.
Click to expand...

I'd send a recorded letter as suggested, but giving 30days to pay again. Most companies work to a 30day schedule and he will have little to no impact on altering this. Detail in the letter their copyright transgressions, that he has verbally admitted fault and that you expect, by return, confirmation that payment will be made as per your original invoice of 'x' date, otherwise you will be forced to commence legal proceedings.

Also, if you know the chief editors name, copy him in. he may know nothing of what occured.
 
Right, thanks. Yes, it may take longer than 7 days as their payment department have to register me as a 'new vendor' on their system.
 
Ahahahahahaha, sorry to laugh but a newspaper that pays in 30 days simply does not exist.
A usual wait for payment from a newspaper is 60 -90 days, they may say it will be thirty-ish but it never is. May be different with a local rag but I wouldnt hold your breath.
 
Sorry have to disagree with Gary. Normal business practise when you sign a terms and condition agreement is that you accept their payment terms of 30, 60 or 90 days but this is not a consentual agreement this is THEFT!!!! and therefore Ian_T spend about 30.00 odd and get your local solicitor to draft you a letter of intent about suing for breach of copyright and along with a copy of your invoice stating at the bottom: payment is required with 30 days of invoice submission and that a further 10% will be added for each time period (say a week) for non payment, then get the solicitor to send to the chief editor or owner. Small claims court takes eons and is never definite and maybe your solicitors letter won't be either but most companies don't want legal hassle. The other alternative is to give your theft scoop toa rival local rag :) gossip on the competition is never refused!!!!!!
 
Normal business practice...... terms and conditions agreement...... with a newspaper!!!!!!! I was only pointing out the fact that newspapers do not usually pay within 30 days but as you rightly said this is theft of the images and is a whole different ball game.
 
Also in future I would recommend that if the person you're working for asks for the invoice, I would send the original one (under seperate cover) addressed to the Accounts Dept and forward your person a copy of that invoice.

In many years of running my own businesses, I still often hear, we were never forwarded the invoice, just don't give them that excuse.

Mr Perceptive
 
Yeah, I got that in the first place so I emailed a copy direct to the guy. It's just a disgrace. I'm not taking no for an answer anyway...
 
An update... I sent a letter on Wednesday giving them 5 days to get back to me and confirm a payment date before I bring the solicitors in. Less than 24 hours after I posted the letter I'd had a woman in their payments department phone me up and check my details and all being well it'll be completed by the end of next week.

Thanks again for the advice chaps!
 
result! :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top