account payments

[magushnik]

Just wondering (and i know most of you have delt with this), how do you go about handling accounts that just never seem to pay. Usually i don't complain much because i dont want to lose an account, but sometimes it's months and months and it adds up. thoughts would be great...

[labdude]

Easy.
I send their work to them (delivery or FedEx) with a COD attached.
Then, if they continue to send work, I return it with a note to go away.
I have no accounts that don't pay within 30 days.
I work for 30, then require payment in full by the end of the next month.
No exceptions.

[magushnik]

yea, all of my accounts arespot on, but this new one i got was good for like 3 months, then she fell off, she owes me 3 months back pay and keeps saying she'll get to it, im just about to deny work for her until payment is met.

[labdude]

No payment = maybe you would have bought some gold at a lower rate 2 months ago??
And on it goes. You add up the ways you lose money for slow payment it can come to 20% loss for you each month your not paid.
Toss this one. She may pay o.k. for a few months, then you'll be back in the same spot.
Send her Rob's address.

[TheLabGuy]

Oh Mike you're funny,
Actually we do what Mike suggested, COD and hold all new cases till payment is received. Holding cases is something we REALLY REALLY try to refrain from but I will admit I have a couple COD doctors and have had them for years, after awhile, they don't mind and get use to it i guess, who knows. Some Doctor's we help out, for instance, a receptionist embezzled a crap load of money from a Dentist who use to pay well, so we worked with him till he got back on his feet. Another Doctor, went totally cosmetic, only doing cosmetic cases and his workload diminished, so we hung with him till he built his clientale enough (about 4 months). Then we had a couple accounts in New Orleans during Katrina, that one is self explanatory, but you do what you can, and an open line of communication on both ends lets everyone sleep better at night. But don't hesitate to hold cases or axe a Doctor, I do it often, and won't think twice about it if they're an ass on the phone (including staff), won't perform the requests you require to perform the appliance, or don't pay. Other than that, It's rare I ever have problems. I will just say for you bigger labs, it's much easier to get a new account than it is a new technician, run your lab accordingly.

[labdude]

I am here to help.

[Travis]

Offer a discount for early payments.

[magushnik]

thanks for all the input guys. p.s. are we allowed to curse on this site, cause i really think site kicks a**...

[yooper886]

After 30 days they get a service charge of 2% of the amount do. The office also starts to get phone calls. If after 60 days they are still behind then I send the next case to their office C.O.D. for the entire amount they are behind.

I do not think it is fair to hold cases for ransom that is why I send it COD and it is the dentist office choice to pay and still be able to insert the patients work or not pay and have to be embarressed when they have to explain to the patient they do not have their work. I know I still get blamed for them not having the work but the dentist, staff and myself know why they do not have the work they wanted. I have not had to use this yet and hope I never have to but it is in my policies and each dentist gets them when they start to send work. I have also explained this to a dentist or two when they get behind and I have always had a check with in a week after calling them and explaining this to them. Never had a problem with them after that either.

[labdude]

Elias,
Cursing is already blocked by the software here. It can be gotten around, but, please don't by pass it. Fool around all you want, we are (me) suggestive sometimes.

[magushnik]

na, it was half a joke, no worries...

[labdude]

Now I'm curious.........don't be a *****.........

[Travis]

lol, doh I missed one.

[rgkbmk]

There are several ways of dealing with this but you need to set up policy prior to starting to work. I offer credit card payment and check which ever is more convieniant for the client. Credit cards are billed on teh last day of the month by the way and about half of my clients use these. We all have late payers from time to time but it those who just seem to want to pay when they feel like it that drives us batty. Sometimes it's better to cut your losses then keep a very late payer.
Rick