Business Debt/collecting debit

Advertisement

Expert: - 9/22/2009


Question
hello,
i am a photographer and recently did a campaign for a client. i invoiced the client and the client has used the images in separate medias and on several web sites.... it has been over 45 days since i invoiced the client and now they are refusing to pay....  i am in nyc and the client is in nj.
what are my rights? what is my next course of action? i am unable to afford representation. can o charge interest on the past due invoice if so what is the maximum i can charge?
thanks you
j.

Answer
John,
Your rights depends on a few things, do you have a signed contract or agreement? What does the signed document say about getting paid?  What are your terms?
If they are ignoring your calls and letters, I suggest sending a very firm letter letting them know you will take further action if you do not receive payment in full by a specific date.  Send that letter in a Flat rate priority envelope from the post office with delivery confirmation.  This works 95% of the time.
If they still do not pay you, I would file with small claims court.

This is all based on the assumption that you have some type of signed agreement, outlining your terms and payment options.

Business Debt

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Michelle Dunn

Expertise

As one of the Top 5 Women in Collections, one of the Top 50 Collection Professionals, and winner of the Business Excellence award, I can answer any questions about debt, debt collection, improving business credit, creating a credit policy, enforcing a credit policy and collecting on past due accounts. I can also answer questions in regards to starting a debt collection agency since I have been a bill collector for over 24 years, started and ran my own collection agency for 8 years, and maintain my 12 year old Credit & Collections Association for members of the credit & debt collection industry. I am also the author of the popular and award winning book "Starting a Collection Agency, how to make money collecting money" now on it's 3rd edition. This book has won a the Writers Digest self published award as well as the New York Book Festival Award. I am a repeat contributor to the Wall Street Journal, and have been featured on NPR, CNN, as well as many other national radio and television programs. I have also been featured in national publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Smart Money, MSNBC and much more. I have 17 published books to my name and am an accomplished speaker and consultant. I currently write 9 columns for newspapers, magazines and online portals worldwide.

Experience

I have over 24 years experience in debt collection, I started and ran my own collection agency for 8 years and I am the founder & owner of my Credit & Collections Association that I founded in 1998. www.credit-and-collections.com

Organizations
My Credit & Collections Association, I was also a member of the American Collectors Association and Plymouth Chamber of Commerce for 11 years. I am a member of many writing groups as well as my local Women Inspiring Women chapter. I am a member of Know More Media as an expert for their blog on business credit.

Publications
Business NH Magazine, Smart Money Magazine, MSNBC, CNN, Forbes.com, The Wall Street Journal, Home Business Magazine, Entrepreneur Magazine and website, many books, newspapers and television programs as well.

Education/Credentials
I have written 17 books in my collecting money series and one for Entrepreneur Press called the Ultimate Credit and Collections Handbook. My newest book is being published by John Wiley & Sons in May titled, The Guide to Getting Paid, how to weed out bad paying customers, collect on past due balances and avoid bad debt. This book is also being sold to many colleges as a text book.

Awards and Honors
My book Starting a Collection Agency, how to make money collecting money won an award from Writers Digest and the 2007 New York Book Festival in the "How to" category. I have won 2 awards from Dun & Bradstreet and Governor Jean Shaheen. I was nominated as one of the Top 5 Women in Collections twice as well as having been selected as one of Collection Advisor's Top 50 Collection Professionals by my peers.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.