Bravo! Thanks for saying exactly what I have been thinking for months. There must be something in the water with these "well known national" companies. Allow me to share with you a portion of an e-mail I received today from a [former] client...
"I don't think you are understanding.. [client] does not wish to not pay you or to make your business non- profitable. If that was the case then how do you think we could continue to get the work completed that we provide to you to in turn receive more work from our client. Do you really think that we are oblivious to the fact that no-pay companies are most often shut down. When I signed you on I had nothing but good intent and know that payment has been received in the past and has been recently sent and would have been continued to be sent.
Our client relations are really non of your business but our main client is a very reputable foreclosure related client that provides us business to provide others business in every state all over the U.S. Because of their stature in this industry they are able to set their pay structure, and our payment from them is received every 4 months . If we didn't put up with it anyone else gladly would. "
Hmmm, anyone else would "gladly" accept payment terms of 4 months? Maybe that is where the problem lies and why we abstractors are not being paid. And actually yes, your client relations are my business - when they effect my paycheck.
This e-mail was in response to a number of e-mails and telephone calls from me requesting payment on past due invoices, some dating back over 6 months. Now to be fair, they have paid - typically on terms of 60 - 75 days and only after I have demanded payment and held back orders from them. They currently owe us approximately $1,800. I had explained that we have a strict 30-day payment policy, and back in March I was told that checks would be sent out the first week of each month. (This has yet to happen.)
Apparently they would rather find another company to handle their orders than to pay us on time. That's perfectly acceptable because I would rather spend my time servicing paying clients than chasing deadbeats. Unfortunately, they will find someone else to do their work for them and that abstractor will be in the same boat as me.
I originally accepted work from this company after reading great reviews on SOT. After a month of working for them, things apparently changed drastically. Their average order requires $40 in copy fees and I have put out as much as $75 - $100 in copy fees for a single order; and I am expected to wait 60 - 75 days to be reimbursed? Am I being unreasonable to request payment on my terms?
I have intentionally not posted this company's name due to the fact that they have already accused me of slander and threatening. If anyone is interested to know their identity, please e-mail me and I will be happy to share it.
Please let us learn from our own and each other's experiences. The field is dwindling. My resume is updated and I'm about ready to move on. The thick-headed Irish/Polack in me is the only thing keeping me in this game. It's good to know I'm not alone.
Lori in CT
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