Yesterday I terminated my business relationship with this company and just wanted to share my experience with you all.  I have had payment issues with them in the past but eventually got paid, so I let it slide.  The step of ending ties is drastic and I try to avoid it if at all possible.  I have only had to do it with a few companies (such as Contemporary Realty Solutions, and judging from the posts here-- you can see why I would cut them loose).  In the past with DRI, I have had invoices over 90 days that when I call about payment they would say "That order isnt closed out yet."  I have told them numerous times, and it is on my invoice, my terms are net 30.  I am not picky as long as it is around 30 days or so.  If it is going to be later than that, at least let me know when I can expect payment.  It isnt my problem whether an order is closed out or not-- I did my job 90 days ago and rely on prompt payment in order to stay in business.  Most of the work I do for them involves a lot of driving and copy cost.  So this recent instance is not the first problem I have had with them.
I did a couple of orders for them in October that should have been on my November check from them.  They usually pay once a month, towards the beginning of the month.  They were not on that check.  OK, I let it slide, figuring they would be on my December check.  When it came, they were not on it either.  On 12-6, I refaxed my invoices to them and asked them to contact me as to when I could expect payment. Since I am in the same metro area as them, the mail should only take one day.  I never received anything.  On 12-11, I again faxed my invoices and asked for someone to contact me.  No one did, so on 12-12,  I called and couldnt get ahold of anyone, so I left a message, again asking for someone to contact me.  On 12-13 Michelle from their accounting dept. emailed me and told me a check would go out that day.  Five days went by and still nothing.  On 12-18, I again called and left a message with Michelle.  Of course, it seems they never actually answer their phone and talk directly to you.  Michelle never returned my call.  Then on the 19th (yesterday) I had on order that they wanted me to do-- now all of the sudden they can call me.  I told them that I wouldnt be able to do their order until I was paid for these past due invoices.  So rather than having any loyalty to me and realizing that the order would be delayed due to their own actions-- they cancel the order with me.  Then they asked about what orders I hadnt been paid for-- like I hadnt told them SIX TIMES!!!  Finally they told me that the check had been sent out on the 15th!!  I was treated quite rudely and was given options on things I could do to make sure I get paid-- rather than them accepting responsibility and giving me any assurance that THEY would do anything differently to try to make sure this doesnt happen again.  When I told them that I didnt have these continual problems from other clients, they arrogantly stated that my other clients arent as big of a company as them-- which is LAUGHABLE at best.  They arent even the biggest or best company in Omaha.  American Title, Inc. is bigger, better and a hell of a lot more professional than DRI.  I have never had any payment problems from them.  I have worked for both companies and have friends that work for both companies, so I know a lot about the inner workings of the companies.  Let me just say this, there are people at DRI who used to work for American Title and actively tried to sabotage their business.  Anyway, back to my payment issues-- a source of mine at DRI informed me that there was a lot of talk running me down in the office yesterday after my discussion with them.  I mean, why wouldnt they-- WHO THE HELL DO I THINK I AM WANTING TO GET PAID FOR WORK I DID IN OCTOBER AND WAS PROMISED A CHECK LAST WEEK!!!  So the check finally arrives here today and the first thing I do is look at the postmark--- DEC 19!!!  They didnt send the damn thing out until yesterday!!!  They outright lied to me about sending it last week!!!  It took me refusing to do their work and being a jerk to finally get them to put it in the mail.  They seem to think that I will be missing out on the privilige of doing their work or something.  They dont realize that they are only middle-men.  A company like them is only as good as the network of abstractors they have working for them.  If they lose good abstractors their clients will go elsewhere-- probably to companies that pay better.  I just wanted to share my experience here with you all.  I probably should have done it before with other companies such as Contemporary an Absolute.  Perhaps if I had when I cut them loose, it could have saved some people a lot of trouble.