I know I have ranted about this particular issue before, but it has been a REAL PROBLEM for nearly a decade and I just don't understand it!  We provide very clear and easy to understand invoices to our clients.

First, we note the search fee, including any additional charges (such as copies) on our every search we send back to our clients.  Then, At the end of the month, we send them an invoice with each search listed identifying THEIR order number, the name and property address, and we show the same charge we put on their search when it was returned.  The invoice has a very clear "total due" and OUR invoice number.  AND... along with the invoice, we send a statement to show their total balance due, in case they have prior invoices with amounts outstanding.

SO, WHY IS IT SO DARN HARD FOR THEM TO PAY THE "TOTAL AMOUNT DUE" AND REFERENCE OUR INVOICE NUMBER?!?!

Here is an example of the kinds of problem I have VERY OFTEN.  Client sends us a check.  The name on the check does not match the name of any of our clients and the amount does not match any of our invoices or balances due by any clients.  They did, however, reference THEIR order number.  So, we had to look through all of our invoices looking for THEIR order number.  Finally found it... the name of the company was close (but a very generic name) - but this client has never sent us check with that name on it before.  The check only paid for ONE search billed on the Invoice, which billed two searches.  Furthermore, the previous invoice was not paid in full - they still owe $48 on that one!

Now, I have been in this business for 20 years.  I remember when I sent invoices to clients and they sent me a check (almost always by the due date - NET30), issued on an account with their actual company name on it, for the FULL amount of our invoice and they regularly referenced our invoice number (or sent the check with a copy of our invoice).  I have no idea why very few of our clients can still manage to do this... as I have asked before, do they do this with their phone bill, or electric bill?  I doubt it. 

I think I'm going to revise my invoice to make it clear that any payment made that does not clearly identify the payor or reference our invoice number will be assessed a $10 processing fee.  Of course, none of them will pay it, but at least I can drop them and say they knew what our policy was. 

By the way, since this client left a past-due amount unpaid, we will not be completing any further work for them until they pay the past-due balance.  It might only be $48, but I'm sick and tired of getting shorted nickels and dimes.  If you can't pay the bill IN FULL, find someone else to work with!

I now return you to your regularly scheduled programming....