 Re: Getting Invoices Paid - Assistance Please!
Time to get tricky!
Step 1: call from a phone you don't normally call him from. DO NOT call from a private number, because he'll just avoid and if you call from one he knows is you, then he'll also avoid.
Step 2: don't ask for the money. Instead, find out what's going on. Tell him you understand that he is a man of his word and that he would have paid you if he had been able to. Tell him you are cool to delay payments and work stuff out - you just want him to communicate with you and let you know what's going on. Be flexible, but most importantly - give him a way to back down while still SAVING FACE.
What happens in these situations is simple. People's cashflow sucks and they are embarrassed. He wants to appear like he's doing well, not like he's suffering and he's afraid to admit that he's hurting. Give him the chance to work it out AND To save face and you are more likely to get a satisfactory outcome.
Step 3: Follow up with him regularly in the same way. Check how things are going. Ask if it's okay for you to send through the next invoice. Ask if he needs help, if there is stuff you can do.
This is how you win long-term business and raving fans.
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