How do you deal with over due invoices at your firm - what works and what doesn't?

This is very tricky and sensative issue we typically have our relationship managers call the client after 30 days over due. Many of the clients are not aware of the over due bill and it is usually resolved quickly. We find it is always better to approach it from the relationship side rather than calling the clients billing office.

We send a gentle reminder a week after the payment is due, then a little stronger reminder 3 weeks after it is due then we followup with a phone call.

It is amazing to me after you have done a lot of work for a client and you feel that you have developed a relationship with them that they sit on the bills. We had one client we approached several times and they never sent a check so we had to send it to a collection agency. Obviously this is the worse possible outcome because not only did we lose a future client but our fees were cut because we had to pay the collection agency.

We call them up right away and position it as clearly an oversight on their part because our experience is the longer you wait the less likely you will get the money.

What you do not want to do is call and harass them just for a slightly over due bill we had one of our employees do that and we lost a client