PSA: That friend who told you to chase payments after 7 days was actually right

My buddy Dave kept nagging me to send a reminder after 7 days instead of waiting 2 weeks. I thought he was being pushy, but last month a client in Denver ghosted me for 3 weeks on a $450 invoice. Finally tried his method on the next job and got paid in 9 days flat. Anyone else had someone give you advice that felt too aggressive but actually worked?

3 comments

3 Comments

kim_davis5d ago

Chase payments after 7 days" feels a bit much to me. One client paying fast doesn't mean it works for everyone. Some people just hate being reminded that quick and it backfires.

scott.alex5d ago

oh totally, i had the exact same thing happen with a client i gave a week to pay. sent a reminder on day 8 and they got super defensive, said it felt like i didn't trust them or something. i mean, i get it, some people just need that little extra breathing room and a nudge that fast can feel more like a push than a reminder. idk, it's like you're trying to be on top of things but it can totally backfire if the person isn't ready for it. maybe it's just me but i've learned to wait a little longer now, like at least two weeks, unless they asked me to remind them sooner.

cora_west55d ago

I had a client named Sarah who I reminded about a payment after 10 days and she actually thanked me for it. But here's the thing that I don't think anyone's brought up yet. Some people get defensive about payment reminders because it reminds them they're struggling financially (even if they aren't, it's like a guilt button gets pushed). So maybe it's not about the timing at all, but about how the message makes them feel about themselves. I've started telling clients upfront "hey, I'll send you a friendly nudge if I don't see payment by X date" and that seems to reset their expectations completely. Like, they agree to it ahead of time so there's no surprise or shame when it shows up. It's more about managing their feelings than the actual number of days, you know?