Posted by BusinessTown on January 19, 1999 at 16:59:04:
What do you do when customers say they can't pay you? If you're collecting
from an individual or a small business, give the option of paying by credit card.
If this doesn't work, ask for a partial payment. Perhaps you can get the
customer to agree to a regular payment plan-this often works for us. If you
can't get any money today, try to at least get a promise of a specific date on
which you can expect to receive the check.
What about taking the customer to court? I have successfully collected
thousands of dollars in small claims court. But it is a very time-consuming
process, and the outcome is never certain. And to go to a regular court, you'll
need lots of money for legal fees and lots of patience to wait for your court
date.