dxdn
TPF Noob!
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2012
- Messages
- 5
- Reaction score
- 2
- Location
- Austin
- Can others edit my Photos
- Photos NOT OK to edit
UPDATE #1: Survey says, "Waive the fee!" Thank you, TPFers.
UPDATE #2a: Overread parsed the situation best. :study:
UPDATE #2b: My Conclusion (with a lot of help from my friendly commenters):
In the end, this comes to what I will call "The Number One Question to Answer": Is the benefit of collecting the fee greater than the potential cost to my reputation as a photographer/businessman and to my relationship with a contact?
My answer in this specific situation, in agreement with and guided by the super-majority in the replies above, is "NO."
Original post:
Hi there, first-time poster here.
I'm starting my first photo business (first business ever) and I just had my first truly unpleasant experience as a paid photographer today. I'm coveting advice from others about handling it.
TL;DR (short version)
Mid-size business blaming their rep/photo buyer for the accounting department paying me late (six business days) for event coverage because of an undisclosed paperwork requirement. Accounting department seems to bear responsibility since they received my invoice, not the photo buyer; and they received it up to six business days prior to needing to cut my check. Invoice stated due date and my contact information; they never contacted me. I delivered my images days early.
Payment was late and only sent after buyer prodded accounting department after I e-mailed him to see if it had been sent; buyer was always quick to communicate and help me. I mailed invoice to accounting department for contractual late fees after receiving late check. Buyer now blamed for not getting the form from me himself and apparently being pressured/forced to pay fees out of pocket. Buyer angry at me for not waiving fees, plus other less-relevant things.
Was impressed by the buyer when I worked the event with him. Tried to offer a reduced late fee during call settling the late fee; buyer would not listen, explicitly refused to listen or let me speak. Buyer sent similarly short follow-up email after call. Frustrated because I like the buyer and empathize with him but am surprised by his anger and lack of professionalism in our interaction today over the late fee.
Questions
Would you respond at all to this, or just wait for the check?
How quickly would you respond?
How would you respond, and would you offer any kind of refund (since the payment is likely already in the mail)?
Thank you!
-DX
In case you want the fuller version...
I recently covered a business event and the client's accounting department paid me late; unbeknownst to me, they needed me to complete and sign a form as a new vendor before they paid me. I mailed the finished images to the client six calendar days before the agreed delivery due date (postmark date). Someone at the reception desk at the client's offices signed for receipt of the images six business days before the payment due date.
An invoice was included in the delivery and clearly stated the payment due date (postmark date) and my phone number and e-mail in case they needed to contact me with any questions. A copy of the full contract was also included, in which no mention of any paperwork was made by the client. Instead of contacting me when they realized they needed this information from me before they paid, they simply held my payment silently and did not ask until...
Finally, I e-mailed my contact about my payment and he contacted his employer about the status of my check. The next morning the accounting department sent me an e-mail with the required form: their first contact. I filled it out and sent it back to them digitally the same day. I then received my check postmarked six business days late. The next day I mailed out an invoice for the late fees specified by our contract, accompanied with an explanatory letter, documentation, and a copy of the contract, all addressed to the accounts payable department.
Today I receive a nearly simultaneous pairing of e-mail and voice mail from my contact. He wants to talk about the late fee. I call him and he is irate. He asks if I will waive the late fee; I say, "No, but I will reduce it." He only hears, "No." He continues, talking over me, letting me know (or implying) that he is paying the fee personally, and telling me correspond only with him, and not "bother" (excuse me?) the accounting department or their administrative assistant by corresponding with them. Note that he had never made any such request before, and carrying out financial transactions with the accounting arm of a business is standard.
I tried multiple times to interject and repeat my offer to reduce the fee, but each time I asked, "May I say something?" he talked over me, actually answering me: "No, I won't." He then said something abrupt and ended the call. I was flustered since I was impressed by his organization and communication. I was very disappointed that this fee blew back on him, but also surprised at his attitude.
I wanted to write an e-mail response offering the reduced fee, but then, only a few minutes after the call ended, I received another e-mail, short and blunt, recapping our phone conversation and payment agreement. I now feel that offering the reduced fee might be like telling someone who is mad at you to calm down, only to make them more angry.
UPDATE #2a: Overread parsed the situation best. :study:
UPDATE #2b: My Conclusion (with a lot of help from my friendly commenters):
In the end, this comes to what I will call "The Number One Question to Answer": Is the benefit of collecting the fee greater than the potential cost to my reputation as a photographer/businessman and to my relationship with a contact?
My answer in this specific situation, in agreement with and guided by the super-majority in the replies above, is "NO."
Original post:
Hi there, first-time poster here.
I'm starting my first photo business (first business ever) and I just had my first truly unpleasant experience as a paid photographer today. I'm coveting advice from others about handling it.
TL;DR (short version)
Mid-size business blaming their rep/photo buyer for the accounting department paying me late (six business days) for event coverage because of an undisclosed paperwork requirement. Accounting department seems to bear responsibility since they received my invoice, not the photo buyer; and they received it up to six business days prior to needing to cut my check. Invoice stated due date and my contact information; they never contacted me. I delivered my images days early.
Payment was late and only sent after buyer prodded accounting department after I e-mailed him to see if it had been sent; buyer was always quick to communicate and help me. I mailed invoice to accounting department for contractual late fees after receiving late check. Buyer now blamed for not getting the form from me himself and apparently being pressured/forced to pay fees out of pocket. Buyer angry at me for not waiving fees, plus other less-relevant things.
Was impressed by the buyer when I worked the event with him. Tried to offer a reduced late fee during call settling the late fee; buyer would not listen, explicitly refused to listen or let me speak. Buyer sent similarly short follow-up email after call. Frustrated because I like the buyer and empathize with him but am surprised by his anger and lack of professionalism in our interaction today over the late fee.
Questions
Would you respond at all to this, or just wait for the check?
How quickly would you respond?
How would you respond, and would you offer any kind of refund (since the payment is likely already in the mail)?
Thank you!
-DX
In case you want the fuller version...
I recently covered a business event and the client's accounting department paid me late; unbeknownst to me, they needed me to complete and sign a form as a new vendor before they paid me. I mailed the finished images to the client six calendar days before the agreed delivery due date (postmark date). Someone at the reception desk at the client's offices signed for receipt of the images six business days before the payment due date.
An invoice was included in the delivery and clearly stated the payment due date (postmark date) and my phone number and e-mail in case they needed to contact me with any questions. A copy of the full contract was also included, in which no mention of any paperwork was made by the client. Instead of contacting me when they realized they needed this information from me before they paid, they simply held my payment silently and did not ask until...
Finally, I e-mailed my contact about my payment and he contacted his employer about the status of my check. The next morning the accounting department sent me an e-mail with the required form: their first contact. I filled it out and sent it back to them digitally the same day. I then received my check postmarked six business days late. The next day I mailed out an invoice for the late fees specified by our contract, accompanied with an explanatory letter, documentation, and a copy of the contract, all addressed to the accounts payable department.
Today I receive a nearly simultaneous pairing of e-mail and voice mail from my contact. He wants to talk about the late fee. I call him and he is irate. He asks if I will waive the late fee; I say, "No, but I will reduce it." He only hears, "No." He continues, talking over me, letting me know (or implying) that he is paying the fee personally, and telling me correspond only with him, and not "bother" (excuse me?) the accounting department or their administrative assistant by corresponding with them. Note that he had never made any such request before, and carrying out financial transactions with the accounting arm of a business is standard.
I tried multiple times to interject and repeat my offer to reduce the fee, but each time I asked, "May I say something?" he talked over me, actually answering me: "No, I won't." He then said something abrupt and ended the call. I was flustered since I was impressed by his organization and communication. I was very disappointed that this fee blew back on him, but also surprised at his attitude.
I wanted to write an e-mail response offering the reduced fee, but then, only a few minutes after the call ended, I received another e-mail, short and blunt, recapping our phone conversation and payment agreement. I now feel that offering the reduced fee might be like telling someone who is mad at you to calm down, only to make them more angry.
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