[peter holley]

i have done the cheque thing and online payment thing, but i have now gone back to the collecting way , and then an envelope if they are not in when i call back.....this means i am working an extra 3 hrs a week.... however i no longer have money outstanding, and admin costs .   on the evenings i collect , i also drop leaflets or door knock, so the expense of fuel is put to good use .... i know most would not do the collecting thing, but after having done both, i know collecting earns me the most as i always get paid for the work iv done.

i do have some properties in rural areas that i leave an sae for.

[windowwashers]

i have done the cheque thing and online payment thing, but i have now gone back to the collecting way , and then an envelope if they are not in when i call back.....this means i am working an extra 3 hrs a week.... however i no longer have money outstanding, and admin costs .   on the evenings i collect , i also drop leaflets or door knock, so the expense of fuel is put to good use .... i know most would not do the collecting thing, but after having done both, i know collecting earns me the most as i always get paid for the work iv done.

i do have some properties in rural areas that i leave an sae for.

I always get paid for the work we do and I do not collect. I guess it is what works for you. I am always owed money then to me this is a good thing

[peter holley]

perhaps it is all about outgoings... at the moment mine are are high as i have just moved to nice new build  4 bed room detached etc ....but maybe in the coming years if my goals are reached i will revert back to s.a.e....i just want to have lots of surplus income to be able to not worry about outstanding money. ;

just to add ... i am a tight git

[Wayne Thomas]

Why drive around collecting as a tight git Works out cheaper leaving SAE or getting custies to pay online. Cashflow maybe a problem initially, but then again most sensible people would have a reserve of funds to live off as an emergency anyway so save your fuel and let the postman do the work. Cheaper in the long run

[Gerry Styles]

With the cost of fuel collecting can be expensive. We leave an SEA with the invoice which carries a £25.00 late payment charge after 7 days

[peter holley]

Why drive around collecting as a tight git Works out cheaper leaving SAE or getting custies to pay online. Cashflow maybe a problem initially, but then again most sensible people would have a reserve of funds to live off as an emergency anyway so save your fuel and let the postman do the work. Cheaper in the long run

i do have a reserve of funds, and i like to keep it as a reserve rather than use it to cover payments owed to me.
yes it is cheaper to leave a stamp , but on a round like mine, (condensed) it,s not much difference...all i know is from looking at my records i am better off by about £100 a week since i went back to collecting...not a lot i know, but it more than enough covers all the rising costs of late. fuel, energy, food etc

[Londoner]

I just leave an adressed envelope with no stamp and it works for me but like Tosh says having a small area is a big help because you can always pop in if you see the car is there , windows open lights on or whatever.

Wheelie bin cleaners get you to sign a standing order. I have thought about this but most of my customers are old and wouldn't go for it.

A bloke I know gave up window cleaning and started doing wheelie bins. He has a specially converted van and reckons he is doing better than he did on the windows (allegedly) but you are tied to a certain route and day because basically you have to follow the dustcart round.

[Dick]

What would be a reasonable amount to charge for late payments? Do you state an amount or a % of amount due? I request that payment be made within 7 days but haven't introduced a late payment fee yet. If it's still not paid after 7 days what can you reasonably and cost effectively do about it?

[windowwashers]

What would be a reasonable amount to charge for late payments? Do you state an amount or a % of amount due? I request that payment be made within 7 days but haven't introduced a late payment fee yet. If it's still not paid after 7 days what can you reasonably and cost effectively do about it?

After 7 days not very much as people go on holiday for 2 weeks IMO if payment is not made with 21 days of clean £2.50 is added to the bill each and every time payment is late.