[Suffolkcleaners]

Can anyone be kind enough to provide me a template as to what to say with a note with next bill? I agree it is a bit of a waffle. I just copied and pasted Nathan’s wordings (not that I’m not grateful Nathan as appreciate it 😀)

Cheers guys 😀

[p1w1]

here's a starting point http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=213469.msg1916948#msg1916948

[Suffolkcleaners]

P1W1 that's fantastic. thank you so much. Will use that as a letter/note or text to late payers :-)

If they refuse to take up the DD then dump them. It's not worth the time and effort to keep chasing. Replace with customers who actually pay on time. I know people say they have their reasons and some people live day to day but if they can't afford to have the windows cleaned don't mess us Window cleaners around then and either cancel or pay promptly!

[Suffolkcleaners]

Fantastic letter. Would you advise sending a letter? Would a text message be as good?  Or would you say actually post a letter?

[p1w1]

I only really use it for a consistent late payer (someone who hasn't paid there bill before the next clean on say 2-3 separate occasions, but fairly rare nowadays that i need to use it). I personally prefer to post it / pop it through the door as a letter, at least i know it will be seen and they can make their choice on what they want to do. 
Its always my intention to try and keep the customer and the letter is always the last resort, I will have before I resort to using the letter leave a slip stapled to my window cleaned tickets on the first couple of occasions that says

Dear Sir/Madam

We kindly ask that you please ensure your payments are always made within 10 days from the date that your windows are cleaned.

We offer a hassle free Direct Debit payment system, just go to www.impactcleaning.co.uk and click on the payments page for further details or to set up a Direct Debit with us.

Kind regards,
Impact Window Cleaning

If in the future it happens again after leaving a little reminder slip on a couple of occasions then I'll use the letter and its either sign up or i let them go.

Although i send out text reminders for payments, I tend not to try and deal with issues like this with text messages and e-mails as its easy for the customer to just say they didn't receive it, even when you know their lying there's nothing much you can really say.
Doing it the above way i feel I've tried my best to keep the customer and been fair with them.

[lee_dewing]

Still trying to understand gocardless 🥴

I’m monthly but run late, holidays bad weather etc

Is it setup monthly like direct debit?

It would only work for me if you invoiced customer on day of clean

Not on some fixed schedule

What’s to stop customer not paying for clean?

As when you request payment from customer they have a few days to challenge don’t they?

Sorry just trying to understand 🤔

[johnwillan]

Still trying to understand gocardless 🥴

I’m monthly but run late, holidays bad weather etc

Is it setup monthly like direct debit?

It would only work for me if you invoiced customer on day of clean

Not on some fixed schedule

What’s to stop customer not paying for clean?

As when you request payment from customer they have a few days to challenge don’t they?

Sorry just trying to understand 🤔

You can choose a regular frequency and amount or bespoke payments such as after each clean or after a set number of cleans or capturing all cleans within a set period, the choice is yours.

It works very well with applications such as Aworka and cleaner planner.

You can choose which option best suits each client, some may require a set date, others such as weekly shops may require a monthly bill.

Clients have full control and can cancel the mandate (Direct Debit) at anytime, likewise insufficient funds will result in a failed transaction, however these can be resent easily and often pass second time round.

HTH

John

[johnwillan]

Hi guys. Haven’t been on here for a while. I was just wondering if anyone had a template of a letter to send a select few customers about the changeover to go cardless.

Most pay online banking very promptly but just a handful of customers conntine to be late payers(do pay eventually) and I want to move them over to go cardless(and if they cancel then so be it)

Never used it... how do you invite a customer? Can you send a text message with link? Or a letter in post? I don’t tend to have email details but only contact numbers and addresses.

Thanks in advance

In addition to promoting (regulary and by whatever media suits) the benefits to clients and appealing to the good nature of some by stating how it will assist you greatly you could remove all payment methods other than Direct Debit from your receipts, invoices, payment reminders etc, this does not mean you cannot accept other methods it simply focuses the attention and by using embedded links (emails & text) creates a hassle free solution.

Some will continue to use other methods of payment which you may find acceptable, for those that cause more trouble than it worth then convert or dump seems the logical choice.

HTH

John

[cleaniac]

On my window cleaning slips, (full size bills) the engine that runs off my bills are customised with a bit of VB code to synchronise with ACT! All direct debit customers are checked with "by direct debit' so when i run off the payment slips it says "By Direct Debit: £35". If not it just reads "Total Due £35"

Then my dd runs are set to run automatically to come out of their account on the 26th.

[johnny bravo]

I use all methods,      some will not gocardless,      I have lost a few as collecting they never in,     leave slips to let them know online payment details as we cannot catch them in.      got sick of knocking , like begging to be paid.          when I bump into them they say have you stopped, ive got another chap to do them.       I look at them and say ive dropped endless amounts of payment details in their letterbox.       we don't need it.      I  got fed up going out collecting for them to say ive got no cash,  can you come back tomorrow.         no   see you next month.   if your lucky.    if I don't like them ill dump them

[nathankaye]

When i did collecting i started to use "sumUp" which is a card reader. So if they say they had no money in the house i would pull out the card reader and say no worries, i can take card.

Even with go cardless i overcome one particular objection. That objection os normally seen on their face first of all and i assume i know it and tell them if they prefer me to set it up on a particular date, as long as im aware of it, i can do so.  Then i see a sigh of relief and they sign up. Easy peasy lol