Self employed/business owner/contractor RANT

[NightWatcher]

I normally TRY to work off of retainers based on approximations for the cost of a job. Most clients are cool with it since I am licensed and insured (two million dollars worth). They know that once they pay me I will do the work. Some attorneys drag their feet and others refuse to pay a retainer and promise prompt payment. Flashforward a month. I am making calls and sending emails to their office wondering where my payment is for services rendered because they didnt want to do a retainer.

Now I am pulling the same retainer v. invoice teeth with an insurance adjustor re: some investigations they promised me prompt payment for.

Sonsabitches the lot of them. That is it. No more invoices, only retainers.

Anyone out there have any similar experiences with clients. I swear at least when I was an operator for the dark forces, they at least paid on time and without making a huge effing deal about the matter.

I am sitting at home on my pasty white-in need of a tan- ass until I see cash, checks, or credit cards. What a fucking waste of a week.

:rant:

[Steven_S]

1. I was a plumbing contractor in the Bronx....

before I retired. Nobody would dare NOT pay me. I never had to take money up front, either.

[truedelphi]

2. You think that that line of work is crappy

Try peddling books to bookstores.

Step One: The book buyer is hardly ever in - or but they might be in if you call tomorrow between 1:15 Pm and 1:35 Pm. (except tomorrow when you call, they re home sick)

Step two: When you finally get them, they can't agree to purchase the book till they see it.

Step Three: Now they have seen it , they know they have, but they can't remember it. (Like I guess, they have no notebooks or pencils to write down their opinions of examined books.)

Step Four: So at their request, you send the book again.

Step Five: Now they have the re-sent book, but it is in a big pile of books with the other books that they have been meaning to read sometime.

Step Six: Now they go on vacation and it is back to Step Three.

When the books that they finally order sell out, you need to follow all the steps above, except this time you are chasing down the accountant.

I absolutely love Amazon. Amazon orders the books - anticipating the number they need because of previous monthly averages.

Pays me every month at the same time, so I can budget the payment into my earnings.