Starting to worry about payment from two large UK publications! Advice PLEASE!!

[Tim Hulme]

I did a shoot about a month ago for 2 very big UK publications, which will remain unnamed for now. I have correspondence with them via email, and the reporter they sent out here to cover the event, agreeing on the amount, agreeing to quotations, and acknowledging invoices.

The first batch of pictures I wouldn't send until they had acknowledged my Invoice, after they had I emailed the first batch, approximately a week after the event, in time for their next edition, the remainder (majority) of the pictures I sent via Postnet on DVD.

After not having heard from either publication after I knew the DVD's had arrived, I emailed them asking if everything was in order, no response, I gave it another week and emailed them again asking if it would be easier for them to make payment if I used an account in the UK, that was about 8 days ago and I still haven't heard a thing.

As agreed, payment was to be made before the photos were published, the first batch have both already been published, and it has been 30 days since Invoice, the payment time specified on my Invoice.

I don't want to come out guns blazing and make threats of legal action unless I absolutely have to.

Any advice would be appreciated.

[Tim Hulme]

My biggest issue is I bought equipment for the event on a high interest short term loan, if they don't pay I am going to be in big shit.

[John Jovic]

Tim, I think you need to relax a bit and defenitely don't make threats or anything like that. If they are major publishers as you say then you won't have trouble getting paid, eventually. There might also be issues due to the fact you are in another country and I know this can also cause delays, from personal experience.

The norm is to be paid after publication, not before, but this does vary anyway! Sure you had agreement to be paid asap but probably not from the accounts people, and they're the ones who generate the payments, not the editors.

You need to follow up with the accounts depeartment with each magazine and do so regularly, ie every week at the latest, but not every day!

JJ

[Aaron Kupferman]

Do you have any direct phone numbers? It can be harder to ignore a phone call than a letter or email.

Good Luck!

[Tim Hulme]

Thanks for the advice guys, will give them a ring and speak to the accounts department. In the past I have only every been paid before publication, so good to know that the norm is after.

Will keep this updated.

[John Thawley]

30 days is not late. I'm not condoning the practice, but it's just the way things work. Agencies are even worse. You pretty much know you're not going to see anything for at least 60 days if they stay on schedule with their terms.

JT

[Tim Hulme]

Thanks JT, the none reply to my emails is more worrying than the late pay.

[STEPHEN HALL]

My slowest payer so far was easily the biggest organization I've done business with (a VERY large book publishing company)..... it turned up in the end, and they paid well. Seems to be t he nature of the business unfortunately.

(I'm talking well over 60 days)

[Daniel Buck]

30 days is not late. ...
even if it states in the contract that payment is to be made before images are published?

However, I would agree with the statement that larger companies might take longer to pay. Since the check probably has to go through more than one persons hand, and your check is probably one of many that have to do so.

I also agree with calling them on the phone. If it were me in the situation, I would have called after my first email didn't get responded to (assuming that email was how most of the deal went down?)

Good luck with it!

[Mike Ditz]

even if it states in the contract that payment is to be made before images are published?



Who's contract? Yours (invoice) or theirs (PO)? Most clients (magazines and others) either pay on publication or pay on acceptance or pay at a certain time like the 1st or the 15th. They really are not going to accomodate every vendors desire.
You can offer a discount for quick payment like 5% for payment within 10 days...

[John Thawley]

Who's contract? Yours (invoice) or theirs (PO)? Most clients (magazines and others) either pay on publication or pay on acceptance or pay at a certain time like the 1st or the 15th. They really are not going to accomodate every vendors desire.
You can offer a discount for quick payment like 5% for payment within 10 days...

My favorite are the ad agencies. First, they need the image yesterday. Second, you can't invoice them UNTIL they provide you with a Purchase Order. Next, after you invoice them, IF your invoice is received prior to the 15th it will be posted for payment on the 1st of the following month as payable under their terms of 30 days. This, to them, is Net 30. ;)

In reality, you're lucky if you see something in less than 60 days. Frustrating, since we usually talking a pretty fair sum of money. And, if you want more work, you're not going to be overly pushy about it. :(

[Tim Hulme]

And, if you want more work, you're not going to be overly pushy about it. :(

+1
:(

[Todd Corzett]

It sucks, but speedy payment always seems to be the last thing on everyone's mind but the photographer... if only they would pay as fast as we are expected to deliver the images!

I did some work for one agency a few years back and they paid on a quarterly system... and even finding out how many times they sold your images prior to that was like pulling teeth. Only up-side for this deal was that the strength of the US$ increased compared to Pounds... so by the time they paid me my check was worth more US$ (by a few cents).

-Todd...

[Simon Cooke]

Payment in 30 days and before publication - well it's never happened to me in over 10 years that I've been providing features to magazines in the Uk !!! Company based in Bath?