Avoid non-payment as soon as you make the quotation
Unpaid invoices are a source of frustration for any company. But did you know that you can already limit the chances of non-payment ahead of time? Read the 5 steps you can take to cover yourself from the start here!
1.Make a clear and complete quotation
A clear, complete quotation contains general conditions of sale as well as an explicit agreement from the client.
Why?
If you clearly refer to your general conditions of sale in the quotation, there will be little room for dispute later on. Also have your quotation signed or confirmed by the client by e-mail. Simple verbal confirmation (including by telephone) is not sufficient. That way, there can be no uncertainty about the price or any other element of the order.
2.Check your client’s creditworthiness
If you provide a service or a product worth a large amount, it's a good idea to check your client’s creditworthiness in advance. Via credit bureaus, you can consult reports for reassurance or to be warned. This costs a few euros, but prevention is still better than a cure.
3.Ask for a down payment
Twijfel je over de kredietwaardigheid van een klant, vraag dan een voldoende groot voorschot. Zo ben je toch al gedeeltelijk ingedekt bij eventuele wanbetaling.
4.valid general conditions
Without legally valid general conditions, in the event of non-payment, you haven't got a leg to stand on.
It therefore goes without saying that your general conditions of sale have to be impeccably drawn up! Did you write your own general conditions, or did you have them written for you? Or perhaps you simply copied them from someone else?
Then drop everything right now and check whether they are still up-to-date!
The legislation has changed in recent years, so it’s possible that your conditions have not yet been adjusted accordingly. Or perhaps in the meantime, your company and its operations have evolved, which also requires adjustment.
5.Confirm as much as possible by e-mail
Confirm all agreements that are important by e-mail, not by telephone. Here, too, a confirmation on (digital) paper will ensure that there can be no dispute about what was agreed with the client later on.
Are you still waiting for payment, despite a good quotation and clear agreements?
Unpaid can help! In just a couple of mouse clicks, you can submit a claim online and within 5 working days, the bailiff will visit your client at home with an official payment order. On average, you will receive your money within 30 days, along with the fee you advanced to Unpaid.
Do you have an unpaid invoice or do you have questions about how Unpaid works? Call +32 9 396 34 00 or let us know when you want to be called.