Retrospective Invoice Demand on pay monthly missed payments

[MrWebby]

Hi all!

• I set up a contract for approx £1400 for a website to be paid over 11 months.
• £300 was paid upfront.
• The client paid approx 8 months then missed the last 3 months payments.
• After many emails the client agreed to pay but only if I invoice the last 3 months.

As the 11 monthly payments due 28th of each month are contractually required and clearly detailed in the signed contract, does the client have a right to demand an invoice on the last 3 months missed payments or he refuses to pay the contractually agreed amounts?

If the invoice is absolutely necessary:

Could I (for accounting purposes) send 3 invoices, one for each missed month, with

• 'issue date' as today, and
• 'due date' as the date the monthly payment was due.

And a 4th invoice for the 3 late payment fees (£20 each, agreed in the contract).


Thank you kindly for any advice. I have an instinct that because it's a monthly payment contract the client is wrong to 'demand' an invoice as contract law should enforce payment of the missed payments regardless.

Many thanks,

Webby

 

[MBE2017]

Just send a copy invoice.

 

[MrWebby]

Just send a copy invoice.

I don't send invoices for monthly payments within a contract so there is nothing to copy. Conditions are in the legally binding and signed contract / agreement.

 

[fisicx]

Just send an invoice. Knock something up in word and email it to them.

 

[Newchodge]

I don't send invoices for monthly payments within a contract so there is nothing to copy. Conditions are in the legally binding and signed contract / agreement.

Did you not generate an invoice at the start with monthly payments specified? If you never invoiced them at all, I have some symapthy with them.

 

[Daybooks]

There will be a number of acceptable solutions but firstly are you VAT registered? Also, presumably the service has been provided and you’ve just allowed payment over a twelve month period? Are you accounting on an accruals or cash basis?

 

[MyAccountantOnline]

Hi all!

• I set up a contract for approx £1400 for a website to be paid over 11 months.
• ....

I think you are over complicating it - surely it should be one invoice for the agreed price of £1,400.

 

[MrGerbil]

Are you VAT registered? That is crucial to giving the right answer.

 

[YasmeenLondon]

I'm not sure if I fully understood the question, the client has 3 payments overdue, you asked them to settle and they asked you in return to send an invoice for the overdue payments?

Personally, I would send an invoice for the missed payments, mention the due date of every missed payment in the invoice and ask that they settle the entire overdue amount within X number of days or the website will be taken down.

 

[YasmeenLondon]

I think you are over complicating it - surely it should be one invoice for the agreed price of £1,400.

Respectfully I disagree, a lot of freelancers and agencies offer websites over a payment plan

 

[Newchodge]

Respectfully I disagree, a lot of freelancers and agencies offer websites over a payment plan

Nothing whatsoever wrong with a payment plan. I have never heard of a genuine business refusing to issue an invoice.

 

[MyAccountantOnline]

Respectfully I disagree, a lot of freelancers and agencies offer websites over a payment plan

Yes indeed I dont disagree but in this case is it a repayment arrangement or a monthly charge for services?

My understanding is that the cost of the work done was £1,400 and that an arrangement was then made to pay that charge over an extended period.