<html> A few times I have increased the bill by $10 and noted that a $10 discount is applied if paid by  . . . . . Sometimes they take advantage of the discount, sometimes they don't. Jon Page At 07:57 PM 1/5/00 -0500, you wrote: >In a message dated 1/5/00 10:41:09 PM !!!First Boot!!!, harlip58@yahoo.com >writes: > >< > homes, schools, churches and organizations, ie. > theater groups, arts councils, etc.  When I tune for > schools, churches or theaters I have to send or leave > bills for services performed and wait for payment.  I > am considering printing payment terms on my bills, > specifying a time frame and a penalty if that time > frame is not met.  What are generally accepted terms > in the piano service business? >> > > >18% per year, prorated  at 1.5% per month. Or you can charge a late payment >fee of $5.00 if payment is sent after 30 days. > >I once gave a $5.00 discount to those who sent in the payment within 30 days, >reasoning that if I gave an incentive for sending in payment on time, I would >get the money sooner. But then I got to thinking. Why give someone a $5 >discount for holding on to your money for 30 days, when people who pay on the >spot don't get a discount? > >Although it is not a bad idea to put a late fee charge on the bill, what are >you going to do if they don't pay it. On a $70 tuning 1.5% per month is >$1.05. That is not worth going to small claims court. You would be much >better off giving them a call, or sending them a reminder note after 30 days. > >If a school or church is in the habit of sending checks 60 or 90 days late, >tell them you're too busy, or that you need a check before you go and tune. >Don't tell them to have a check waiting. What are you going to do if they >don't have one when you show up? > >If you know in advance you have to wait for a check, then you can budget >accordingly. If you get to a point where you have too many open accounts, >don't accept the tuning appointments. > >Just my 2 cents worth > >Wim > <div>Jon Page,   piano technician</div> <div>Harwich Port, Cape Cod, Mass.</div> <div><a href="mailto:jonpage@mediaone.net" EUDORA=AUTOURL>mailto:jonpage@mediaone.net</a></div> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ </html>