Runaround
5/30/2008
Dear M E,
Could you please tell me when I can expect my Syria payment? It’s been six weeks since I turned in my invoice.
Thank you,
SarabellaE
SarabellaE
5/30/2008
Dear SarabellaE,
Sadly, the turnaround time on payment right now is slow: about eight weeks from submission of invoice to cutting of check. The invoice log shows that your Syria invoice was submitted for payment on April 18; that means that the check should be cut sometime in the middle of June and mailed out shortly thereafter.
Sorry I can’t be the bearer of better news . . .
M E
6/24/2008
Dear M E,
I hope this message finds you well. I’m writing to inquire about the status of my Syria copyediting payment. It’s been nearly 10 weeks since I submitted my invoice for that project. It’s nearly 7 weeks since I submitted my Israel invoice. I’m hoping that you can look into my payments and let me know when to expect them. I’m very much hoping they will be arriving any day now.
Thanks very much!
Sincerely,
SarabellaE
SarabellaE
6/24/2008
Dear SarabellaE,
As of yesterday, I was told to tell people inquiring about invoices submitted in April that those invoices “will be paid within the next week” and that “freelancers should get them [the checks] next week.”
Assuming that that information is accurate, I’d probably look for the Syria check somewhere around the July 4 holiday weekend.
Payment for Israel, the invoice for which which was submitted in May, probably will take a few weeks longer.
Hope that helps . . .
M E
6/24/2008
Frankly, no. It does not help very much. But I thank you for the information.
Sarabellae 7/8/2008
Thank you.
Sarabellae 7/8/2008
Dear M E,
Please check on the status of my Syria check. It has now been 12 weeks since I submitted my invoice. This delay in my payment is causing me a financial hardship. I performed this copyedit in good faith, trusting that I would be paid within a reasonable amount of time.
Thank you.
SarabellaE
7/8/2008
Dear SarabellaE,
Dear SarabellaE,
I just forwarded the details of your past-due Syria invoice (again) to my supervisor, who will query accounting and get back to me with any news. I will let you know what’s what as soon as I hear anything.
For what it’s worth, I was told earlier today that checks for work done in April are being cut this week. Let’s hope yours turns out to be among them!
M E
7/8/2008
Thank you, M E. I hope so too.
July 8, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Wow. That’s completely crappy of them. It’s ridiculous. 8-(
July 8, 2008 at 5:04 pm
Wow. That’s impressively bad form. And immediately puts me in mind of this recent Dilbert strip: http://www.dilbert.com/2008-06-13/
July 8, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Oh look! Do you see that, over there? That company that prints things what people want to read? Yeah…they just lost the best damn editor they will ever see. Yes, yes they really are that dumb.
July 8, 2008 at 5:07 pm
Here’s the punch line: The Syria copyedit invoice is only $450. They owe me about 2 grand for all four jobs. Peanuts to them. NOT peanuts to me.
July 8, 2008 at 5:09 pm
No kidding! Thanks for the strip. 🙂
July 8, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Thanks, Flonk. You’re sweet!
July 8, 2008 at 5:34 pm
Do your terms allow you to charge interest? Sorry you are getting the run around…..
July 8, 2008 at 6:53 pm
What are your billing terms? These people deserve an idiot fee. Jesus.