Still Waiting For That Paycheck?
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I’ve worked for a telecom company for something like 5 years, and was getting paid on time, every time (ok, sure it was a “paycheck every 2 weeks” kinda job, but still). Then I started working online, and to this day, i’ve recieved all my money on time! Be it from sponsors, advertisers, affiliate programs and others, always on time.
Then, not so long ago, I accepted a contract for a market research firm from Montreal (I won’t name them here, since it wouldn’t be relevant to the purpose of this post, and their website is in French). So i started working there, calling customers, analyzing stuff, filling out reports and all. All this was real fine with me! But…it was supposed to be a 4 weeks contract, and i was supposed to get paid a certain amount, due on certain dates. When the first payday arrived, i checked my online bank statement and.. oh oh… no money?
I finally got them to deposit the money in my bank account, but it took them 6 days! Now, i’m still waiting for the second half of it… So i thought it would be interesting and maybe useful to some of my readers to write a “how to” post about getting paid for your hard work. (i’d also like to know what John or Jane from Career Ramblings would suggest. Tips and tricks! :) )
Here are some simple things you can try to make sure people/companies pay you on time, every time
What if you already accepted a contract? And were supposed to get paid, say last week?
Did it ever happened to you? You are anxiously waiting for well-earned money to be deposited in your bank account.. you wait, and wait and wait…Then what? Sometimes the Dale Carnegie - How to win friends and influence people approach won’t work.. unfortunately!
Please, take some time to leave a comment and share your own “tips and tricks“, i’m sure a lot of people have been through this kind of situation (or something similar) at least once. And others could benefit from reading what you have to say, your opinions ;)
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11 Responses to “Still Waiting For That Paycheck?”
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I haven’t had the problem yet thankfully. The only trouble I ever had was when I was fired from a job (I called in and said I couldn’t work because of a hurt shoulder [I could barely move it] so they fired me :S) and of course the last check they gave me bounced, and then I was charged a fee because THEIR check bounced. They did end up paying for the fee though.
wow, seriously i wonder how can people be serious about their business when they act like that, employees are a key element in making their business work! Their check bounced? Direct deposit is the way! But still, it’s easy to say stuff like “oh yeah we pressed the button, you should recieve the money real soon” and then a week later still no money.
Well, good news, I finally got paid today! was about time! ;)
I have never been able to understand this bounce check business, in simple words its an intention to cheat, in some parts of the world rules are pretty lax towards bounced checks, but where I am now its considered pretty serious and the next thing is you get a call from the cop station.
Most of my life I have worked on commissions and have always been paid on time, no problems about that.
The only problem I have had was getting back my money from the people who borrowed from me and I have long forgotten about it…lol.
Oh yeah I got fired once for apparently no fault of mine, I took the case to court and they ended up paying two years salary as compensation for illegal termination of my services.
I have noticed I tend to rattle on a bit too much in my comments to your posts mate, but you are the one to blame for that I guess, you always come up with excellent posts…lol.
Cheers buddy and take care.
Hey Robin, you are free to write mile-long replies bro! I really like to hear (read) what you have to say, and i think this post is in your field of expertise, since you work in finances/money/investing ;)
Well you know what, i would love if the police would’ve called this market research firm i worked for, i probably would’ve gotten my money 2 weeks ago instead of today, there’s is no “real” law here like where you live, sometimes you kinda have to work, then work harder to get paid, and if they don’t pay you, well, the only “legal” thing you can do is complain to the “Labour Standards” gov department…and it can take long before you see your money… i think the “punch them” option is ok, but i wouldn’t try it lol
Thanks for sharing the story Jonathan. You bring up a very good point about having the payment dates or payment schedules typed right into a contract.
A company that is having huge financial issues and notifies its employees that paychecks will be delayed is a company that is actually trying to keep employees happy, whether those employees are full-time or part-time. However, a company that basically makes you run around just so you can get paid, when you have fulfilled your end of the contract/bargain, is a company to avoid in the future. I wonder how their clients feel?
Also, I think by the time you have to call in the 3rd time for your payment, you can meet the company in person and tell them that you need a definitive date by which you will get paid, in writing, or else [if they don’t write that down, or if you do not get paid by then], you will have to take legal action as you have been fulfilling your end of the contract.
I hope you do get paid for the 2nd half. Please keep us updated. :)
Jon,
Well I know how to get paid if it’s your own business. That, I recently wrote about. But this is a little different …
I would have to say going in and talking to them would be the best bet. And what you want is:
1. An explanation.
2. A check. Right now.
3. If they can’t cut you a check, a firm date on when you will get paid.
The best thing to do is keep hounding them. And I wouldn’t be opposed to dropping the word “fraud” and mentioning the police.
And I wouldn’t be opposed to bringing along a friend who’s kinda big and looks like he wrestles bears for a living. :)
Bes, well, good news! I got paid on Wednesday ;) (it’S weird i got paid less than 24 hours after i posted this, that’s what’s cool about running a blog your ex-boss knows about) Though i hate to have to run after money that is owed to me. I called them.. i don’t remember how many times, probably 6 or 7 times! And they kept telling me stuff like “sure, tomorrow” and “oh, we’re sorry, by thursday you should have the money”…. well they sent it, late, real late, but they sent it ! Next time i’ll make sure it’s written in the contract.
Shane, yeah, i thought about bringing a “wrestler” to the office, but don’t know any! lol
This is one of the issues that make me wary about finding freelance work online. Even if there is a contract, if the principal is oceans away I may not have the resources to run after them. The amount involved may not be worth it but it will still be time and effort wasted on the unpaid work, plus the aggravation.
Thankfully, the only such work I’ve accepted so far has been smooth sailing all along even if my principal is in Hawaii and I am in the Philippines.
I can only hope I don’t run into unscrupulous contractors later.
Manila Mom, first, welcome to SWR, make yourself at home ;)
You bring a really good point, if the person you work for/with is in another country, it can be pretty hard to get paid if that person decides not to pay you. One thing you can do is ask for some money up front (like 25-50%) Of course if the person doesn’t pay you, you can post the story on your blog! I’m sure if your blog has some “authority” that person will pay you! Or you can do business only with established companies or people you really trust.
same as Manila Mom, i have not encountered the same problem so far, even if my principals are based elsewhere. for one of my principals, i do not even have a contract, but he pays me on time.
i hope i will not be able to encounter such problems in future. i would not mind catching up with deadlines, but gosh! catching up with payments will ruin my day.
thanks for the tips, they might be useful, i mean, they are useful.
btw, i got to know your site through Liz, congratulations, you SOB! Successful and Outstanding Blogger, I mean.
Hello Sexy Mom (sorry sexy mom, your comment got caught in the spam filter, cause of the “sexy” in your nickname, it’s fixed now)
Thanx for replying, yeah i don’t mind deadlines either, but having to hunt down my paycheck, i don’t like that at all.
Thanx for the kind words, being a SOB is great hehe :)