Dane7781
May 16, 2007, 06:52 PM
What is the maximum time that you can invoice an individual after performing work for them?
Dane from PA
excon
May 16, 2007, 07:14 PM
Hello Dane:
There is no law on the subject.
excon
Clough
May 16, 2007, 07:20 PM
I don't know that there is a law concerning such a thing if it is for work performed on one or more occasions within a short period, say under a month's time in length. But, there may be a law somewhere concerning this.
Below is something that might be of use to you if you are having trouble collecting money that is owed to you. I don't know how much money is due to you, but maybe it is small enough that you can go through small claims court in order to get it. I would give people a chance to pay if they are having difficulty in paying. If you had some sort of contract with an individual or group, then payment schedules should be outlined in the contract. Since most bills for things run on a monthly cycle, then I would say that after 31 days and not receiving payment, or attempts at making payment, then you can follow through with action through a court if the person or group will not work with you in order to work something out, and there has been no contract.
I am entirely self-employed. Perform various services for people. Had a situation recently where I was doing handyman work successfully for a woman who owns a number of apartment houses. I was billing her in a timely manner and then she was paying me in a timely manner. This was over a period of about five months.
For reasons unknown, she did not pay me for my last bill after I had submitted it to her. I would like to note hear, that she had told me that she has had quite a few handymen working for her in the past. I told her on the phone that I was going to speak with my lawyer, which I have since done, and that I would be suing her for the money if she did not pay me. Over a month has passed since speaking with her, and I still have not received the money that is owed to me.
I guess that if I could, it would have been good if I had known about why she has had so many handymen. Maybe she wasn't paying them either. It pays to have a contract with people that you don't know. I did not really know her.
My next step is that I am going to write her a letter specifying that payment needs to be made within ten working days or that I will be taking her to small claims court. Also, that she will need to pay the court costs for the action. I will send this letter by certified mail and also have it notarized.
Then I will see if I receive the money. If not, then it's off to small claims court.