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I’m A Freelance Transcriptionist. Should I Ask For Payment On The First Project Before Starting Another?

By pay online Posted in: payment

I contract for a transcription company, and there are two sides to said company. The side I work for now there are no problems. I’m paid promptly; no complaints there. Recently, I was asked by another person with the company to do work for them. I’ll complete my transcript, turn it in, then I have to ask to be paid. I’ve done five projects, and all but one I’ve had to ask for my money.
I turned in my last transcript, and as usual, I haven’t been paid. I transcribed 1 hour of audio, which translates into 5 hours of actual work. The person said it was great and is asking that I do some editing and such. I feel a bit reluctant to do it because I haven’t been paid for the first one. It is the norm to get paid right after the project is completed, like within 24 hours.
My question is this. Would you start on a new project before getting paid for the previous one? How can I communicate to this person that I don’t like having to ask to be paid?

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  1. kemperk Says

    yes,
    when a contractor delays paying, it is called “floating” your money and it is unethical
    and in some cases, illegal.
    ask for your pay UNLESS you have a contract that was not specific about when you are paid
    and then, just be polite and say “I need to be paid now and then I an being the next
    job.”

  2. kidmyste Says

    It’s like any other business in any industry. What is the standard, customary amount time to receive payment? If asking is the way they prefer to handle it then I would just go with that.
    You have to decide if complaining will be beneficial or cause turbulence and if it is worth risking losing business if you choose the latter.
    I think the bottom line is that you do get paid. They have the money and you want it. They have the power so to speak unless you are irreplaceable. It’s not about what you like or dislike, it’s about doing what they want that keeps you employed.
    My parents always said: “don’t bite the hand that feeds you” “if it ain’t broke don’t be trying to fix it”
    Having said all that, perhaps you could speak to accounts payable about setting up automatic, payments. Could be they are very busy and it takes time to process.

  3. Steve D Says

    Do the job, but if they have not paid for the transcription part by the time you finish the editing, do not hand over the final product. When you do turn in the final product, sit down with the person you work through and explain that like them, your cash flow is very important to your success and that the norm is payment within 24 hours. If their standard practice is to go 7 days or longer before paying, I would also tell them that you have been lenient since the company as a whole has been a good customer, but beginning immediately, all bills not paid (check received) within 7 days after the end of the project will have 1.5% added (not much, but it acts as a little push).

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