I just collected $500 from a debtor that had literally been ignoring us for the last 2 months- not once, not even a text back, had he acknowledged us or our attempts to collect the $2500 debt he owed. The client phoned me a couple of weeks ago asking if I thought he should write it off, but I am too stubborn for my own good and I refused to give up, asking for just another week or so as I was sure I could talk the debtor around. I had already threatened legal action and credit defaults etc, and even that didn’t work. So I sent the following text this morning “I know I don’t know you but from everything I have heard and read about you online, you don’t sound like a bad guy and I am sure it was never your intention not to pay this, so please- can you please just talk to me and let me know what you can afford?. Please”
Sure enough, he texted back- “I am sorry I have been avoiding you, I will pay $500 now and the remaining $2000 on Monday, hope that is ok”. 10 minutes later, $500 is received. I guess the moral of the story is this- politeness and manners will always work and using them to get paid should always be always be in your kit bag- for those thinking “why should I be nice to them when they are ignoring me and not giving me my money”, I fully agree- there isn’t anyone who deserves your kindness less, but being nice doesn’t make you weak or desperate, it just makes you human and when nothing else is working, it is such a powerful strategy to get paid. Cheers