Asking for payment owed
Dear Amy: I mow lawns as a side gig. Several months ago, my lawn mower quit working and the “Smiths” offered to let me use theirs.
I accepted their offer, and told them that as long as I used their mower to mow other lawns, I wouldn’t charge for mowing theirs.
A few weeks ago, another client gave me their old lawn mower (they’d gotten a new one). It was a kind gesture.
Since then, I have not borrowed the Smiths’ mower. I’ve told them that I have a good mower now.
They asked me to continue using theirs on their lawn, and I agreed.
Since then, I’ve mowed, weed-whacked and cleaned the grass from their property two times. They thank me and tell me how great it looks ... but they haven’t paid me.
I’m trying to find a tactful way to ask them to pay.
I value them as friends; they’re almost like family.
Can you help me to find the words?
UNPAID
Dear Unpaid: The act of asking for money you are owed for services rendered is one of the most uncomfortable situations people face. It is vital for freelancers (like you) to establish a clear and confident payment policy.
Contact the Smiths by email to say: “Thank you again for lending me your mower when I needed it! This generous gesture helped to keep my business going, and I’m very grateful. However, now that I have replaced my mower, I’d like to get you back on a payment schedule. If you’d like me to continue to use your mower for your property, I’d be happy to extend a 20% discount [or whatever you decide]. With the discount, the fee for your property would be XX for each mowing and weed cleanup. If you don’t want me to use your mower, I’ll use my own. If so, the fee reverts to XX. Please let me know which you would prefer, and we’ll schedule your next mowing. With regards and much gratitude...”
The more transparent and professionally you behave in this area of your business, the better it will be for you and your clients.
Dear Amy: I was on an Alaskan cruise in September. On Sept. 11 the ship made an announcement at about noon that we would have a minute of silence to commemorate 9/11.
I was in the dining area. Within a few seconds there was dead silence among the hundreds of people there, many of whom probably weren’t American.
At the table next to me was a family (not speaking English) who continued to talk among themselves.
I was tempted to walk over with an image of the World Trade Center on my phone to explain what was going on without speaking.
I did not do anything. They continued to talk during the whole observance.
If I was visiting a country where I did not know the language and everyone was suddenly silent, I would have fallen silent myself.
ALASKAN TRAVELER
Dear Traveler: If you are traveling in a country where you don’t understand the language, announcements can sound like white noise.
And if you are deeply engaged in conversation, you might not notice others have fallen silent.
I don’t think it was necessary for you to flash a photo to drive your point home, but approaching the table, making eye contact and making the universal symbols for “quiet” and “praying” might have alerted them to pay respect.