What to Do If a Client Ghosts You on a Payment
If a client ghosts you on a payment, how should you respond? Here’s what you need to know.
Ghosting sounds spooky, and when you’re self-employed, it’s especially terrifying. Case and point: consider what happens if your client ghosts you on a payment.
How to Deal with a Client That Ghosts You on a Payment
If your client ghosts you on a payment, here’s what you can do:
1. Reach Out to Your Client
Contact your client via phone call, email and/or text message. The more you try to communicate with your client, the more likely it becomes that he or she will get your message and respond.
2. Get an Update
Request an update regarding your payment. Find out if your payment has been submitted and when you will receive it.
3. Be Empathetic
Resist the urge to assign blame. Instead, give your client the benefit of the doubt and trust that he or she is doing their best to pay you.
4. Offer Flexible Payment Options
Provide your client with multiple ways to pay you. Let your client submit your payment via PayPal, Google Pay and/or Venmo, so he or she can pay you as quickly and easily as possible.
5. Remain Persistent
Keep in touch with your client throughout the payment process. Once you receive your payment, let your client know.
What to Do If You Cannot Get in Touch with a Client Regarding Payment
There is only so much you can do to get in contact with a client regarding payment. Eventually, you may reach a point where it becomes more trouble than it’s worth to continue to reach out to your client. If you reach this point, you have two options:
- Use your time and energy to continue to reach out to your client who has shown no willingness to pay you; or
- Use your time and energy to find new clients and/or support your current ones.
You can choose how you respond to any situation. So, if a client ghosts you on a payment, my recommendation is to take the high road. In the short term, it can be disappointing, frustrating and sad if a client does not pay you for your work. But, in the long run, you can learn from the experience and use it to avoid similar situations in the future. Better yet, you can rise above the client who did not pay you by partnering with exceptional clients who value you and your work.
If you work with me, I assure you: you won’t get ghosted. I take pride in remaining accessible to my clientele, and I’m here to provide exceptional content any time you need it. For more information about my writing services and/or how I won’t ghost you, please contact me today.
