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I find myself getting a little frustrated with needing to frequently contact some referral sources multiple times regarding late payment of invoices.  I'm aware that some folks require payment of the invoice prior to releasing the report.  This has always struck me as a little "severe" but I am reconsidering.  Would anyone share their experiences if they've done this in the past?

Thanks in advance.

Mike

I find myself getting a little frustrated with needing to frequently contact some referral sources multiple times regarding late payment of invoices.  I'm aware that some folks require payment of the invoice prior to releasing the report.  This has always struck me as a little "severe" but I am reconsidering.  Would anyone share their experiences if they've done this in the past?

Thanks in advance.

Mike

I find myself getting a little frustrated with needing to frequently contact some referral sources multiple times regarding late payment of invoices.  I'm aware that some folks require payment of the invoice prior to releasing the report.  This has always struck me as a little "severe" but I am reconsidering.  Would anyone share their experiences if they've done this in the past?

Thanks in advance.

Mike

I find myself getting a little frustrated with needing to frequently contact some referral sources multiple times regarding late payment of invoices.  I'm aware that some folks require payment of the invoice prior to releasing the report.  This has always struck me as a little "severe" but I am reconsidering.  Would anyone share their experiences if they've done this in the past?

Thanks in advance.

Mike

I find myself getting a little frustrated with needing to frequently contact some referral sources multiple times regarding late payment of invoices.  I'm aware that some folks require payment of the invoice prior to releasing the report.  This has always struck me as a little "severe" but I am reconsidering.  Would anyone share their experiences if they've done this in the past?

Thanks in advance.

Mike

I find myself getting a little frustrated with needing to frequently contact some referral sources multiple times regarding late payment of invoices.  I'm aware that some folks require payment of the invoice prior to releasing the report.  This has always struck me as a little "severe" but I am reconsidering.  Would anyone share their experiences if they've done this in the past?

Thanks in advance.

Mike

I have had to become more and more unequivocal with this topic, Mike.  Even payment of a basic retainer before I touch a case in any way.  Absolutely now.  The response on the payor side is not always positive, but enough, like you, is enough as they are always in a rush to get things started.  I cannot allow their problem to become mine, nonetheless.  In the end, the same actors are in no rush to get us paid.  

Going further to issue a bill prior to releasing the expert report is a bit tougher for a myriad of reasons, but that too is more and more of a standard.  As to pre-payment of deposition costs, that is mandatory, with the caveat that I use- to refund or request more or less dollars upon completion.   Of course, I then "overcharge" in advance so as not to be ultimately holding the bag and similarly do pay a prompt refund of unused amounts- minus a handling charge.  

More recently, I am getting partial payments from my original referral source, stating that another attorney(s) is also sharing the report, and hence the cost.  But I do not even know who the "other attorney" is and have no way to collect from them.  This item too has become part of my retainer:   the signer is fully responsible for the full amount, regardless of whether the report is shared among others.  If others are to pay, a retainer with that "other" also needs to be signed.

The 95% vs 5% rule applies in our craft.  While we may count on 95% of bills to be paid smoothly, the remaining 5% is a phenomenal hassle, with late, if any, payments without taking the matter into court.  That 5% is expensive in terms of time/effort as well as "ruins" it for all others but one of the hard lessons of business is to distinguish money from notions of civility or right and wrong.  People treat us in a manner that we indicate we will accept.  

As a collective, experts in our craft must somehow have a "reputation" for being soft on this item.   Why else is this an issue?   It's time to turn that all around so that we are known as a sector, to be adamant and fastidious as a whole with our bills.  And that's good, fair, and honest business.  

Great question and post! Good luck.  Best to you for the holiday Season, and the year ahead, Mike!   

I find myself getting a little frustrated with needing to frequently contact some referral sources multiple times regarding late payment of invoices.  I'm aware that some folks require payment of the invoice prior to releasing the report.  This has always struck me as a little "severe" but I am reconsidering.  Would anyone share their experiences if they've done this in the past?

Thanks in advance.

Mike

I have had to become more and more unequivocal with this topic, Mike.  Even payment of a basic retainer before I touch a case in any way.  Absolutely now.  The response on the payor side is not always positive, but enough, like you, is enough as they are always in a rush to get things started.  I cannot allow their problem to become mine, nonetheless.  In the end, the same actors are in no rush to get us paid.  

Going further to issue a bill prior to releasing the expert report is a bit tougher for a myriad of reasons, but that too is more and more of a standard.  As to pre-payment of deposition costs, that is mandatory, with the caveat that I use- to refund or request more or less dollars upon completion.   Of course, I then "overcharge" in advance so as not to be ultimately holding the bag and similarly do pay a prompt refund of unused amounts- minus a handling charge.  

More recently, I am getting partial payments from my original referral source, stating that another attorney(s) is also sharing the report, and hence the cost.  But I do not even know who the "other attorney" is and have no way to collect from them.  This item too has become part of my retainer:   the signer is fully responsible for the full amount, regardless of whether the report is shared among others.  If others are to pay, a retainer with that "other" also needs to be signed.

The 95% vs 5% rule applies in our craft.  While we may count on 95% of bills to be paid smoothly, the remaining 5% is a phenomenal hassle, with late, if any, payments without taking the matter into court.  That 5% is expensive in terms of time/effort as well as "ruins" it for all others but one of the hard lessons of business is to distinguish money from notions of civility or right and wrong.  People treat us in a manner that we indicate we will accept.  

As a collective, experts in our craft must somehow have a "reputation" for being soft on this item.   Why else is this an issue?   It's time to turn that all around so that we are known as a sector, to be adamant and fastidious as a whole with our bills.  And that's good, fair, and honest business.  

Great question and post! Good luck.  Best to you for the holiday Season, and the year ahead, Mike!   

I find myself getting a little frustrated with needing to frequently contact some referral sources multiple times regarding late payment of invoices.  I'm aware that some folks require payment of the invoice prior to releasing the report.  This has always struck me as a little "severe" but I am reconsidering.  Would anyone share their experiences if they've done this in the past?

Thanks in advance.

Mike

    I have continued to tweak my retention agreement over the years after each time I've learned the hard way from an attorney who looks for any way possible to reduce or not pay my fees. I've added additional clauses to protect myself which includes requiring a retainer that is enough usually to complete work through an initial report, and my agreement says the retainer must be paid before the report will be issued. I require a non-refundable pre-payment for 4 hours of deposition time just to reserve a date. Since it's usually opposing counsel deposing me, I generate an invoice to them that states I will not appear for depo without that payment. The invoice also says that if they cancel a date within a month of the depo and want to schedule another, another non-refundable pre-payment fee is owed and if the depo goes longer than 4 hours, an invoice for the additional time will be generated. Those terms have cut down on "moving target" depo dates as well as lengthy depos.

     Bob mentioned partial payments from referral sources, and I've experienced those kinds of issues in the past. Now my retention agreement states that the referral source is responsible for all payment unless they inform me otherwise and provide all contact information and a signature for anyone else who may be partially responsible. 

    Although I do more plaintiff work than defense, I will be happy to take cases from either side. However, if it's a defense case and I am contacted by an insurance company's in-house or outside attorney, I tell them during an initial phone call that I know insurance companies often don't like to pre-pay these kinds of things, but that is how I operate. If the claims rep or whoever is responsible for issuing checks doesn't want to do that, then I will not be able to take the case. Most of the time they find a way to meet my terms, and I almost never have to chase down payment these days. 

I have had to become more and more unequivocal with this topic, Mike.  Even payment of a basic retainer before I touch a case in any way.  Absolutely now.  The response on the payor side is not always positive, but enough, like you, is enough as they are always in a rush to get things started.  I cannot allow their problem to become mine, nonetheless.  In the end, the same actors are in no rush to get us paid.  

Going further to issue a bill prior to releasing the expert report is a bit tougher for a myriad of reasons, but that too is more and more of a standard.  As to pre-payment of deposition costs, that is mandatory, with the caveat that I use- to refund or request more or less dollars upon completion.   Of course, I then "overcharge" in advance so as not to be ultimately holding the bag and similarly do pay a prompt refund of unused amounts- minus a handling charge.  

More recently, I am getting partial payments from my original referral source, stating that another attorney(s) is also sharing the report, and hence the cost.  But I do not even know who the "other attorney" is and have no way to collect from them.  This item too has become part of my retainer:   the signer is fully responsible for the full amount, regardless of whether the report is shared among others.  If others are to pay, a retainer with that "other" also needs to be signed.

The 95% vs 5% rule applies in our craft.  While we may count on 95% of bills to be paid smoothly, the remaining 5% is a phenomenal hassle, with late, if any, payments without taking the matter into court.  That 5% is expensive in terms of time/effort as well as "ruins" it for all others but one of the hard lessons of business is to distinguish money from notions of civility or right and wrong.  People treat us in a manner that we indicate we will accept.  

As a collective, experts in our craft must somehow have a "reputation" for being soft on this item.   Why else is this an issue?   It's time to turn that all around so that we are known as a sector, to be adamant and fastidious as a whole with our bills.  And that's good, fair, and honest business.  

Great question and post! Good luck.  Best to you for the holiday Season, and the year ahead, Mike!   

I find myself getting a little frustrated with needing to frequently contact some referral sources multiple times regarding late payment of invoices.  I'm aware that some folks require payment of the invoice prior to releasing the report.  This has always struck me as a little "severe" but I am reconsidering.  Would anyone share their experiences if they've done this in the past?

Thanks in advance.

Mike

I find myself getting a little frustrated with needing to frequently contact some referral sources multiple times regarding late payment of invoices.  I'm aware that some folks require payment of the invoice prior to releasing the report.  This has always struck me as a little "severe" but I am reconsidering.  Would anyone share their experiences if they've done this in the past?

Thanks in advance.

Mike

I find myself getting a little frustrated with needing to frequently contact some referral sources multiple times regarding late payment of invoices.  I'm aware that some folks require payment of the invoice prior to releasing the report.  This has always struck me as a little "severe" but I am reconsidering.  Would anyone share their experiences if they've done this in the past?

Thanks in advance.

Mike