Your client is not going to pay you. Here's how to know.

#freelancing #webdev #career #beginners

Every freelancer has that one client. You know the one.

The invoice is 3 weeks late. They 'haven't seen it' (they have). They need to 'check with accounts' (there is no accounts department — it's Dave). They'll 'sort it Monday' (they will not sort it Monday).

After 10 years of freelancing in the UK, here's my red flag checklist. If you tick 3 or more, stop working and start chasing.

🚩 The Red Flags

They queried the invoice amount but can't say what specifically is wrong
"Payment is being processed" — for the third week running
They've gone quiet after previously being responsive
They changed the scope mid-project and now seem surprised by the cost
No purchase order or written agreement was ever signed
They're a startup that just had a "restructure" (layoffs)
They paid the first invoice fine but the second one... crickets
They want to "discuss the invoice on a call" instead of just paying it

If you're ticking boxes, you're not being paranoid. You're being smart.

What to actually do

Forget the polite-British-awkwardness approach. Here's the escalation:

Day 1-7 overdue: One friendly email. Short. "Hi, just flagging invoice #X is overdue. Can you confirm when payment will go through?"

Day 8-14: Firmer. Reference the amount, the original terms, and ask for a specific date. No more "just checking in."

Day 15-21: Formal. Mention statutory interest (8% + BoE base rate under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts Act). This isn't aggressive — it's the law.

Day 22+: Final demand. 14 days to pay or you begin formal recovery. Mean it.

Day 36+: Small claims court. Under £10k, it's straightforward, cheap, and you don't need a solicitor.

The bit nobody tells you

Most unpaid invoices get resolved at step 2 or 3. The moment you sound like you know your rights, most clients pay. The ones who don't were never going to.

Also: stop working before you start chasing. Sounds obvious. Isn't. I've seen freelancers deliver an entire project while the first invoice is 60 days overdue. Don't be that person.