How do you nicely ask a client to end contract and submit payment

[jstarresearch]

I submitted a work request a day ago. The project was already funded. Today I messaged to ask if there was anything else I needed to do, and requested that if not then we could move forward to submit payment and end the contract. The client responded with another message saying it looked good to them - but did not respond to say they were moving forward.

I've had a couple of clients in the past who were nonresponsive and allowed the two weeks period pass for the automatic payment.

If I would like or request payment upon work submitted what is a nice form email way to ask? 

[petra_r]

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@Jon wrote:

How do you nicely ask a client to submit payment

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 I don't. Ever. Under any circumstances. The client has 14 days. And no, don't give the client any "This freelancer is difficult to work with" vibes right out of the gate by telling them they must release funds immediately.

Apart from that it is weekend.

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@Jon wrote:

I submitted a work request a day ago. The project was already funded supposedly. 

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 What do you mean "supposedly?" Either it was funded or it was not. This will have been clear on the contract page...

[jstarresearch]

I'll just accept the way it is.

One of my other concerns is that the Job Success score will possibly go down if a contract doesn't end by the due date. 

[mthornton-cpc]

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@Jon S wrote:

I accept. Can I edit or delete this post? I'll just accept the way it is.

One of my other concerns is that the Job Success score will possibly go down if a contract doesn't end by the due date. 

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I don't believe that to be true. I often have contracts that extend well beyond the "due date" because the client assigns additional milestones. It's rare that any of my contracts ends "on time" and I've not seen any detrimental effect on my JSS. 

[jcullinan]

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@Melissa T wrote:

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@Jon S wrote:

One of my other concerns is that the Job Success score will possibly go down if a contract doesn't end by the due date. 

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I don't believe that to be true. I often have contracts that extend well beyond the "due date" because the client assigns additional milestones. It's rare that any of my contracts ends "on time" and I've not seen any detrimental effect on my JSS. 

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In all we've learned about the moving target that is JSS, the "due date" on fixed-price milestones has never come up as a definite negative factor. If you've delivered your work in the time frame requested by the client, using the proper channels, their review period should be irrelevant to any "due date." Bascially, as long as the money moves from client to freelancer, you should be just fine.

[jstarresearch]

I edited my message so that is no longer there. I acknowledged that but your tone was a bit harsh. 

[jmlaidlaw · Accepted solution]

@ Jon --  Don't do this. I strongly suggest that you simply accept the terms that you agreed to when you began to work through Upwork.

Sure, we would all like to be paid ASAP. However, clients have 14 days in which to review work. That is what they "signed up for," and that is their expectation and their right. Given all the other hassles and nuisances that one can encounter with problem clients, the issue of a two-week wait for payment is de minimus -- particularly when you consider how long it might take for you to collect from a client in the harsh, cold, non-escrow "Outside World."

Do not "remind." Do not nag. Do not stipulate. Do not insist. Just submit your excellent, professional work; hit the "Pay MEEEEEEEEE!" button ("Submit Work"). Wait. Be happy when the payment arrives.

Good luck!

[jstarresearch]

Mods that be. I would like to delete this post and move on. How do I do that? 

[colettelewis]

Jon, the mods could  delete it, but it is useful for other freelancers too. There is nothing bad about this post at all. 

However, if you feel very strongly about it, you can simply edit out what you have written, by clicking on the  three dots on the top right of your post and selecting the edit button. 

[jstarresearch]

Thank you. Your response was well measured and very helpful. I swear that 10-15 minutes ago I clicked on the three dots and there was no option for editing, but I looked again and found it. 

[jmlaidlaw]

Jon -- We are all very sympathetic to the urge!! Especially if it is with a client who seems to want the work done at a breakneck pace -- fast! faster!! faster yet!!! I need it yesterday!!! -- but who then suddenly becomes quite indifferent to the pressures of time when it comes to payment. (THAT'S when you'd love to leave feedback: "Warning! His own time is quite valuable to Client X, but your time is meaningless.") But... Well... We have all learned to grit our teeth and rise above the urge! Still, we "get it."