Time saved / Chase a late payment
How to chase a late progress payment as a subcontractor
A drafted letter to the builder on day 1, 7 and 14 after a payment falls due, with the amount, the Act and the suspension section filled in.
When a payment is late, the builder has no reason to write first. You do: a reminder, a firmer letter that names the Act, then notice that you intend to suspend work. Most subbies put it off because each letter is a job.
- By hand
- 5 h 30 min
- In Excel
- 5 h
- In YourCA
- 24 min
- Saved
- 5 h 6 min
Estimate for a 6-month electrical job with 10 people on it, each late payment. Set your own job.
The risk it heads off
- A late payment is never chased, so the builder pays everyone else first.Drafts each letter on the day it falls due, and puts it in your brief.
- You threaten to suspend work and cite the wrong section, or none.The notice names the suspension section for the job’s state, and leaves it blank rather than guess.
- Nobody can show when you asked to be paid.Each chase you send is recorded on the claim with the day.
Step by step
| Step | By hand | Excel | YourCA | What YourCA does |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notice the payment is late | 10 min | 5 min | 0 min | Puts the chase in your brief on the day it falls due. |
| Write the first reminder | 15 min | 15 min | 2 min | Drafts it with the amount, the claim and the due date filled in. You send it from your mail. |
| Write the firmer letter | 30 min | 30 min | 2 min | Drafts it with your state’s Act named, from the job’s state. |
| Give notice that you intend to suspend work | 45 min | 45 min | 3 min | Drafts the notice with the suspension section for your state filled in. |
| Keep a record of each chase | 10 min | 5 min | 1 min | One press records the day you sent it, on the claim. |
| Total, each late payment | 110 min | 100 min | 8 min |
How to do it in YourCA
Questions subbies ask
- Does YourCA email the builder?
- No. Each letter opens in your own mail as a draft. You read it, change it if you like, and send it yourself.
- Does the letter add interest?
- Not unless you tick Include interest for that one letter. YourCA does not work out the interest figure yet, so you put in the figure from your contract.
Get the hours back on your next job
Your first job is free. See what YourCA runs or every function’s time saved.
Start free