Singapore Expats

Hi there,
I am a supplier who supply products to a book-store, so, before every end of each month, I got to check my sales balance and then issue an invoice to the book-store for the accountant to issue my cheque for the items sold....
But since last year Nov 07, I was having problem getting my $$, which the accountant said "wait for my call". So, month and month, I have talked to the accountant over the phone why take so long for my $$$, again said "wait for my call". The staff there can't review their boss's name as an agreement when taking up the job, so, who or what the surname of the book-store's boss, outsider don't know....very weird...
At this point, I feel that the accountant got no intention to pay me $$$ which is only $112.00, have check out with the staff there that other supplier got no problem getting their cheque.
I would like to know is there any "centre" that i can report to regarding this issue?? Town council, police etc ...???
Pls advise....
Thank you...

focus wrote:Hi there,
I am a supplier who supply products to a book-store, so, before every end of each month, I got to check my sales balance and then issue an invoice to the book-store for the accountant to issue my cheque for the items sold....
But since last year Nov 07, I was having problem getting my $$, which the accountant said "wait for my call". So, month and month, I have talked to the accountant over the phone why take so long for my $$$, again said "wait for my call". The staff there can't review their boss's name as an agreement when taking up the job, so, who or what the surname of the book-store's boss, outsider don't know....very weird...
At this point, I feel that the accountant got no intention to pay me $$$ which is only $112.00, have check out with the staff there that other supplier got no problem getting their cheque.
I would like to know is there any "centre" that i can report to regarding this issue?? Town council, police etc ...???
Pls advise....
Thank you...

I guess many book shops, don't like to pay up front, unless the demand is so great for a book, and they have difficulty getting hold of it.

I believe your money will come through, however, if the agreement was on a monthly basis, and they are failing to pay, you should be charging them interest, don't panic...sit down and explain by letter, to the bookstore...that due to the failure of payment on time, you will have to start charging interest...

If eventually they don't pay, you can take them to the small claims court. It is small money at the moment...bookshops like at least 90 days credit, which is normal, many will sell on consignment basis too. The book shop is well aware you need a sales channel, and can pressure you to do it their way....or come and take your books back. You see, they are prbably not sold, so they don't want t pay you until they are sold, that's business...you have to be more firm, from the start.

have u send them your tax invoice together with their po ? its a rare case that they want to hold on the money especially its a small sum

As agreement, as long as we (supplier) submit our invoices by 23rd of each month, the book-shop will call us when cheque is ready before 5th of next month.
I supply stationeries to them under consignment. Cos my products are not moving after 2-3mth, so, I collected all back and wanted to settle the payment. Thinking of giving them new and different products.
The retail sfaff there got no say at all. Told them when my payment ready, they would say all handle by a lady who do the accounts.
And she don't station at the shop as its her part-time job only, and she will appear at the shop when month end comes and key-in invoices and issues cheque.
I had eventually fax over 3 pcs of reminder letter to the accountant. But doesn't help at all.
I am running a small business alone and need $$ to turnover, every cents and dollars are important....
Thanks for the reply... just need someone to listen and give advise.. very frustrated to wait and wait.....

it's a bit odd that the staff has been instructed not the review the boss name! maybe you just need to keep phoning the accountant everyday together with faxing your demand.

i know how loan shark do it in HDB block!

focus wrote:As agreement, as long as we (supplier) submit our invoices by 23rd of each month, the book-shop will call us when cheque is ready before 5th of next month.
I supply stationeries to them under consignment. Cos my products are not moving after 2-3mth, so, I collected all back and wanted to settle the payment. Thinking of giving them new and different products.
The retail sfaff there got no say at all. Told them when my payment ready, they would say all handle by a lady who do the accounts.
And she don't station at the shop as its her part-time job only, and she will appear at the shop when month end comes and key-in invoices and issues cheque.
I had eventually fax over 3 pcs of reminder letter to the accountant. But doesn't help at all.
I am running a small business alone and need $$ to turnover, every cents and dollars are important....
Thanks for the reply... just need someone to listen and give advise.. very frustrated to wait and wait.....

Have a little faith, what i did, when i came back from my China studies a long while ago...I selected books, that I knew would sell, like pocket dictionaries, and othe rlanguage related books, I then sold them to our local W.H Smith in UK, for a tidy sum, and returned to Denmark..

There I contacted libraries in different areas, and sold all my books for a premium, so it is important to do a little research on what is in demand, or visit libraries, to see if there is a shortage of specific books, that are in demand, they normally pay up within two weeks in Europe.

Mind you I only did it as more of an hobby really, because the opportunity was there, to make money.

Also when i go to Europe, i wheel and deal, and I have been owed money for 3 years, not a large amount, but enough to take a holiday is still owing, although it doesn't help, that I use heavy tactics, I can see the guy has genuine financial trouble, and he pays what he can, only when challenged.

So be firm, but nice...you have also got to live right! Bad payers are not worth getting in trouble over, squeez gently but firmly, diplomacy is much more productive.

It is frustrating not to get paid, but that happens alot in business, especially if you have no choice, but to be at the mercy of others, sales channels do try it on all the time.