BS: I need a punchline

Subject: BS: I need a punchline
From: Partridge
Date: 05 May 06 - 11:56 AM

Hi

I'm having a rubber stamp made with a graphic of a screwed up face crying. I need a line of text underneath to shame debtors into paying up.

Any good ideas?

cheers

Pat x

Subject: RE: BS: I need a punchline
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 05 May 06 - 12:08 PM

Put the smile back on my bank manager's face!
G..

Subject: RE: BS: I need a punchline
From: MMario
Date: 05 May 06 - 12:11 PM

"We know it hurts. but you have to do it!"

Subject: RE: BS: I need a punchline
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 05 May 06 - 12:16 PM

Ditch the whole idea. The graphic is too ambiguous. It doesn't clearly communicate whether it's you that's crying because you need the money or whether you're accusing your customer of giving you a sob story.

Subject: RE: BS: I need a punchline
From: Divis Sweeney
Date: 05 May 06 - 12:28 PM

SOB STORIES DON'T PAY MY BILLS !

Subject: RE: BS: I need a punchline
From: Wesley S
Date: 05 May 06 - 01:05 PM

"Baby needs a new pair of shoes"

Subject: RE: BS: I need a punchline
From: Sorcha
Date: 05 May 06 - 01:26 PM

An Offer you can't refuse....horses head stamp.

Subject: RE: BS: I need a punchline
From: Bill D
Date: 05 May 06 - 01:29 PM

It's kind of a mistake to assume that lack of shame is the main problem.

I doubt any clever stamp will help.

Subject: RE: BS: I need a punchline
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 05 May 06 - 01:51 PM

If you get this, I know where you live.

Subject: RE: BS: I need a punchline
From: Ebbie
Date: 05 May 06 - 02:05 PM

"Debt is a Bad Taste"

Subject: RE: BS: I need a punchline
From: Hillheader
Date: 05 May 06 - 04:49 PM

The next contact will be from my hitman

Subject: RE: BS: I need a punchline
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 05 May 06 - 07:35 PM

Jesus saves! But I can't unless you pay up!!

Subject: RE: BS: I need a punchline
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 05 May 06 - 07:47 PM

"I need a punchline"

Hold out your chin...

Subject: RE: BS: I need a punchline
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 May 06 - 07:58 PM

I agree with Bill D.

If you want these folks to be a return customers (assuming they can eventually pay their bills and are welcomed back) a cartoonish stamp doesn't sound like the way to build goodwill.

If you have so many customers that it doesn't matter if you offend some, then you have enough customers that you don't need to offend any.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: I need a punchline
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 05 May 06 - 08:09 PM

Jesus saves! The Devil invests!

with a picture of you complete with pitchfork, chasing them down the road...

Subject: RE: BS: I need a punchline
From: GUEST
Date: 05 May 06 - 08:12 PM

I can't see the picture describes the situation clearly enough either. I'd go for a weighing scales with the words 'OUTSTANDING BALANCE.' It may appeal to their sense of justice and fair play.

Subject: RE: BS: I need a punchline
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 05 May 06 - 08:40 PM

Best so far GUEST.

Subject: RE: BS: I need a punchline
From: GUEST
Date: 05 May 06 - 08:52 PM

Well thankyou fooles. It's amazing what the mind can conjure up when stretched in odd ways.

Subject: RE: BS: I need a punchline
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 06 May 06 - 08:00 AM

and boy....

Subject: RE: BS: I need a punchline
From: GUEST,van lingle
Date: 06 May 06 - 10:48 AM

"Got Kneecaps?"

Subject: RE: BS: I need a punchline
From: LadyJean
Date: 06 May 06 - 11:12 PM

In that some of my best friends are occasional deadbeats, I'd suggest a first time notice of a man walking down the street dressed in shirt, coat, tie and boxer shorts, with a little note at the bottom that says, "Haven't you forgotten something."
The second notice should mention lawyers. That usually gets people's attention.

Subject: RE: BS: I need a punchline
From: Cluin
Date: 07 May 06 - 12:40 AM

All your base are belong to us!

Subject: RE: BS: I need a punchline
From: Flash Company
Date: 07 May 06 - 05:30 AM

'Ware other cultures! In a previous existence, I too was responsible for collecting overdue accounts. One of the stickers we used showed a Piggy-bank being broken open with a hammer, with a caption something like 'Come on, it won't break the bank!'
A customer wrote to our MD accusing me of insulting her religion by sending an account with a picture of a pig on it.

FC

Subject: RE: BS: I need a punchline
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 07 May 06 - 07:51 AM

... and thereby hoping the damages settlement would balance out the debt? :-)
(I AM a cynical bastard, aren't I?)

Subject: RE: BS: I need a punchline
From: Partridge
Date: 08 May 06 - 04:14 AM

Thanks for your suggestions, you have certainly given me lots to think about

cheers

Pat

Subject: RE: BS: I need a punchline
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 08 May 06 - 04:42 AM

You are indebted to those who have contributed then..be prepared for a rubber stamp! Best wishes, Mike.

Subject: RE: BS: I need a punchline
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 08 May 06 - 04:47 AM

My suggestion would be that you go see the people personally and get on their side by asking if they are really struggling at the moment. Then point out that the debt has to be paid somehow and ask if there is anything you can do to help.....Showing a caring attitude can be better than giving an ultimatum or hounding people. What do you think?
Best wishes, Mike.

Subject: RE: BS: I need a punchline
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 08 May 06 - 05:22 AM

A brilliant caring idea from you again GS!

Actually, all fun aside, it's probably the best approach at first. of course, some people DO intentionally just not want to pay sometimes, but the old saw goes "you catch more files with honey than vinegar" is very true.

Subject: RE: BS: I need a punchline
From: Partridge
Date: 08 May 06 - 05:57 AM

True, I thought if I could make them laugh they might soften

Patx

Subject: RE: BS: I need a punchline
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 08 May 06 - 10:33 AM

I'm with BillD....

Your whole rubber stamp idea is a total WOMBAT

Subject: RE: BS: I need a punchline
From: Partridge
Date: 08 May 06 - 11:58 AM

Thanks for that Clinton, but I disagree that its a total wombat.
Something amusing on the bottom of a statement can make the difference in the time it takes some (not all) customers to pay up.

If followed up with a phone call at least they remember who you are - which is a start.

At the moment 90% of all customers pay up within the thirty days -its just the "evil" 10% that I want to bring in line - any constructive ideas - maybe not a rubber stamp (although I liked the idea of the horses head...........perhaps not)

cheers

Pat x

Subject: RE: BS: I need a punchline
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 08 May 06 - 12:04 PM

I think I'd be even LESS likely to pay up if I got a cutesy rubber stamp on my bill....

Subject: RE: BS: I need a punchline
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 08 May 06 - 01:33 PM

I don't see what the problem is, Clinton. Pat just got a punchline. I don't think he or she would have got one unless they asked for it...

:D (tG)

Subject: RE: BS: I need a punchline
From: Mr Red
Date: 08 May 06 - 01:44 PM

picture of a Lawyer
caption "make my day - or his"

Subject: RE: BS: I need a punchline
From: Helen
Date: 08 May 06 - 06:06 PM

Well, what occurred to me is something along the lines of "You got yours now give me mine" - in the spirit of a contract which is a legal agreement for goods or services in return for the agreed upon compensation. My phrasing is a bit too blunt and would need softening up a bit. The weighing scales graphic with "Goods" (or "Services", depending on your business) written on one side and "Payment" on the other would show the legal concept of a contract in a graphic way - and incidentally has the implicit message of the legal logo of scales of justice, implying that you will take legal action if necessary.

I tend to agree with the nice approach first, and only bringing out the big guns when all other avenues have failed.   Using increasingly pointed graphics/messages/letters according to the stage of the debt collection is good, too.

The other thing to evaluate is what sort of message you give out at the start of the transaction. Are your conditions of payment clearly stated on the invoice, e.g. "Payment within 14 days of the date of issue of this invoice. Interest is charged at x% if payment is not received by [date]" etc. Fuzzy or non-existent deadlines make it easier for some people to forget to pay.

Re: graphics, I went to a restaurant once, a long time ago, which had a funny graphic of a person holding his head, aghast, while looking at the bill. It was funny and clever. I think good-natured humour is a good way to communicate, as long as it is not misinterpreted.

Helen

Subject: RE: BS: I need a punchline
From: Deda
Date: 08 May 06 - 09:28 PM

Under the crying face -- "Don't make us send it to collections!"

Subject: RE: BS: I need a punchline
From: jimmyt
Date: 08 May 06 - 10:03 PM

In the words and music of Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes,
"If you don't owe me by now... you will never,never,never
Owe me, at all."