What is a polite way to remind someone they owe you money fOr a job?

Answer 1

I recommend using an invoice. I know it sounds weird and insensitive, but....

Regardless of whether the person is a friend or a business customer, a paper invoice is an excellent reminder (there are bunches of "Invoice Templates" on the web that you can get for free).

For the business transaction, this begins a "legal" timeline -- documenting your attempt to collect compensation for your services rendered. This is a document you must have if you may someday "revisit" the issue in court -- or even just want to figure out who owes you what.

For a friend, it simply gives them a "black and white", hard-copy reminder of your agreement. If the person is close to you, and you don't want to offend them with such a "formal" reminder, then simply include a hand-written note with it explaining why you're being so formal:

"Hey, sorry to be so formal. Just wanted to give you something in 'black and white'. Pay me when you can. Talk to you later!"

In the future, do be afraid to write up an agreement -- even something on the back of a napkin. Memory is funny -- we don't always remember everything correctly, and this person might have simply forgotten -- or they didn't remember exactly what you had discussed and agreed to.

By writing things down, you save the memory of the agreement from being changed over time. Indeed, that's generally how disagreements start in the first place... One person remembers it one way and another person remembers it a different way.

Make a quick invoice and deliver it in person with a handshake and a smile. "Hey, this is for that thing I did for you a while back. Just pay me when you can." Hand it to him with your left hand and extend your right hand for a shake. A good friend will probably smile back at you and say "Oh yeah! I forgot all about that! Sorry. I'll get that right away for you!"

Good luck!