No one likes to be owed money. Whether you are owed money by a friend or family member, the tax man or a client, being owed money is just plain awkward and there is no other way around it. You can’t exactly threaten violence: you’re not a mob boss (we think?) and you’re not going to get anywhere with threats. However, the frustration that comes with being owed money can make you feel crippled and not know where to go next. You want to apply pressure to the person owing you, but you don’t want to be arrested for it. So, what do you do next?

If you owed them money, they’d be on your back, and since you’re knowledgeable about your finances, you’re ready to learn how to handle those who owe you cash. From getting a private investigator to find them when they stop returning your calls to knowing how to approach a client, let’s look at Efficient Solutions for Tracing Debtors and how you can get your money back.

Getting Money Back From: Clients

There’s nothing worse than sitting around waiting to get paid from a client who owes you money. When you freelance, you rely on people to adhere to the terms of the contract that you set up together. Clients will demand you do their work and then drag their feet when it comes to paying you. You need to feel like you are being paid for your work, and you aren’t being personally insulted – it’s just better to be professional. Keep calling every week and submit your invoices: you need to get paid. If that doesn’t work, remind them that you will take them to a small claims court as per their contract if they don’t pay you.

Getting Money Back From: Friends

You lend money in good faith, and the good faith thing to do is for them to pay you back. The thing is, it doesn’t often happen and you don’t want to lose your friend, either. So, if they are embarrassed because they cannot afford to pay you back, tell them you can go for dinner together and then order enough to cover the debt. This works well if it’s a small one, and it helps them to save face. If this friend is a repeat offender who doesn’t pay you back ever, stop lending them money and be strong enough to use “no” as a complete sentence.

Getting Money Back From: Family

With family, it’s easier to get a payment plan put together and have them pay you back slowly. You know where they live and it’s likely that they won’t want you to tell the rest of the family that they owe you. So, work out a discreet plan that’s affordable for them and never lend your money again.

Getting Money Back From: The Tax Man

You’ve paid too much tax and while the tax man would be quick to take your taxes from you, they’re notoriously bad at giving the money back to you! Taking to email, social media, the phone and more will help you to get it back and escalate complaints higher and higher until you get your money back. Don’t be the person who let’s the tax man roll over them!