Hi everyone. I am often asked if I think guilting someone into paying is a good idea. Whilst I acknowledge doing so is morally questionable, and could make a person who is already struggling feel even worse, it can be a very effective way to get paid. Having said that, there is a time and a place for a guilt trip and you should always try your conventional methods first. Often just by continuing to chase a customer for payment is a guilt-trip in itself, as not many debtors I know like owing money and do feel bad. The more intentional guilt-trip is saying things like “I cannot put food on my table because of you” or “Because you owe me this money, I owe other people money”, you get the drift. I certainly do not recommend being this blunt, and it is vital to try to leave emotion out of it as it can cloud your judgment, but more subtle variations are ok. “This situation has put me in a difficult spot John as I know you want to do the right thing, however I am struggling myself as a result, so can we please get this paid today given we both want the same thing”. I guess what I am trying to say is this- like everything, it is all in the delivery. Avoid making it personal (“You owing ME……..”) and be subtle, not patronizing. Just let the customer know that them continuing to not pay is affecting you and your cash flow, even if this isn’t the case. And even if they don’t agree to pay then and there as a result, you will have made an impression, trust me, and they will feel much more obliged to prioritize your payment as a result. Cheers
Guilt trips- Do they work?