How to Handle the "Check is in the Mail" Excuse Professionally

The Classic Delay Tactics

From "The person who signs the checks is on holiday" to "We've changed our bank details," clients have a library of excuses for late payments. These are often "soft" rejections designed to buy the client another 7 to 14 days of cash flow at your expense. How you respond determines whether you get paid today or in another month.

The "Verify and Validate" Response

When a client says "The check is in the mail," your response should be professional but firm: "That's great, thank you. I'll mark it as pending in our system. If it doesn't arrive and clear by Thursday, our automated system will resume the reminders to ensure the account doesn't fall into an overdue status." This sets a clear deadline without you sounding suspicious.

Let the System Be the "Bad Cop"

The beauty of using InvoiceChasr is that you don't have to call them out on their excuse personally. You simply tell them the system is automated and follows a strict protocol. If the payment isn't verified (by you) by the next scheduled nudge, the reminders continue. This removes the personal conflict and puts the "blame" on the process, not the person.

Why This Strategy Works

By framing it as a system requirement, you maintain your relationship as a helpful partner while the software handles the enforcement. Most clients who are using delay tactics will prioritize your payment once they realize their excuses won't stop the persistent, professional reminders from arriving in their inbox.