Disputes are a part of regular life and business too. We all have different opinions, different goals, and ideas, and sometimes, we get in each other’s ways trying to achieve what we want.
And invoicing is no different. You see, invoicing is a serious business, and disputes from it are too, but that doesn’t mean you have to be uptight when it comes to handling these disputes.
After all, disputes are like a game of chess – you have to be strategic and know when to hold and when to move.
That said, here are our tips on how to handle and resolve invoice disputes like a pro:
- Don’t be a villain. The first step in resolving any dispute is to understand the other person’s perspective. Remember, they may not be the bad guy, they might just have a different understanding of the situation.
- Be the hero. Once you understand the other person’s perspective, it’s an opportunity to be the hero and come up with a solution that works for both of you. This could be as simple as offering a discount or adding a clarification to the invoice to settle the dispute.
- Use your powers for good. If the dispute is more complex, it might be helpful to involve a mediator or a third party to help out. Think about it like a hostage rescue situation, the right mediator can help bring peace to the situation (or in this case, your invoice).
- Know when to walk away. Ever heard the saying… “we win some, we lose some?”. Truth is, sometimes, despite your best efforts, you won’t be able to resolve a dispute the way you want. In these cases, it’s best to cut your losses and move on. Will it hurt? a little bit, but you’ll live to win another day.
- Laugh it off. After all the drama of a dispute, it’s important to take a step back and have a good laugh. Like the poet 1da Banton once said “Problem no dey finish, make you try dey enjoy”
So, next time you’re faced with an invoice dispute, don’t be afraid to put on your superhero cape–or cowl– and save the day. And if all else fails, remember to laugh it off and wait for the next round.
But if you want to give yourself a real chance to solve these disputes super-fast and move on to other important commitments, why not just open a Workstedi account?
Workstedi helps you create invoices, track invoices payments from anywhere, receive payments, set up a digital bank account, and get reviews and feedback from customers.
With this, you can minimize disputes (as both parties have access to digitally generated invoices on their smartphones), receive reviews from satisfied customers, and get paid.
