My newsagency has been trading with Network Services for more than eleven years. Our accounts record is good. Our sales record is excellent – considerably above industry average. We received our February statement on February 7. This came with a due date of February 20. Our accounts office received a call March 5 from Network to remind us the statement had not been paid. This is the first and only reminder we received. The reminder came after Network had stopped supply to us. We paid the account by electronic transfer immediately after the call from Network. We did not receive any Network product Wednesday (March 6). We’re told it will take up to two weeks for supply to get back on track.
It is disappointing that Network act so aggressively and swiftly against a trading partner of eleven years standing. They had no reason to believe from our trading history with them that they would not be paid.
That they called us after they had implemented their economic harm against us is disappointing. A phone call prior to doing this would have seen us fix our mistake immediately. It’s as if they did not want this done before they gave us a lash and inflicted pain.
There is no excuse for our late payment but that does not give Network the right to deliberately harm our business this way. They have never been out of pocket from us. There is no reason for them to suspect that we will not pay. As events showed, the non payment was an accounting oversight which was immediately corrected.
Through my software company I am involved in the Just In Time trial with ACP / Network. I have personally so far invested more than $10,000 in this trial by allocating staff time to work with the 80+ of my clients involved in the trial. This investment is for the benefit of ACP / Network and the newsagents involved. I am glad to be involved.
I look at my relationship with ACP / Network holistically. I wish they would do the same.
Footnote. To add pain to the wound from Network, the March statement which has just arrived is missing between $3,000 and $4,000 in credits. We will call them to get these missing credits reinstated.
Why do you think credit history has anything to do with network’s decisions. We have been trading with them since they started and we still only get 20 days to pay. It’sa pity they don’t have to give credit that quick. We have never missed a payment over the last 20 odd years but we are still treated with the same contempt as a new customer. Bugger them off and go direct to the publishers.
I am really sorry to read this thread; a very stressfull situation for your business. A customer service call would of been sufficient before they stopped supply(You know CUSTOMER SERVICE) to fix this situation immediately.
This credit thing is a scam, a real scam, absolutely unethical, why have they not introduced early returns electronically like everything else? because they are using Newsagents money for there purposes, how many times have Newsagents heard that they have not been creditted, the system in place at Network is Brittle and this suits them, they are not serious about early returns, until one sees them done electronically like normal returns are done like they are on Netonline.
Keep your chin up, hold your head high.
Derek, It was our own fault and we copped it on the chin fair and square. In other businesses being ten days late is okay. With Network it is not. It’s the one sided aspect of the relationship which does not adequately reflect partnership. Mark
Thats right its a two way street. Not a one way.
How about Gordon and Gotch.
Today is the 12th, just getting my statement today for payment due on the 20th! February ended almost 2 weeks ago!
whilst this is nothing new… 2 weeks to get a statement?!?!?!