Changes to terms

I have a client who is always late paying me.
I invoice them monthly
I sent this months invoice last night and changed the payment terms from 30 days to 14
They have replied saying this wasn't agreed
Am I entitled to do this ?
Surely it's my business so I can set out my own terms
Any help would be appreciated
Thanks in advance

Hi Jon

You client may have a point.

At the start of the contract you will have agreed terms with your client, and if not then the default terms of 30days (LPCD) will apply. That said I have been advised that a court may look at the implied agreed terms, eg. if your client tells you they pay month following month of invoice and you have accepted this without question then this may apply.

It is always best to issue your terms and include these on the invoice, as well as drawing the clients attention on the front to the length of time to pay. Further more ensure you retain a paper (or email) trail advising the client they are late should you decide at a later point to retrospectifully charge late payment charges (you can go back 6 years in the UK). This won't guarantee you get paid any quicker and from experiance the repeated reminders to clients can cause a lot of friction but at the end of the day so does being paid late...

Thanks for your reply Ashley I do appreciate your advice just to be clear I didn't sign a contract with my client and never agreed terms.
They are a local sports centre and I teach exercise classes in there.
I have always invoiced them at the end of each month and my terms are clearly on the bottom of all my invoices as is the length of time I like to be paid.
I just changed the time I wish to be paid from 30days to 14.
Was this wrong of me ?
Thanks again

Was it wrong ? No you are entitled to vary your terms at any point - however you should advice your client BEFORE commencing work.

Therefore if you agreed to provide classes for a term i would advise at least having a letter confirming your appointment the term, what you are providing, how much, terms of payment, and in your case the right to put an alternative person - if for example you are ill.

If you don't have terms i know of a company that can help you.