Late payment is part of life in construction. If you’ve issued invoices for any length of time, you’ll already know that unpaid bills rarely come with silence. They come with excuses.
Some sound reasonable. Some feel familiar. Most are construction payment excuses designed to buy time rather than solve the problem. From “accounts are dealing with it” to “we’ll pay you next week”, these lines show up again and again across the industry.
Below, we break down the five most common construction payment excuses we hear, and explain how construction debt specialists handle them in practice to keep payments moving.
1. “Accounts are dealing with it”
This is one of the most common responses once an invoice passes its due date. The problem is that “accounts” often means nobody specific, and responsibility gets pushed around while time passes.
Specialists cut through this by identifying who actually controls payment. Instead of chasing generic inboxes, they speak directly to the person with authority, confirm responsibility, and agree a clear payment date. This removes the ambiguity that allows delays to drag on.
2. “We’re waiting to be paid ourselves”
This excuse shows up constantly across the supply chain and is one of the most familiar construction payment excuses. While it may be true, it doesn’t change the fact that your contract is with the party you invoiced, not their client.
Specialists deal with this by bringing the focus back to the contract terms and separating their cash flow issues from your right to be paid. Pressure stays on without damaging the working relationship, and the responsibility stays where it belongs.
3. “There’s a query on the invoice”
Invoice queries have a habit of appearing only after payment is overdue. In many cases, the invoice was accepted with no issue when it was first submitted.
A specialist will ask for the query in writing and assess whether it’s genuine or simply another construction payment excuse. Real issues are resolved quickly. Vague or invented problems are shut down before they become an excuse for further delay.
4. “We’ll pay you next week”
This phrase sounds reassuring but often leads to weeks of waiting. Verbal promises without firm dates offer little protection and even less certainty.
Specialists respond by setting exact payment deadlines and following up before those dates pass. If payment slips, action is taken immediately rather than allowing another round of promises to roll in.
5. “We’ve always paid you before”
This relies on goodwill and shared history, especially in long-standing working relationships. While past payment matters, it doesn’t settle the invoice sitting unpaid today.
Debt specialists keep the conversation professional and focused on the outstanding balance. Payment history is acknowledged, but it doesn’t override the need to bring accounts up to date.
Why specialists get results
Chasing overdue invoices takes time, energy, and focus away from running jobs and managing teams. It also becomes harder to stay firm when you’re dealing directly with people you work alongside day to day.
Specialists understand construction contracts, recognise construction payment excuses quickly, and apply consistent pressure that debtors take seriously. It’s not about being heavy-handed. It’s about being clear, persistent, and difficult to ignore.
If the same excuses keep coming back and payments keep slipping, changing how the debt is handled often changes the outcome.
CRS focuses purely on construction debt. We’ve heard every excuse and we know how to move things forward. Get in touch today, or try our Free Review service.
