Imagine having to micro-manage every digital tool you need for your daily activities. The sound of this feels so exhausting. Payment delays can be frustrating and time-consuming, especially when a pressing need arises. You end up spending your productive hours querying payment services and refreshing your mobile app every hour, like it's a doctor’s prescription.

Grey simplifies international payment by offering remarkable transfer processing speed and transparent processing. This article explores how Grey helps you spend less time chasing payments to boost your productivity, minimise stress, and avoid being financially stranded.

Also read: Grey vs traditional banks: which saves you more time

Why people have to chase their payments

The time and resources spent chasing payment cannot be regained. Unfortunately, many freelancers, digital nomads and international students managing cross-border payments still don’t enjoy seamless payments. Several issues contribute to this:

• Client or sponsor delays – Freelancers and contractors often face clients who push back deadlines or forget to process payments. Students abroad may wait for family members or sponsors who rely on lengthy transfer methods.
• Banking restrictions – Traditional banks are not designed for fast global transfers. Many require additional documentation, manual approvals, or lengthy settlement times, forcing you to follow up repeatedly.
• Unclear transfer processes – Payment platforms sometimes involve multiple intermediaries. Funds may be held up at any stage, leaving recipients uncertain about where their money is.
• Currency mismatches – Getting paid in a foreign currency without access to a matching account often leads to delays or rejections, prolonging the wait for funds.

These hassles create unnecessary back-and-forth with clients, employers, or family members. Instead of focusing on work or studies, many people end up spending valuable time tracking down payments.

Why chasing payments is a problem

Late or delayed payments aren’t just frustrating. They can impact financial planning, budgeting, and even client trust. Chasing payments can lead to:

• Loss of productive time: Back-and-forths with your payment platform is time-wasting. Traditional banks may require you to visit the banking hall in person from time to time to follow up on transactions. Waiting in line to speak with support staff is also frustratingly slow.
• Hidden charges: Unexpected fees from intermediary banks or payment platforms reduce the final amount received.
• Exchange rate issues: While waiting for a transaction to be concluded, the exchange rate might no longer be favourable. This could impact your budgeting and reduce your earnings.
• Distrust: When transactions aren’t completed early enough, you might get suspicious that the client is trying to pull a fast one on you. This could breed unnecessary distrust between you and your client. Meanwhile, the problem is with your bank.
• Work delays: For payments triggered by milestones, you might be unable to proceed to the next phase of the project without receiving the payment. Having to chase down payments can also affect time-sensitive deadlines, such as paying tuition or completing a business transaction.
• Disrupted financial plans: You are unsure of when your payments arrive if your payment process is uncertain. This disrupts your financial plans.

These challenges leave people repeatedly following up with clients or banks, waiting for funds to clear, and adjusting their budgets around payment uncertainties.

Also read: The hidden time costs of managing multiple accounts abroad

How Grey helps you spend less time chasing payments

The implications of chasing payments are far-reaching. Grey helps you spend less time chasing payments by streamlining and automating the process of sending invoices and receiving international transfers.

Streamlines your invoicing

Automated invoicing makes it much easier for freelancers to track payments. With Grey’s free invoicing tool, you can quickly create and send professional invoices. You can link your Grey account details, so clients know exactly how to pay you. Invoices go straight to your client’s email or a secure link, and you get a notification as soon as you’re paid.

Simplifies international payments

Grey offers foreign accounts in major currencies like USD, EUR, and GBP. This allows your international clients to pay you as if they are making a local transfer. Using a foreign account avoids the hassles and delays often associated with cross-border payments. There are no intermediary banks that add more waiting time.

Eliminates conversion delays

Since your clients can pay you directly in their local currency, you receive the funds in your Grey account quickly. You can then choose when to convert it to your local currency, avoiding poor exchange rates and delays.

Manages and tracks transactions

You receive real-time updates for every transaction. This means you know the moment a payment arrives, so you don’t have to constantly check your account. The platform automatically tracks and records your payment history. This provides a clear record of who has paid and who still owes you, so you can follow up only with outstanding payments.

Swift Grey-to-Grey transfers

It gets even better. For clients who also use Grey, you can receive payments instantly and for free using a "GreyTag" instead of sharing your banking details.

Grey offers more than ‘time-saving’

Grey does more than just speed up international payments and save you time. It also offers affordable, transparent fees, good exchange rates, and financial flexibility with multi-currency accounts and a virtual USD debit card. You can set up your account in just a few clicks.

Get started on Grey today to simplify your international transactions.

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