Unpaid Invoices

Hello,

Is anyone else out there having problems collecting money from clients? I have one client in particular with a $250.00 invoice that has gone unpaid for 6 1/2 months. I get the sob story about how his wife lost her job and how he doesn't have it right now, but then every day on Facebook, he is talking about his latest gig. $250.00 is not a bank breaking invoice, and even the poorest shlep should be able to pay that off in 6 1/2 months. As far as I'm concerned clients "not having it right now" doesn't fly. Don't hire someone to do work if you can't afford to pay them. Maybe I'm crazy, but as far as I'm concerned, invoices should be paid within two-weeks. I have since changed my policy and require 1/2 up front, but that policy is difficult to enforce when I'm doing freelance editing by the hour. If I were the cable company, or a cell phone provider, I wouldn't be getting this run-around.

What do you guys do to get your money? I hate to have to hound people about money, but I'm getting to the point where I have no choice. There's thousands of dollars at stake here.

Best,

Aaron