Enforcement

How The Guild Tackles Late Pay

The MBA requires that studios pay writers within seven days, whether that’s commencement of writing, delivery of a writing step, or at the end of the week for your weekly services. After seven days, late payments accrue interest at the rate of 1.5% per month or 18% per year. If you are paid late, you are owed that interest and the Guild will demand it from the company. The Guild receives information on late payment through a number of sources. Make sure the Guild has your information if you have been paid late!

LATE PAY DESK

Contact the Late Pay Desk or call (323) 782-4521 to report a late payment to the Guild. The Legal Department will follow up with you shortly after you submit the form. 

WGAW START BUTTON

Use the Start Button to track your project and get Guild assistance if you haven’t been paid.

AGENCY INFORMATION SHARING

Franchised agencies have agreed to provide the Guild with deal memos, contracts, invoices, and itemized statements of compensation for their clients. Using this information, the Agency Department follows up with individual writers to ensure they have been paid on time. Where a payment is late, the Legal Department pursues interest for the writer. The Guild and franchised agencies have automated the information sharing process to facilitate our identification of late payments and pursuit of interest for writers.

FAQs

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  • What can writers do to ensure timely payments?

    To ensure timely payment:

    • Start writing only after being officially “commenced” by the person identified in your contract with the authority to do so.
    • Deliver material to the individual named in your contract. This person may be different from the person who has authority to commence your writing.
    • Send an invoice for payment.
    • Notify the Guild if you haven’t been paid within seven days after proper delivery.

    The Guild needs complete information to enforce the MBA. Be ready to provide the following:

    • Your name and contact information (phone numbers, email address, representatives’ names and contact information)
    • The company’s name and contact information
    • A description of work you did (e.g., story, treatment, rewrite, polish, half-hour network primetime story & teleplay, etc.)
    • A description of when and to whom the you delivered literary material and any other pertinent information (e.g., Have you received any money? If so, how much and when? Was the deal reduced to writing (e.g., a written contract or a deal memo) If so, does the Guild have a copy if it?)

    Tips and tools:

    • Keep good records
    • Make sure the Guild has your contract
    • Take notes during meetings or calls when discussing commencement dates and/or deadlines
    • Save relevant emails
    • Request confirmation in email when you are commenced, deliver materials, and when payment is late after 7 calendar days
  • What happens after I contact the Guild?

    A Guild representative will contact you after receiving a late payment inquiry. Once the Guild has enough information, a Guild representative will contact the company to try to resolve the matter quickly. Guild involvement often results in swift payment. 

    If the claim cannot be resolved informally, the Guild will file a grievance and/or arbitration claim. The Guild’s Legal Department will arbitrate the claim if necessary to collect the money that is due. 

  • What if I receive payment but no late fees?

    Once your compensation is received, interest stops accruing. But the outstanding interest may still be due to the writer and the Guild will pursue it.

  • Who should I contact for missing or late residual payments?

    If you have a question about a residuals payment, contact the Residuals Department at (323) 782-4700 or email Residuals.

    If you would like to make a claim for outstanding residuals, complete the Residuals Payment Inquiry form to initiate an investigation with the Residuals Department.