Setting a default payment structure?

Question

I'm using Timeslips 2008 and running into a problem. We typically bill clients according to a pretty straightforward tier system. National clients get one rate, locals another, and indigent clients yet another rate. 
 How might I set up these default pay rates so any customer we create can quickly be assigned to a category that determines their billing? In setting rates on a client listing, I've found I can create rules within that individual client's record setting different default billing for different services and different employees, but nothing that gives us a default selection of rates to quickly categorize a new client correctly. 
 How might I do that?

Nancy Duhon · Accepted Answer

The title of your post is a bit misleading if you are talking about rates and not payments, but I will assume from the text of your post it is the RATES that you are trying to charge that are the problem for you. 
 Understanding Timeslips rate rules is an area where it is actually easier to do it than to explain it! But here goes.... 
 The Client Rates tab is best understood from the bottom up, because the very last item is the default rate rule. If you can get that pointed to the right value, you don't need to do ANYTHING more on that screen. Everything above the default rule should be thought of as an exception to the last line. 
 So, if rate rules were English grammar, the last item would be the Rule: "I before E,..." and anything above that last line would be the "except after C" part of the grammar rule. 
 What it sounds like you want to do is have three schedules of rates: A, B and C. Then on any given new client, you can assign the desired rate schedule. 
 This is totally possible, just not obvious from the Client Information screen. Mainly, because it involves setting the rates in the Timekeeper table and then pointing to that unseen Timekeeper table while in the Client Information screen. 
 Each Timekeeper can have up to 20 rates, numbered 1 - 20. If you mentally change the numbers at the top of the rate columns into letters, you have the structure for the A, B and C rates discussed above. Just fill in under the Timekeeper information what each person's Timekeeper Rate 1/A, 2/B and 3/C should be. 
 Then, on any give client, do not put in anything on the Rate tab other than the very last line and have it read: When no rules apply, default to Source - Timekeeper, Level - 1/2/3. 
 When a slip is made for that client, the program then knows to go to the Timekeeper table at the given level to pull in the correct rate. 
 Now, this is all wonderful if you are setting up a database for the first time, but given your post, you already have all sorts of values, rules and junk in place and will need to make some changes without disturbing the underlying data too much. You might want to just move out to some unused Timekeeper Levels such as 6/7/8 and set up your schedules there, then invoke those levels on new clients while you clean up existing clients. 
 Hope this helps. 
 If you think this suggestion was especially helpful, please consider rating it within the five star option, or clicking the green Yes button next to the "Did this answer your question?" option below. Thanks. 
 Nancy Duhon, Esq. 
 Master Certified Consultant for Timeslips, 
 Certified Consultant for Amicus Attorney and Credenza 
 Duhon Technology Solutions, LLC 
 a member of Certified Resources Network, LLC 
 duhon@duhon.biz 
 404-325-9779 
 Providing personalized local and remote online support for Timeslips users for over 19 years. Available for private consultations, including older/unsupported versions.

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Setting a default payment structure?

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