What does "due by" mean to you?

[kate_wdw]

If something is due by December 1st, when does it need to be submitted?

I recently was talking to someone who views "due by" differently than I do, so I wanted to get some opinions from others.

(Edited because I wanted to avoid the whole January 1st is a holiday thing. I'm just using the date as an example.)

 

[trip]

I think it means that it is to be their hands by Jan 1 but some may accept it if post marked by Jan 1.

 

[pigletgirl]

Before Jan 1

 

[ols386]

I think it means that if it's in the hands of the receiver by December 2, then it's late, so if it's something that's being mailed, it probably needs to be mailed probably no later than November 27, allowing 3 days for mail delivery (depending on how far it's going).

(edit: sorry I meant to say December, not January)

 

[si-am]

Nov. 30. Otherwise it would say "due on or before Dec. 1"

 

[WDSearcher]

If something is due "by December 1", then it needs to be there by the time December 1 arrives. That is, end of day November 30.

If something is due "on December 1", then it needs to be there any time on that day.

 

[Teresa Pitman]

I always take "Due December 1st" as meaning I have to have it to the person sometime on December 1st. I would interpret "due by" and "due on" the same way, I think.

If I am not sure, I ask!

TP

 

[The Mystery Machine]

If something is due "by December 1", then it needs to be there by the time December 1 arrives. That is, end of day November 30.

If something is due "on December 1", then it needs to be there any time on that day.

 

[cmwade77]

It's pretty clear that would mean by the end of the day Dec. 1st (unless another time of day was agreed to, i.e. renting a video, etc.)

 

[Scurvy]

I would think it was due no later than December 1. December 2 would be too late, and November 30 would be a little bit earlier than absolutely necessary.

I've seen people confused by that kind of wording before, though, which is why I always prefer it when people are more specific or make a point to explain the due date in more than one way. So I would say "It's due no later than December 1", "December 1 is the last day I will accept this", "You must turn this in before December 2", "This is due on December 1" or some other variation of the same thing.

(I order lots of things for delivery, and almost always if they say they will have something to me by a certain day, they mean they will have it to me before that day ends. Or if they guarantee delivery by 10:00, then I can expect it no later than 10:00, and not as late as 10:01. So that could be coloring my interpretation of it.)

 

[TiggerTails57]

I thought you were talking about a bill.........I'd set that up TBP a week before it was DUE,
For paperwork I'd make sure it was ready a day or two before the DUE date.

 

[Sadie22]

In December 1st would be cutting it too close for me. You didn't say due on December 1st. I'd have whatever it is accomlished at least a week earlier.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

I picked other:

If it's a bill or something, it's due by the end of business on Dec 1. However paying online it does sometimes take up to 3 days to process so I try to have them paid 5 days out if it's possible.

If it's a school paper, it's due by the beginning of that particular class on Dec 1.

a little off topic but I liken it to a coupon. The coupon expires at Midnight on Dec 2. You can still use it all day Dec 1.

 

[lynxstch]

I think it means that it is to be their hands by Jan 1 but some may accept it if post marked by Jan 1.

This..for example..if property taxes are due on Jan 1'st..they can be postmarked Jan 1 and not received till Jan 3 or 4'th and still be on time

 

[Handbag Lady]

First thing December 1st, or any time before then.

 

[Jennasis]

For our business, rent is due from our customers by the 1st of the month. If it's not in my hands by end of the day on the 1st, then it is late.

 

[ilovemk76]

When we have a due date it is always COB (close of business) which many of us stretch to when we leave that day.

 

[design_mom]

I think "due by December 1" means that they need to receive it by end of day December 1. If it says "due before December 1" then it would need to be received by the end of the day on November 30. There are a few instances where "postmarked by" rather than receiving it on the due date counts, but I wouldn't anticipate that unless it specifically said so, so you'd need to build in any transit time.

 

[anniemck]

Having been a travel agent for many years, when the cruise line says Due by December 1, that means with them close of business on December 1... however, it is common practice for travel agents to say the week or two before as the due date, because most people tend to pay late, forget, or something comes up.
Cruiselines for example will cancel the reservation if not paid by the date stated and good luck getting the deposit back.


Just had a friend call me today saying that her daughters school trip had to be paid for by midnight Sunday night. Only way it could be paid was online. She forgot about it as it was another daughters birthday and they were busy with the party all day. Finally remembered at 11:45pm, tried logging in, couldn't get her daughters student id number right and by the time she finally did it was 12:02... late and the system would not let her in. She went in and spoke to the principal the next day and it took 3 days for them to finally agree to let people pay late for the trip. This is a big 4th grade class trip and the mom had several weeks to make the payment, I do not understand the waiting to the last minute... just get it done and over with.

 

[DisneyNutMary]

When I was running the church's youth soccer club, if I put "due by 6/1" on an invoice, I meant by end of the business day 6/1; in essence my plan was to do the banking on 6/2 so I need your payment the day before.
I always take due by to mean they prefer payment ASAP, as opposed to "due on" which means hand in the payment "on" the date specified.