PMP · Question #301
While managing a project, the project manager has just noticed that the last several monthly invoices have been challenged by the client when they were clearly defined. The actual invoice payments rec
The correct answer is D. Hold a meeting with the client to address the issue.. Given recurring issues with client invoice challenges, late payments, and partial payments, the project manager must proactively hold a direct meeting with the client to address these contractual non-compliance problems. This direct engagement is crucial for resolving financial d
Question
While managing a project, the project manager has just noticed that the last several monthly invoices have been challenged by the client when they were clearly defined. The actual invoice payments received have also been late and were outside of the contracted payment schedule. Recent invoices have only been partially paid. What should the project manager do?
Options
- AReview past projects for payment-related lessons learned.
- BAdd nonpayment to the issue log and keep tracking payments.
- CConduct a meeting with the project team to update the procurement management plan.
- DHold a meeting with the client to address the issue.
How the community answered
(50 responses)- A6% (3)
- B4% (2)
- C12% (6)
- D78% (39)
Why each option
Given recurring issues with client invoice challenges, late payments, and partial payments, the project manager must proactively hold a direct meeting with the client to address these contractual non-compliance problems. This direct engagement is crucial for resolving financial discrepancies and re-establishing payment adherence.
While reviewing past lessons learned can provide context, it is a reactive internal step and does not directly resolve the current, ongoing client payment issues.
Adding the issue to the log and tracking payments is part of monitoring but does not proactively address or resolve the client's non-compliance.
Updating the procurement management plan is an internal process document and would not directly address the client's current payment behavior or contract adherence.
Repeated challenges to invoices, late payments, and partial payments indicate a serious breakdown in financial adherence and potentially a misunderstanding or disagreement regarding contractual terms. Holding a direct meeting with the client is the most effective and professional way to understand the root cause of these issues, clarify expectations, and negotiate a resolution to ensure compliance with the contract.
Concept tested: Contract administration and stakeholder negotiation
Source: https://www.pmi.org/pmbok-guide-standards/foundational/pmbok/project-procurement-management
Topics
Community Discussion
7
Fatima Z.Jul 5, 2026D is your answer here, and the giveaway is the word client. When payments are late, partial, and challenged, you have a relationship problem on your hands, not just a paperwork problem. The FAST hook for this one is Face And Solve Together: you Face the client, Address the issue, Solve it collaboratively, and Track the outcome. A has you digging through old files while money is missing, B just logs the pain without curing it, and C keeps the conversation internal when the fix lives with the client. Confirmed D on exam last week.
Mateus R.Jul 5, 2026D is the right call here. Think of it like a neighbor who keeps shorting you on the fence repair money you agreed on, eventually you stop leaving notes and go knock on their door to hash it out face to face. This is a classic procurement dispute, and the PMBOK approach is to meet with the client directly to resolve payment conflicts before they escalate into a bigger contractual mess.
Ingrid P.Jun 23, 2026Leaned toward B but late and partial payments mean meet with the client first.
Fatima Z.Jun 23, 2026Spot on with B, and I lock in the logic with my mnemonic CAMP: Client first, Assess the gap, Make a plan, then Proceed with billing changes.
Orla P.Jul 5, 2026D on my exam last spring, and A is the trap because lessons learned feels responsible but this is an active problem. When a client starts challenging clearly defined invoices and partial paying, you go straight to them, not the archive.
Mei-Ling H.Jul 4, 2026Going with C here. The key wording is that invoices were clearly defined yet challenged, plus payments are late and partial, which signals a gap in how the procurement management plan handles billing assumptions and payment terms. Bringing the team together to update that plan directly addresses the root cause rather than just logging symptoms or escalating prematurely. I also noticed the stem says several months of invoices, so the issue is recurring, which tells me a plan update is overdue. D sounds proactive but you want the procurement plan corrected first so the client meeting has a solid basis.
Orla P.Jul 6, 2026D is correct here because the invoices are being challenged, which means you need to meet with the client to clarify and resolve the dispute before any plan update would even make sense. You cannot update a procurement management plan unilaterally when the other party is contesting the billing terms, so C puts the cart before the horse.