A lot of these companies are run by musicians or ex-musicians, and you know what musicians can be like! Slackers! Most of the time they are not trying to rip you off, they’re busy working and they miss deadlines like the rest of us, although I appreciate that when it comes to money they should be much more on the ball.
I have one publisher who keeps getting me placements, usually owes me a fair bit in fees and is always late paying. But I trust him – he’s open about the placements he’s getting, always lets me know about them, and is working hard, and I’m he’ll pay me soon enough.
You have to be patient, and be nice, and you’ll usually get what’s owed to you.