Comments on: When a client won’t pay http://www.the-haystack.com/2006/07/31/when-a-client-wont-pay/ Web, design, and web design Tue, 06 Jan 2009 02:26:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Matthew http://www.the-haystack.com/2006/07/31/when-a-client-wont-pay/#comment-16896 Matthew Sat, 06 Oct 2007 20:39:36 +0000 http://www.the-haystack.com/2006/07/31/when-a-client-wont-pay/#comment-16896 Get all the money up front if the project is under $2500. If it's over $2500 then take a $2500 deposit. Once you do $2500 of work make them pay more before you go forward. Needless to say we've never been beat out of a job. Get all the money up front if the project is under $2500. If it’s over $2500 then take a $2500 deposit. Once you do $2500 of work make them pay more before you go forward.

Needless to say we’ve never been beat out of a job.

]]> By: Tanya http://www.the-haystack.com/2006/07/31/when-a-client-wont-pay/#comment-15085 Tanya Wed, 26 Sep 2007 21:40:34 +0000 http://www.the-haystack.com/2006/07/31/when-a-client-wont-pay/#comment-15085 Thank you for your advice - it really helps to talk to others that have been there and know what it feels like. =) Tanya Thank you for your advice - it really helps to talk to others that have been there and know what it feels like. =)
Tanya

]]> By: Stephen http://www.the-haystack.com/2006/07/31/when-a-client-wont-pay/#comment-15062 Stephen Wed, 26 Sep 2007 19:14:50 +0000 http://www.the-haystack.com/2006/07/31/when-a-client-wont-pay/#comment-15062 @Tanya: Sorry you're in that situation. I've been in your shoes. I've found the following practices helpful: <ul> <li>Quoting up front</li> <li>Getting written acceptance of the quote before beginning work (yes, a contract)</li> <li><em>Any</em> work not explicitly mentioned in the quote has <em>not been quoted</em>, and is therefore additional work which will be quoted separately as above.</li> <li>The site goes live only after written acceptance of the work provided. After all, if they're unhappy with the site, there's no reason to go live, is there?</li> </ul> Unfortunately, I had to discover this through trial-and-error, as I tend to trust people too easily. The above is a pretty effective filter against the unscrupulous. @Tanya: Sorry you’re in that situation. I’ve been in your shoes. I’ve found the following practices helpful:

  • Quoting up front
  • Getting written acceptance of the quote before beginning work (yes, a contract)
  • Any work not explicitly mentioned in the quote has not been quoted, and is therefore additional work which will be quoted separately as above.
  • The site goes live only after written acceptance of the work provided. After all, if they’re unhappy with the site, there’s no reason to go live, is there?

Unfortunately, I had to discover this through trial-and-error, as I tend to trust people too easily. The above is a pretty effective filter against the unscrupulous.

]]> By: Tanya http://www.the-haystack.com/2006/07/31/when-a-client-wont-pay/#comment-15026 Tanya Wed, 26 Sep 2007 13:41:50 +0000 http://www.the-haystack.com/2006/07/31/when-a-client-wont-pay/#comment-15026 I am in this situation now. I created a site for a client... had them sign a contract and they paid all but $50.. while developing that site - he asked me to make a mini site for them, Its not included in the original contract. well , we finished the mini site, I give them a quote, posted it live... then started receiving emails saying they wanted documentation, and training, and would not pay me till they got that. (I never considered that in my quote). Well they changed the FTP information and now I feel like there is nothing I can do. I tried to be persistent, but now they are saying that they don't owe me anything, and that it was in the original contract! So I ended up getting a lawyer. Its obviously not in the contract - and especially because they are planning on reselling my work! This makes me never want to do freelance work again! =( I am in this situation now. I created a site for a client… had them sign a contract and they paid all but $50.. while developing that site - he asked me to make a mini site for them, Its not included in the original contract. well , we finished the mini site, I give them a quote, posted it live… then started receiving emails saying they wanted documentation, and training, and would not pay me till they got that. (I never considered that in my quote). Well they changed the FTP information and now I feel like there is nothing I can do.

I tried to be persistent, but now they are saying that they don’t owe me anything, and that it was in the original contract! So I ended up getting a lawyer. Its obviously not in the contract - and especially because they are planning on reselling my work! This makes me never want to do freelance work again! =(

]]> By: Jack http://www.the-haystack.com/2006/07/31/when-a-client-wont-pay/#comment-5343 Jack Thu, 31 May 2007 17:08:17 +0000 http://www.the-haystack.com/2006/07/31/when-a-client-wont-pay/#comment-5343 I thaught that this would never happen to me. I worked 2 full weeks on a website for a client that asked to be online asap. Though the client is satisfied with my work (I know because the person that referred the client to me told me), I still haven't received the check a month after. I called the client 2 weeks ago to ask him in a polite manner if he unsertood the bill that I had sent him. He then told me he would send the check the week after. Still, nothing. It is very frustrating. People don't realize the effort and money you put to create website. I will never work again without being paid upfront. I thaught that this would never happen to me.

I worked 2 full weeks on a website for a client that asked to be online asap. Though the client is satisfied with my work (I know because the person that referred the client to me told me), I still haven’t received the check a month after.

I called the client 2 weeks ago to ask him in a polite manner if he unsertood the bill that I had sent him. He then told me he would send the check the week after.
Still, nothing.

It is very frustrating. People don’t realize the effort and money you put to create website. I will never work again without being paid upfront.

]]> By: Stephen http://www.the-haystack.com/2006/07/31/when-a-client-wont-pay/#comment-2949 Stephen Mon, 26 Feb 2007 13:47:40 +0000 http://www.the-haystack.com/2006/07/31/when-a-client-wont-pay/#comment-2949 @Jim: I'm not sure what could happen, I only know that in my situation, it was completely appropriate to remove the site in question. Some clients can get quite nasty; I would consult a lawyer when in doubt. @Jim: I’m not sure what could happen, I only know that in my situation, it was completely appropriate to remove the site in question. Some clients can get quite nasty; I would consult a lawyer when in doubt.

]]> By: Jim Hall http://www.the-haystack.com/2006/07/31/when-a-client-wont-pay/#comment-2940 Jim Hall Wed, 21 Feb 2007 17:01:16 +0000 http://www.the-haystack.com/2006/07/31/when-a-client-wont-pay/#comment-2940 What happens if you've pulled a site from the client's server for non-pay? I have admin privs on the machine. What happens if you’ve pulled a site from the client’s server for non-pay?

I have admin privs on the machine.

]]> By: Stephen http://www.the-haystack.com/2006/07/31/when-a-client-wont-pay/#comment-2094 Stephen Tue, 01 Aug 2006 12:46:16 +0000 http://www.the-haystack.com/2006/07/31/when-a-client-wont-pay/#comment-2094 Colin, I hope to never have this problem a second time, but I guess it's all part of the business. It would be much worse if we as designers weren't in the position to remove the site. Think about all those print designers who've paid all the print work, but in turn don't get paid! Often, the client already has the printed work in their possession. That's tough! Colin, I hope to never have this problem a second time, but I guess it’s all part of the business. It would be much worse if we as designers weren’t in the position to remove the site. Think about all those print designers who’ve paid all the print work, but in turn don’t get paid! Often, the client already has the printed work in their possession. That’s tough!

]]> By: Colin http://www.the-haystack.com/2006/07/31/when-a-client-wont-pay/#comment-2092 Colin Tue, 01 Aug 2006 07:33:30 +0000 http://www.the-haystack.com/2006/07/31/when-a-client-wont-pay/#comment-2092 I had the same problem, twice! A website is a custom made product and if a client doesn’t pay, you can’t do anything with it and just have to delete it. There is nothing to do about it (so far as I now). I am also curious if someone found a solution other than a bailiff. I had the same problem, twice! A website is a custom made product and if a client doesn’t pay, you can’t do anything with it and just have to delete it. There is nothing to do about it (so far as I now). I am also curious if someone found a solution other than a bailiff.

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