Client AWOL
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- e-wo
• In August, a new client put down a deposit on some site work. Nothing big — $500.
• I told him work would begin when he provides at least a rough sketch of his content.
• Silence for 2 weeks. He writes back finally, saying he hasn't had a chance to work on it.
• That was 2 months ago - still no word. Yes, I could have pestered him more, but he's not paying me to be a babysitter / assistant.
Do I have an obligation to return his deposit? We don't have a contract.
We live in a smallish city. If / when I run into him down the line, what's the best approach for resolving or continuing the project?
- BonSeff0
if you haven't done any work and it hasn't prevented you from taking on other work.. return the deposit and have him reconnect with you when he is ready and then talk timing.
- No. Deposits are made for a reason. His time was set aside for the project.DRIFTMONKEY
- Also, no contract. Client had no obligation to pay up front, contractor has no reason to return it.DRIFTMONKEY
- re-read my post and also the original poster. its a small town. understand the sitch and act rightBonSeff
- capn_ron0
can you help him along and up the quote for the assistance?
- omahadesigns0
Isn't a deposit meant to hold you a spot? Isn't this $500 more like a down payment?
If he hasn't mentioned anything, no reason to give it back. You asked for that money, he paid it and then he hasn't followed through.
- bklyndroobeki0
He should:
• Pay you the entire sum.
• Draft up a new contract when he's ready to really work.- Pay the entire sum for what?ORAZAL
- Kill fee.bklyndroobeki
- ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ORAZAL
- grotesk_neue0
Sounds like a client from hell. In 6 months he'll want his money back and will even complain that you haven't done anything. Pay it back and don't give a fuck about him.
- Maybe then he'll pick up pace. If so, charge him more for the inconvenience. But sounds like a client you should stay away from.grotesk_neue
- from.grotesk_neue
- This is what I would do #forealz. Fuck money get bitches!ORAZAL
- mekk0
Invest his money on risky stocks. This is what companies would do with your money.
- ORAZAL0
The client not being involved does send bad signs about working with him in the future. But how much does it bother you to hold on to the deposit indefinitely?
I would just send a "it's the end the year" type email letting him know that his project is still on hold and that you're still interested on working on it but would have to negotiate a new deadline (and maybe a new fee) once he decides to contact you again.
- freedom0
So you have a client that paid you and then didn't ask you to do anything?
This sounds like the opposite of a problem.
- bklyndroobeki0
^ ROFL it's all in how you see things.
- jtb261
That is what a deposit is for. You made time in your schedule for it, and as far as he is concerned you could have scheduled other work but didn't. Keep the deposit. Frankly bklyndroobeki is right. But good luck getting that.
- freedom0
Give the money back to him if he asks and be a nice person, but really if he decides not to go forward, you could keep the deposit. That is the point of a deposit?
Don't feel obligated to contact him and offer to refund the money. You could offer and that could start the project again and get you more money, but you could also lose it and him as a client.
- bklyndroobeki0
e-wo what did you end up doing.
also, must deposits paid within a certain time frame (immediately to commence work or should they have a 30 day period?)
- formed0
I don't see how you are obligated to send it back. If he asks for it, then send it back, but I wouldn't send a check w/o someone asking.
He's probably gotten side tracked, gone bankrupt or just doesn't care about it anymore. Any of those items are not your concern, he gave a deposit to secure your time, he is not communicating and therefore wasting your time.
You'd have every right to keep a percentage if he did ask for it back (though I wouldn't).
If you run into him, you just say hi, wish him well and ask when he thinks he'd like to start the project again (and mention how you'll send over an agreement).
- oh, this is old, lolformed
- just about 6 mos. didn't want to start a new thread.bklyndroobeki
- iCanHazQBN0
Keep the deposit. That's the whole point of it in situations like these!
You allotted time for the project on your calendar and couldn't accept other work because that time was blocked off for his project.
Whether you actually had to refuse other projects or not is irrelevant.