Client not paying
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- jamble0
It's possibly a last resort but could you not sell the outstanding invoice to a debt recovery company and get shot of it that way? You'd have to pay them a percentage / lump sum but you'd get a good chunk of your money and the satisfaction of knowing some seriously nasty people now own the debt and will want their money?
- Svensk0
you have a client who owes you NINE dollars?
omg. let it go.
- Spanna0
What about getting a credit recovery agency type thing on the case. Don't really know how they work (ie with or without baseball bats...) but guess they would take a percentage - but I am guessing 90% of sumthin is better than 100% of nuthin?
- lvl_130
seriously koko, file a damn claim! $9000 for a company to just not pay is unacceptable.
- piperboytoy0
this happened to me before, and i contacted the better business bureau and other agencies too. my client lived in Amsterdam and i wrote to the Royal Canadian Consulate and Amsterdam Chamber of commerce. These are just examples from my experience, they actually called the company and talked for a few times. That company got scared and paid me.
You have to keep trying, don't give up. It took me over 7 months but i think it paid off, it wasn't about the money it's the principal.
You should search on google for Chamber of commerce or anything buisness related. Find out what associations that company belongs to and start contacting them, make sure you have proof to back your statements or you can be sued for slander. I emailed so many agencies and in the beginning i was getting the run around. very frustrating. Prepare your documents as well. i printed all my communications with that company and i sent them off to those agencies i contacted. You have to be organized.
I think those places were sympathetic to me because i was a lone freelancer working for others. You should do the same and get sympathy from these agencies.
- Svensk0
its NINE THOUSAND DOLLARS?
did you quote them nine thousand in the beginning?
or was it an open tab sort of thing
and they got a wicked dose of sticker shock when they saw the invoice?if $9K is what you quoted them and the client knew how much your work was costing then i say go after them, get a lawyer and sue the bastards.
- kyl30
you worked for a company through a design agency? well, sounds like you have two places you can go and get paid. Explain to the agency that you will contact the client and tell them how 'responsible' they have been. Then take them both to court.
- koko0
unclesize,
thanks bro... my company was in NYC as well... may be the same? I know they were working with other designers.
- spot130
Forget small claims court. SUE THEM. If you have a case you can sue for the money + interest + legal fees. You live in the USA, it's the American way.
- koko0
I had a contract signed from both of us. Specified the quantity. I have all the emails, most of them telling me they were going to send the money next week,... then next month... then next...
The funny thing is that about a month ago, the guy contacted me and told me: I am sending the money "tomorrow", and by the way can you do this small project for me?...
I almost did it, I am such a sucker :(.
- ********0
do what the saint did to tretiak
HELLO.
OUT, OUT.
FREELOADERS, OUT.
I WANT TO DRINK ALONE.
CLOSE THE CURTAIN.
WHAT?
DON'T LOOK DOWN.
YOU KNOW WHO I AM?
NO.
I'M THE THIEF YOU TRIED TO CHEAT.
THIS IS YOUR ACCOUNTANT.
TALK TO HIM.
THE PHONE GOES THE OTHER WAY, YOU MORON.
HELLO.
TRETIAK SPEAKING.
THAT MONEY TO ZURICH.
SEND IT NOW.
I SAID NOW.
YEAH.
THANK YOU.
- lvl_130
okay, assuming you are blowing off my idea of filing a claim, can you just go to the company and speak with the guy face to face? have him cut you a check right there on the spot? you need to take some sort of innitiative other than email.
- ********0
always half now half later always.
i once had a client i did half now half later everything was fine but the second time i trusted him and did i get full pay no half. always half now half later.
- spot130
Honestly, just call a lawyer and explain the situation. All it might take is for a lawyer to call this dude and threaten to sue and you may have your money. Lawyers can be very convincing and it may only cost you a couple of hours of the lawyer's time.
- ********0
get a fake lawyer to do it first like a friend pretending to be a lawyer, lawyers cost alot of $$$
- ETM0
I see a lot of people treading some dangerous ground with their comments. I agree you cannot let them get away with not paying if you delievered the agreed upon service. But there is slander and liable to content with if you deface them to other parties. If you do decide to do a proper claim, that can affect your case and credability.
Have they given a reason why they are not paying or are they just stalling? Have you really discussed it with them? Were they unhappy with anything? Can you renegotiate the fee then?
- ********0
BullWhip, much like CoolWhip, except you f*cking smack him with it
- unclesize0
Sent you an email...
- lvl600
go on Judge Judy she'll know what to do.
- koko0
ETM,
I know what you mean. I don't think that any body here is doing anything wrong except sharing experiences.Not companies have been named... yet :P
Whoever works freelance should have a posibility to defend themselves, maybe if we organised ourselves?...
It is difficult and each case different. In my case the contract was signed, the work was approved and delivered, they paid part of it up-front and made some small payment, but they just stoped answering emails and calls.
It is not only the money... it's just plain wrong... I guess I will have to file bankrupcy and not pay my credit cards :P
oooops, just joking