Client Back From Dead II
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- 38 Responses
- ian0
Just set up a new user account, give her that info and ask for payment. If she tries to flake out on it, log in and delete the site via the real admin account.
- anyone w/ 10 sec of WP experience would realize the settings menu would be missing on the left if not admin'd in...prophetone
- but maybe she wouldn't notice... however, her 8 year old cyberpunk nephew will...prophetone
- and report back to her on his cyberpunk apple newton messagepad w/ orinoco pcmcia modemprophetone
- webazoot0
Doesn't soud good. Would certainly want some kind fo payment, at least 50%, before spending any more time on the project if you are hoping to salvage something from this.
What was her excuse/reasoning behind the 300+ delay in payment in the first place?
- ohhhhhsnap0
If they don't want to sign, then they aren't serious about working together. -bmacneill
- i feel like i worked with this fool 2 months ago. you should broadcast the site here ;)ohhhhhsnap
- get a mediator or start preparing court files bro.ohhhhhsnap
- ETM0
If you go the route of getting the cheque in exchange for the credentials, make sure that cheque is certified.
- ebertzjaw0
Pay someone to throw acid in her face.
- prophetone0
sounds like you have only one option then, they clearly don't value the product so what the hell, go for it. see if they'll cut a cheque on the spot tho like reasonable people.
- CanHasQBN0
#2.
Her intentions don't sound good based on what she said.
"Hand over login... and I'll pay". Who talks like that? Seriously Flakey client.
Tell her that's not how it's done. She should pay first and then you hand her the login. You're the one who needs to protect yourself here. The site is done, right? She already knows you worked on it and finished it. If you hand everything over to her, how do you know she'll ever pay you??
- e-wo0
Options I see:
1. "Yes." Possible password change lockout. She's never been savvy enough for even that, but it's possible.
2. "No." Stalemate. No payment, no site launch.
3. ???
- prophetone0
unless by 'they'll pay' they mean right then and there in there office, cut a cheque for the remaining amount, otherwise, it's sketch city...
- prophetone0
Sounds like she doesn't recognize that you've even built something of value for her and will flake the moment you provide admin access. how many clams do we bet the admin password changes within 60 secs of handing it over...
- For sure. But she doesn't have the FTP account.e-wo
- if she is in control of the hosting then she does, she can get it anytime, maybe she has.prophetone
- but if you have god access to the ftp then why install the kill switch? don't even bother with it...prophetone
- i_monk0
Sounds like she doesn't want the site after all.
- e-wo0
Client has responded:
"[Hand over the admin login, walk me through the system again so that I can see it works, and I'll pay]"
I'm inclined to share the account (after I plant http://csskillswitch.com/), but walkthroughs and testing were given 9 months ago and totally shrugged off, so I'm not putting more sweat into it.
- that doesn't sound sketchy at all... client's flakin' like psoriasisprophetone
- ARE YOU trying to rhyme pro?ohhhhhsnap
- bmacneill0
I had a client do something similar. They didn't have the money set aside to pay the bill when they hired me and they took a year and four months to pay the final invoice. I had hard costs I was carrying on the account as well. The only thing that saved them being brought into court was they emailed me once every couple of months and said "we're really sorry, our company has gone down the shitter, we'll pay you as soon as we have the money." To their credit, they were honest with me and eventually paid.
From then on, I had every single client sign a contract. If they don't want to sign, then they aren't serious about working together.
- e-wo0
Thank you all for chiming in.
I personally wouldn't have sat on the issue for 308 days. I discovered it after inheriting accounts from a former partner recently.
Firm demands sent. We'll see how it turns out. I've got a weak case in claims court, so hopefully a scare is enough.
- If not take her site down and forget about the whole thing. It's not like you owe her anything.zarkonite
- prophetone0
it's pretty simple at this point, politely tell them you require the overdue payment in full by end of month or you'll be forced to take "action". i mean, what else do they expect at this point? also, you have no interest to keep them as a client, so time to get aggressive. and be ready to activate that action plan on jul 1st when they flake out.
- hellobotto0
Your questions should be answered by the terms outlined in the SOW/contract both of you signed.
If you don't have a contract, taking her to small claims may be a challenge. She could claim that she's unhappy with the end product, and as a result has no obligation to pay. If money AND IP haven't been clearly/cleanly exchanged, the court could rule "no harm, no foul."
Even if you have a contract, the court could take issue with your letting this lapse for nearly a year. "Why is this all of a sudden a concern?" would be the first question a judge asks. By assuming a permissive position regarding non-payment, you may have inadvertently established an unfortunate expectation and precedent.
In other words, if the court thinks you haven't taken your business operations seriously, they might not take your suit seriously.
If you can, retain those admin credentials seeing as it's the last shred of leverage you have in this situation. Fingers crossed you have a solid, detailed contract and best wishes for swift payment.
- Jacque0
You charging interest for overdue payments?
- maikel0
Ask for the payment and give an a power user keeping the general admin for yourself. If the client doesn't pay forward their site to a competitor and call it a day.
Or live their site with an overly obscene image that would make her lose business. If you hurt her in the wallet she may start thinking in paying for your services.
I mean, think about it... would you go to a restaurant, leave without paying and go next day for breakfast?
- bulletfactory0
"fuck you, pay me"