Last week I crossed the rickety wooden bridge strung between two cliffs. I turned down work. It sounds daring, but really it was a no-brainer. A while back I had a “client.” (And I use the term loosely. In place of client, fill in your favorite noun swear word. It’s like Mad Libs!)
When I do a design for someone, after I complete the initial design there’s generally a lot of back and forth emails as we collaborate on changes. So this client and I are working through these changes, and the emails stop. After a couple of days I re-send my suggestions, and let him know I’m ready to finish tweaking it, he emails me back, says he’s busy, and he’ll get to it next week.
Fine, no worries I have other projects to work on. Ten days later I email him again, and he says blah blah blah, discontinuing project. No problem, my contract states that if you cancel mid-project, I bill you for hours worked to that point. I send an invoice, and wait.
Well, you know how the story ends.
So last week I get an email.
Long time no see! Let’s finish project!
Hi! You owe me money! Please pay now!
No problem! Let’s finish! I’ll pay a lump sum at the end!
Hi! You owe me money! Please pay now!
Yes! Later!
Wow! I’m all booked up!
Actually I’m surprised the guy contacted me again. The audacity of some people amaze me. Now I’m pondering small claims court all over again.
Don’t let him get away with that shit!
lizardek | September 17th, 2007 at 7:51 pm
I have customers who havent paid in 2 or 3 months and donot answer their phones or respond to emails or letters, so we send a foreclosure notice to them and they call me all mad at how money grubbing we are and how we are the worse business to deal with. Sheesh, This is the part of dealing with people I hate.
Olga | September 18th, 2007 at 9:53 pm
Good for you that you have drawn a line in the sand. Too many self-employed people undervalue themselves and DON’T ask for the money, so it becomes a thing of awkwardness.
LionAndMagicBoy | September 18th, 2007 at 11:51 pm