Clients that don't pay?

bizousoft

bizousoft

ну Вовка
Mar 5, 2010
784
14
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Canada
Web-site design is 99% finished, but because I kept the client in the dark for 10 days, he changed password on the FTP server.

When I talked to him today the guy was fukin' rude and said "I'll think about what I should with you".... when I asked how long he'll be thinking he said "Don't push me" and hung up

Run down:

- No contract signed (verbal agreement)
- Deposited his check onto a company bank account (initial 25% deposit)
- Exchanges by email with all of the details, including last email where he said that the project is almost done
- Owes 2k

First time I run into a situation like that... I'm thinking of going to small claims court... How do you deal with pricks like that?
 


The only thing I see working for you in court would be the deposit check. That could prove that you two had an agreement on the work, and maybe the emails.
 
1) I won't start on a project without a 50% deposit.
2) I use TeamworkPM for all the communication and for them to see the major site phases. They also see me finishing tasks as I do them (I have hidden tasks that only I see if working alone, or have a separate project for myself and anyone I outsource stuff too so the client doesn't see that interaction).
3) If someone doesn't want to pay, then I send them an E-mail and follow-up with a call after I send it (if mission-critical) or in a day so they'll have time to read it.
4) In the E-mail and call, let him know about you appreciating them working with you and hit some highlights about the value you added, etc.
5) Point back to the agreed amount and let him know you want to discuss the payment arrangements and ask for how he wants to pay it.
6) Send the Invoice.

There's not much you can do without some written history of him agreeing to the payment in the first place. If you have an E-mail of him doing that, then he can't deviate.

I usually ask all my clients to send me an E-mail confirming anything we talked about on the phone if they call me up wanting something. This allows both parties to go back and check the process.

Just to note, small claims court isn't always the best choice. The money, even if they lose, can be held up for months since you don't get it until the entire amount is paid to the court. As long as they are paying even $10 at a time each month, they usually don't get penalized.
 
just the threat of taking him to small claims could make him cough up the rest. deposit check and emails would be good enough in small claims, but i guess it depends on the state?
 
You're the one that screwed up, bro. Clients hate feeling like they've been blown off.

"Hey, I blew it. I fully understand why you're pissed -- I'd be pissed too if I felt like I was blown off. OTOH, I worked really hard to give you the best website. Let me show you what I've done and let's have a happy ending for everybody."

Diplomacy first. Then you file, smear, defame, etc.
 
What do you mean you kept him in the dark? You didn't keep him informed of progress? You ignored his emails? What is he annoyed with exactly?
 
1) I won't start on a project without a 50% deposit.
2) I use TeamworkPM for all the communication and for them to see the major site phases. They also see me finishing tasks as I do them (I have hidden tasks that only I see if working alone, or have a separate project for myself and anyone I outsource stuff too so the client doesn't see that interaction).
3) If someone doesn't want to pay, then I send them an E-mail and follow-up with a call after I send it (if mission-critical) or in a day so they'll have time to read it.
4) In the E-mail and call, let him know about you appreciating them working with you and hit some highlights about the value you added, etc.
5) Point back to the agreed amount and let him know you want to discuss the payment arrangements and ask for how he wants to pay it.
6) Send the Invoice.

There's not much you can do without some written history of him agreeing to the payment in the first place. If you have an E-mail of him doing that, then he can't deviate.

I usually ask all my clients to send me an E-mail confirming anything we talked about on the phone if they call me up wanting something. This allows both parties to go back and check the process.

Just to note, small claims court isn't always the best choice. The money, even if they lose, can be held up for months since you don't get it until the entire amount is paid to the court. As long as they are paying even $10 at a time each month, they usually don't get penalized.
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PURE GOLD

"Hey, I blew it. I fully understand why you're pissed -- I'd be pissed too if I felt like I was blown off. OTOH, I worked really hard to give you the best website. Let me show you what I've done and let's have a happy ending for everybody."
Click to expand...

lol, that's pretty much what I said today, "How to win friends and influence people" all the way baby

What do you mean you kept him in the dark? You didn't keep him informed of progress? You ignored his emails? What is he annoyed with exactly?
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I didn't show any signs of life for 10 days
 
It's your fault. you never attempted to contact him for 10 days and now your bitching because he won't pay you. Hopefully he does the same thing to you and doesn't pay you for 10 weeks to teach you a lesson.
 
erifdekciw said:
It's your fault. you never attempted to contact him for 10 days and now your bitching because he won't pay you. Hopefully he does the same thing to you and doesn't pay you for 10 weeks to teach you a lesson.
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yeah i fucked up... if it was 10 weeks it's okey, but problem is that he probably won't pay at all...

the web-site was domain.com/test, he hired someone else to move it to just domain.com and said over the phone he had to pay BIG money to get this done, lol!

my biggest advantage is that no SEO was done at all and it was part of the deal, so hopefully he'll cough up the rest to get me to do the IM part
 
Tell him:
1. sorry.
2here's why: blah blah.
3.Then say, that's not an excuse just a reason so you don't feel like I was ignoring you
4. to make it up to you I'm going to do this (do a bonus whatever)
5. I expect to be totally done with this draft on this date. (and don't fuck that up this time)

^^appeases the client completely.
 
You fucked up, eat the loss and learn your lesson.

Rule number 1:
Contract

Rule number 2:
Communication

Rule number 3:
Contract

Rule number 4:
50% up front

Rule number 5:
Contract

This PBA has been brought to you by the SoupyOne.

P.S Do you mind sending me your website address and portfolio? I want to make some calls and win over some new unhappy business.
 
bizousoft said:
I actually registered his company name + city .com and his first + lastname , just in case I need to do some negative SEO
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Are you seriously that stupid?

You fucked up and you're mad at him? LOL

Again, please present your client list at once.

I will be standing by ready to make some phone calls on your behalf.
 
turbolapp said:
Tell him:
1. sorry.
2here's why: blah blah.
3.Then say, that's not an excuse just a reason so you don't feel like I was ignoring you
4. to make it up to you I'm going to do this (do a bonus whatever)
5. I expect to be totally done with this draft on this date. (and don't fuck that up this time)

^^appeases the client completely.
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Far, far better than a scam site. Taking to court without a written contract will be tough, though.
 
2k = nothing you can really do. 5k = nothing you can really do. >10k and now maybe you are going to court.
 
slightly off topic but

If you have an E-mail of him doing that, then he can't deviate.
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do emails stand up in a court? Ie being that they are so easy to fake? Or maybe court doesnt know this?
 
If you kept me in the dark for 10 days I would tell you to suck a dick and make a website with your company name saying how much you suck...like I did recently with a second host I was using that fucked up large. You don't keep clients in the dark for 10 days lol, take it as a lesson and move on.
 
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