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Thu 21 Oct, 2004 12:54 pm
I'm a web design professional and I've been working on a project with a client for the past four weeks. We didn't agree on any payment upfront anyhow, since the project was nearing completion I requested that he paid 50% now and 50% when he thought it was completed to his satisfaction.
Anyway, the story isn't new, I'm glad it wasn't a total waste of time. I can reuse what I produced for him but he seems to have set a plan of screwing people, mostly hiring young talented designers who freelance, then basically refuse to pay. He's one of the wealthiest people in Europe, and I have nothing to hold against him. I'd like to warn others. He's been a real bastard and I'd like to do whatever I can to avoid him using more people. Can I do that without risking charges?
We never wrote a contract or agreed on confidentiality and the email conversations we've had or both mine and his property. Can I publish it all with real names et c?
Not if you ever want to work again. Don't you think other potential clients will have a problem with you telling all about financial disputes?
If you have a financial/legal dispute, get a lawyer and go to court about it. Even without a written contract, you still provided services for which you should be paid. But you won't help your case if all you do is tell the world about your troubles - tell a lawyer.
And, next time, get a signed agreement up front. It makes suing a lot easier, if it again comes to that.
It's not worth suing over, I neither have the time nor the money. It's much money but not enough to warrant a lawsuit.
I have a number of loyal clients, this case was different. I don't think I would scare off any honest person wanting to do business with me.
Your first goof was to enter into an undefined contract. Bummer from your perspective, but ethics be damned, you have no billing leverage. That sucks, I know, but folks I work with know upfront, and agree to, what I'm gonna cost before I say so much as "Lemme take a look at that".