I have another possible deadbeat client on my hands, the husband/wife Century 21 team from a low-rent type city about an hour away from me. I wrote a blog for them. I can't believe they'd actually try to stiff me out of a measly $50 (I discounted my rate for them) and it pisses me off to no end.
I have a complete paper trail with them accepting those terms of payment but of course not worthwhile to pursue in small claims.
I made a point to verbally ask him on the phone before i started to pay in 2 weeks time. He agreed. I sent invoice. When they didn't pay, i emailed him and he said oh sorry, i will have it out in tonight's mail. That was last Monday. By Friday (yesterday), when i still didn't have it, i emailed again and this time got no response at all from him.
They may actually think i don't know how to find them becus i answered their Craig's list ad and they never provided contact info. (Not even a phone, I don't think. When we agreed to discuss the project on the phone, he said he would call me. I figured it didn't matter becus I had already researched who they were online.I found the wife realtor on the website of Century 21, complete with office address and phone.
So if i still don't get the check by say Wednesday next week, i can email them and say oh, i have reason to be up in Your Town next week, so if i don't get the check from you, i can drop by your office on Name of Street. That may scare them becus they may not now know that I know where they work, and they might not want a disgruntled me showing up at their office and possibly embarrassing them.
What do you think?
I don't have any intention of actually schlepping up there but i do want my money.
Any ideas of other ways I could make sure they pay their bill without going to a lot of trouble (driving up there) or expense?
sure, I can write it off, but in my current state of underemployment, every dollar really counts.
How to deal with a deadbeat client
February 11th, 2012 at 01:12 pm
February 11th, 2012 at 02:05 pm 1328969152
Could you ask for payment (or partial payment) upfront on first time clients? After full payment you could then post bill the client. Just thoughts.
February 11th, 2012 at 02:17 pm 1328969857
However, i do now have a paypal account, so what would otherwise take several days to receive a check in the mail (and then make sure it cleared the bank when you cashed it) is now pretty instantaneous.
It's never an issue with existing clients, of course, just the new ones, when i don't really know who i'm dealing with. By saying you want some upfront payment, it's kind of like saying, i don't trust you, and that's not a good way to start off a new work relationship. so i try to just be ultra-professional and hope that they do the same.
February 11th, 2012 at 02:45 pm 1328971553
February 11th, 2012 at 05:35 pm 1328981731
February 11th, 2012 at 05:56 pm 1328983006
February 12th, 2012 at 02:51 am 1329015108
February 12th, 2012 at 03:25 am 1329017135
Of course when you get tired, there's always looking them up in yelp or other rating site and let them have it.
February 12th, 2012 at 12:56 pm 1329051404
If that doesn't work,then I suppose I could just get nasty and suggest that I call the wife's sales manager (name her by name) at work. That info can be easily found on Century 21 website. I can email or call the sales manager and explain that i'm a vendor who's done business with one of their sales associates and i'm having trouble reaching her and have not been paid. It would be hugely embarrassing, if nothing else.
February 12th, 2012 at 01:01 pm 1329051689
Anyway, lesson learned. I will NEVER again take on a new client without some sort of upfront payment. It's ridiculous that I have to take up time chasing after $50.