Hello all. I have been following some of the threads for a few but am posting for the first time... or is it??? so many forums to follow... loose my mind.. anyway.

Lately I have been working with a client on improving 2 websites. in order to have more than the US potential population, we expanded and I translated both websites in 2 foreign languages for the client as well as made recommendations for SEO purpose, re-wrote Meta and more.

Unfortunately, the client decided that my work was not worth his time and cut all communication. Although I sent my invoices based on services done for the client and agreed upon by contract, the client did not respond and/or pay.

Does any of you know how I could put pressure on the client so that he pays or remove all material from the 2 websites? I have done my job as agreed upon at the best of my abilities. The client has barely answered my emails proposing strategies, did not put in place most of the recommendations (I did not have direct access to the server), well my client was very hard to work with. At the end, I have been working a handful of hours during 3 months for ... nothing. Any ideas... apart of justice department....... because of the cost......

Thank you

Best regards,

an other one.....

If you've done the work and you have a contract stating that you will do the work for X amount of money, then the client needs to pay you. I would send them another invoice with the full amount due to you as well as a date by which they need to pay. I would send it to them with some sort of proof that they received it (e.g., certified mail, Federal Express, UPS, etc.). Also, tell them in a brief letter that you did the work per the contract and that you expect them to fulfill what they agreed to in the contract.

If they fail to pay by the date specified then you have a few options--either seek out a lawyer or perhaps enlist the services of a collection agency (they usually will take a certain percentage of the amount due).

thank you for the info. Yes I did the work. Yes I did send an invoice with deadline and instruction. Yes I did track that they received it. No they don't pay. Don't talk. Can I send a letter to the hosting company and webmaster? what is their responsibility if any?

Regards,

The hosting company does not have any responsibility, they didn't sign the contract. I'm assuming that the webmaster is the same as your client. If they're not the same person, unless they signed the contract they have no responsibility.

Whoever hired you is the person responsible for paying you--whoever signed the contract.

There are actually online debt collection agencies out there such as www.olddebts.com that will let you do everything online (you pay a small fee and they attempt to collect the debt on your behalf).

You can also find something here:
[link]

Thank you. Best regards,

Based on the amount owed, it might be easier to take them to small claims court. That way you don't have to use a lawyer and the filing is easy. Just check with your local courthouse to see what dollar limit is allowed under small claims. Just the threat of legal action gets many folks to pay up. Good luck!

MS

[ Message was edited by: bhartzer 03/18/2005 01:45 pm ]

This is the neverending story for me also.
I have had countless cases of clients that either fail to pay, or clients that give constant excuses after the work is done, until they actually decide they want to pay.

you should always get 50% in advance, but once the work is done, in my experience there seems to be no guarantee at all that the client will end up paying the rest due.

its a really sad world.
I'm still trying to find a solution.