I've Been Stiffed

This actually happened several month ago, but the memory was rekindled when I was deciding which pieces I should and shouldn’t add to my portfolio. While sorting, I came across a specific piece and angrily thought to myself, “That guy still owes me 50 bucks!”

Basically what happened is the client and I agreed on a price, I did the work for him, and he sent me a check… short $50. I politely inquired about the missing money and got a nasty email back saying that I had an ego and have been acting more and more like a jerk to him, and that the CD I sent him with the files didn’t work on his computer. He said he didn’t want to do business with me anymore (I had done several projects with him prior to this and had built a solid business relationship with him). The first thing I asked was “What?!” The second thing I asked was “How do I get my money?”

Let me state up front that this is entirely my fault. I had gotten to a point where I was comfortable with him that I stopped working up contracts with him. I hate doing contracts; they’re no fun to draw up, and they seem so impersonal. Needless to say, I had no legal proof that he owed me money and had no way to make him pay me.

I had never treated my client poorly and I had even done business favors for him in the past, so for him to accuse me of being a jerk is pretty low. I contacted him apologizing if I came across sounding like a jerk and that it wasn’t my intention, and that I was simply asking about the money. I even resent all of the files that I did for him before I got the money (mistake #2).

To this day, I still haven’t heard back from him or seen my money, but he’s happily using the artwork that I created for him–I just saw it being used recently. I’ve written back once or twice, sending new invoices, but without any legal contract, he has no obligation to pay me. Why beat a dead horse?

I checked with the BBB to see if I could file a complaint, but they don’t handle business-to-business complaints. And again, without a legal contract, I really don’t have a leg to stand on anyway. Some might argue, It’s only $50, why bother? My reply is You’re right–it’s only $50, so why not just pay it?. Fifty dollars could buy diapers for my son, or pay the phone bill, or several other things. I took time away from my family and worked hard for that money.

This was my first bad experience with a freelance client, and I won’t lie, it’s left me raw. It has forced me to change some of my business practices. It stinks because I don’t like being all proper all the time. I like to be the guy that’s fun to work with because he’s easy going and not a pain in the butt. I still consider myself easy going and fun to work with, but not to the extent that I used to be. Now I feel like I’m always on defense with the client.

I was debating whether I should include that specific piece in my portfolio because of the bad experience, plus I hate to give the client extra exposure. Regardless of the experience, I decided to include the art work because I did put time and effort into it.

Responses

Derek Davis
May 15, 2007, 05:05 PM
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Dan,

I feel your anger on this one. Just today, I had the same thing happen to me. I was working on developing a business card/collateral package for a client of mine. I had done his website and his teeshirt designs (at a large discount, first mistake) in the past so the cards were supposed to be a breeze.

I designed up the cards and asked what he thought…we made a few changes and then I sent over the final designs for approval. Once he approved, I sent them to print for a total of 3000 cards.

When they arrived, I inquired on times dropping them off and he inquired about the total. I told him $220 for printing and $100 for design (which we already talked about). He was extremely surprised about the design fee (I guess assuming I work for free). Needless to say, I discounted the fee (mistake) and dropped off the cards. I just wanted to be done with the guy.

Well, it didn’t end there. There was an error on the card and he expected me to reprint the entire thing on my bill. I told him that’s just not how it happens…he approved the designs and he needs to pay for the reprint…but I’d even give $30 to add to the pot to reprint.

He called me back and left a message exclaiming on how he never wants to do business with me ever again and thinks I’m being extremely unfair and unprofessional.

Needless to say, I’m ordering up to $30 worth of new cards, shipping them directly to him and saying good riddances.

Absolutely unbelievable.

Dan
May 16, 2007, 12:05 AM
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Derek,

You bring up another good point that I didn’t talk about. Another reason I didn’t want to hound the client is because when something like this goes sour, I’d rather just forget about it. Do anything it takes to forget about it! I’ve had other clients that are just so much of a pain to deal with that I’d rather just get the work done and over with… no matter how bad it looks.

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This journal entry was posted on May 8, 2007 at 04:04 AM. It is filed under Personal. There are 2 comments. View the archives. Subscribe to the RSS feed.

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