DO NOT work for family.

[Jackimalyn]

My uncle started a school. He asked me to design the website. I did. Gave him a 20% family discount (yes, I was feeling generous and gracious that he asked me to do it) I even told him I would make minor changes for free.

That was 62 days ago that I sent the invoice. And I have a 60 day limit on the invoice. Now, Im waiting for payment. waiting. waiting. waiting. No check. AND he has the audacity to ask me to continue making changes! He keeps beating around the bush about payment.

Since he knows nothing about web, he asked me to be "webmaster" (there's not much to do, really. I said I would until it got to be too much work or w/e then hed have to hire his own). Would it be too crappy of me to take down his site? I know where I stand legally, but hes family (and lives in costa rica, id like to stay on his good side). How would you handle it?

[John G]

Suddenly become too busy to update his site at least.
"Hey sorry, I do this to make a living and since you aren'ty paying me for the job I did for you, I have to take more jobs to make ends meet and that's cutting out your updates. I need to eat too Costa Rica boy."

or pull the plug

"uh, without the money I couldn't pay for updates to the website (it's a per upload basis) so.. "they" took the site down".

Hey it could work depending on their internet knowledge. It worked when I told my dad the internet was closed on christmas (so I didn't have to sit there and navigate the computer for him to look at the internet).

-on that note I need to go through my backups and try and find a logo file I did for my uncle ages ago that he lost...

again.

[jessicam]

Don't work for friends either. And always, even if you break the rules and work for friends or family, get a deposit. So if you get screwed at least you got something out of it.

[jimking]

Are you inline for an inheritance? :D Maybe a beach house down the road?

[Jackimalyn]

no inheritance but i kinda wanted to mooch off him for a trip to Costa rica. hes the CFO of a luxury resort down there and anytime someone from my family visits he hooks em up. kinda wanna d othat...

Yea, john g that sounds good. I am really busy even though these updates take 10 minutes outta my life here and there (but hey, he doesnt know that)

No deposit either. wtf? I think IM going to call him today and then pull the plug. what a jerk. i did him a lotta favors with this site the least he could do is pay me!

[Mitch Wood]

Can we see it?

The site that is.

[mac.FINN]

Note to self: Don't work for Jackimalyn's Family.

[carter the artist]

Note to self: Don't work for Jackimalyn's Family.

LOL!

[JPnyc]

I've built 3 sites for my cousin and never charged him a dime. It isn't done in my family.

[urstwile]

...It worked when I told my dad the internet was closed on christmas (so I didn't have to sit there and navigate the computer for him to look at the internet).

http://www.smileyhut.com/laughing/hysterical.gif

[Jackimalyn]

I've built 3 sites for my cousin and never charged him a dime. It isn't done in my family.

It wasnt for him personally. It was for a school. He just knew me and said I could do it.

Dont try and make me look bad...

[jimking]

Maybe you can pawn him off on somebody who's learning such as the gal from the UK with the blond lady avatar......maybe.:D

[frankster]

I've built 3 sites for my cousin and never charged him a dime. It isn't done in my family.

If there's anyone who builds houses in your family then you're laughing! No one in my family gives a rats ass about what I do, but there are plenty of mates on the waiting list. Pro Bono charity gigs get priority on my spare design time though, so the waiting list moves fairly slowly.

[jimking]

Maybe you can pawn him off on somebody who's learning such as the gal from the UK with the blond lady avatar......maybe.:D
If it matters, I wasn't refering to you (see above) frankster. The avatar that I refered to is a photograph.

[frankster]

don't matter none poppet. I'm from the UK, but living in the US now. I figured you meant emminez or emineez (I can't remember her login name correctly)

[Mynock]

I've built 3 sites for my cousin and never charged him a dime. It isn't done in my family.When you say my family you mean "the family" right?


P.S. Can you believe I've never seen the Godfather? It's #1 of 335 on my netflix now.

[Jackimalyn]

P.S. Can you believe I've never seen the Godfather? It's #1 of 335 on my netflix now.

yes.

[CamarotaDesign]

I only work for free for my mom because I am deeply indebted to her for all she has done for me in life.... and she STILL offers to pay me (which I always turn down) because she knows it's my job to do design!

I've worked for free for friends and family who asked for it and they are always ungrateful and expect you to put in lots of your time to make a spectacular site for free. Or they don't think that if you spend 30 hours on design for them it took much of your time. True friends offer to pay you if they can, they insist on it. Fake friends take advantage of you and either dont care or don't know you well enough to realize that your design skills are your livelyhood.

[Ben Kessler]

Mynock, enjoy The Godfather! Be sure to see parts 2 and 3 after you see the first one.

[CamarotaDesign]

Mynock, enjoy The Godfather! Be sure to see parts 2 and 3 after you see the first one.

Most definitely see part 2 immediately after part 1.

Part 3.. eh... everyone says it sucks.. it's not that bad, just not as good as 1 & 2.

[jimking]

Just remember Mynock, when you receive a package with a fish in it means they are sleeping with the fishes. :cool:

[CatintheHat1]

There is no amount of money on this earth that would be worth the fallout of you taking down that site. Let him be the bad guy.

[budafist]

Give him a call and let him know that you need to be paid right now before you can do any more work for him.

I work for family all the time. But considering how much my family do for me, I would work for free too. Immediate family that is. Secondary family like uncles, cousins etc can pay me.

[CamarotaDesign]

Give him a call and let him know that you need to be paid right now before you can do any more work for him.

I work for family all the time. But considering how much my family do for me, I would work for free too. Immediate family that is. Secondary family like uncles, cousins etc can pay me.
Exactly, Buda. Uncle didn't raise me, he can pay me for my time. Actually, he would offer anyways, my family is cool like that, we know how to seperate business requests from family affairs. Well, except this one certain family member.....he doesnt get anything ever again, free or paid.

[Jeff Fisher LogoMotives]

I tell other designers: ALWAYS use a contract, ESPECIALLY when working with family or friends.

When it comes to business, any dealings with family or friends MUST be conducted just like all other business efforts. If someone asks me if they should give a discount to family members or friends, I usually respond that they should charge double the normal rate - kind of joking - because they will be earning it. In many cases family and friends have this sixth sense about how to take advantage of the designer they know so well.

Some situations work out very well. My sister owned a ad agency and PR firm for about 10 years. I did a great deal of work for her - but the details where always spelled out in a project agreement. I still occasionally do work for here in her current job - and again everything is handled professionally. Business is business, and family/friendships are a totally different beast...

In the case of the web job for the school, I think you need to very tactfully/professionally inform your uncle that none of the upcoming updates to the site can be done until you are paid in full - and with any future work your very generous 60 day net is a requirement.

- J.

[budafist]

Reminds me of when I did the identity design for my Dad's business. I was still living at home at the time so I could never use the excuse that I was busy because my parents could see I was sitting in front of the TV!