How do you know when you've been had?

[subdriverswife]

How long do you wait for a client to contact you? I already think I made a mistake by making a job readily available. I was told it was stellar, etc. but I've yet to receive payment and I'm not getting responses from the person I spoke with. I'm beating myself for not getting a contract signed. And maybe I'm just overreacting but its been about a week and a half since the final revision. Should I just chalk it up and let it go?

Knowledge speaks but wisdom listens....Jimi Hendrix

[uncle carbunkle]

a week and a half?!? you're willing to let payment go over a week and a half?

i had a client skirt my calls, get beligerent, hang up, only to be told i wouldn't survive in their business because that's how things are done.

have you written an invoice? mail it registered, and articulate an ACTUAL date that you would require full payment by. state that if no contact has been made by that date, their account will be overdue and will go to collections. choose a timeframe that's reasonable. most people don't pay anything until their second 'red notice', so don't go crazy. just be specific and give them time, but give it to them in writing.

and a verbal contract for less than $10 000 should still hold up in small claims court - services rendered.

don't over-react, but don't let it go either. just be patient and professional.

:)

:: Durable and doable in a swimsuit, yet not designed for surfing, cliff diving, extreme groping and other high-impact activities. ::

[Keyare]

What she ^ said.





You expect to get paid in UNDER a week and a half?!! Wow. I wish i could get paid that fast. But i guess if you've set up the rules that way then you can.


I wouldn't mail it registered though, that's just paranoid. If it comes back, you got the wrong address (You just did their stuff - you better have the right address!) if it doesn't, they got it.

Just keep adding interest and more interest. Don't expext to acctually get it though - it's more of a kick 'n the head. Comes in handy on small-claims day too.

When you've a buttload clients with revolving accounts you don't even worry about anything under 60 days anymore, you just deal with the big ones or the ones that are 8 months or more... and usually it's a misunderstanding or they have a new bookkeeper or something stupid.







spoon.

Post Edited (Keyare) : 9/21/2004 3:33:55 AM GMT

[subdriverswife]

I must have misspoke. No I don't EXPECT to get paid in UNDER a week and a half. It'd been that long since the person who was interested in my services has responded to my messages. I was told at last contact that I would be contacted back and most likely paid within two days. My terms are net 30. I was more concerned about the lack of contact than the lack of payment at the time.

I don't have a lot of clients w/ revlovling accounts. In fact, I closed my business but was interested in this one b/c it was more of a public service type job, not just any 'ol job.

My apologies for posting a ridiculous post.

Knowledge speaks but wisdom listens....Jimi Hendrix

[Kool]

Not a rediculous post at all SDW. /emoticons/cool.gif

I love children but I don't think I could eat a whole one.

[morea]

^what Kool said.

I can relate - the lack of communication stinks! I'd rather get a flat-out 'NO' than have to sit and wait.

I applied for a job as an Assistant Graphic Designer about three weeks ago. They told me that they loved my work, etc, etc. but that they had a few more interviews to do. So I waited. When I spoke to them again, they told me that the decision was down to myself and one other candidate. I sent my thank you letter, waited a week, and called to see if they had made a desicion. They told me that they were still interviewing, but that they would contact me as soon as they had more information.

Unfortunately, it was a job a really wanted, but after 3 weeks of waiting I don't think that they're really going to bite. Guess I need to get back on the job-search trail. <sigh>

You've gotta do what you've gotta do.

[snypa]

i hate the 'avoid as long as you can, then tell em what they want to hear even if it's a flat-out lie' attitude many business 'professionals' have

A moment's absence-
a dead person.
-Yantou

[uncle carbunkle]

i understand your predicament, and i don't think its ridiculous. i've been there before. i'm the type of person that will pay an individual for their services PRONTO. my phone bill, on the other hand....duck & cover! haha. no, not really. but you have to understand that people will wait until they get a notice or two. it's just how people are. have you never done that with a bill?

i think it's bad practise, personally, but i wanted to let you know how other people commonly approach their invoices.

and they've gotten their product from you, so they may avoid you until they're ready to pay - that's why you should start putting it all down in writing and being pedantic about it. like a phone bill. spell out your terms and give them time to respond.

chances are, there will be no hard feelings or noses out of joint on their part. i'd be willing to bet that this is just business as usual for them.

good luck. be persistant, but don't worry.

:: Durable and doable in a swimsuit, yet not designed for surfing, cliff diving, extreme groping and other high-impact activities. ::

[jenpetosa]

Hopefully, if they want to do business with you again or have you as a reference, they'll pay up.
I think most people are good for it, just maybe a little late, procrastination, lack of funds, etc. I can totally understand, because I have problems paying bills from time to time. I agree... start tacking on some late charges, and it will usually speed things up a bit. ;)

I had one client who didn't pay me but I think the result isn't what they wanted. Unfortunately, they never said word to me about it. :(

I have clients pay me and then the project sit half-done on the shelf. I ask them if they are unhappy and they just say they got busy with other priorities.

Good luck. And tell us when you get paid. :)

Jennifer

[MpiricL]

Morea,


Holy crap! I just had almost the exact thing happen to me. Interviewed for a position, got the good feedback, was told I would be called back for a second interview with another possible candidate, never got a call.I called her, left a message, never got a callback. Emailed her, she recieved the email, never got a response. Iwanted to tellher to shove the job up her ass, but you never know how that canaffect you in the future. Some people are just rude. I would much rather be told they went with someone else, or even my work sucks donkey ballsthanto be left hanging.




No great artist ever sees things as they really are. If he did, he would cease to be an artist. ~Oscar Wilde


Post Edited (MpiricL) : 9/28/2004 9:05:24 PM GMT

[morea]

Exactly! What are these people thinking?

You've gotta do what you've gotta do.

[coconut]

this happened to me. Some one had me build pages for a magazine. Said she would express me a check and email me a tracking number that was Friday.
Tuesday came and she wasn't answereing my phone calls didn't send an email, I didn't get the check, I had waited a month to get it and it was 10 days past the time to be paid. Oh yea, a week before that she said she had sent me a check that never got here.
Well finally tuesday she got ahold of me. Her lead sales person took off with all her contracts and clients, she told her husband about it and he left her too, with the phones and computers so she was left with nothing.
In the time before I found this out I contacted the better business bureau and filed a complaint.
So I felt bad because I didn't know the situation.
I eventually did collect that pay. I had two clients that didn't pay me for published works just prior to that I was feeling burned adn wanted to fight back to get my pay.
Now I require 1/2 down. Haven't had a problem it. They get the product when I get the rest of the pay.

Coconuthttp://www.adleragency.net/ads/pearbug.jpg

[uncle carbunkle]

so sdw? what's the scoop?

:: Durable and doable in a swimsuit, yet not designed for surfing, cliff diving, extreme groping and other high-impact activities. ::

[subdriverswife]

Unc-Will pm you

Knowledge speaks but wisdom listens....Jimi Hendrix

[defjoe]

they are hoping you do go away. people suck. keep bugging them!

'I will become the most powerful Jedi ever!'
'I'm the damn designer, bitches!'

Check out my indie comic book!
www.assassinsguild.net/ (http://www.assassinsguild.net/)

[Big Perm-dizzle]

i will make house calls

www.hirethisdesigner.com (http://www.hirethisdesigner.com) - portfolio
www.conceptprint.com (http://www.conceptprint.com) - the company I work for

[coconut]

Its frustrating when you don't get your pay. Expecially since you can't reposses something that has been printed. This summer is the first time I have been 'had' like that and changed my payment policy.

Coconuthttp://www.adleragency.net/ads/pearbug.jpg

[morea]

That's terrible. Cat and I were just talking about how to prevent something like that from happening. I can't imagine putting in all of the time and hard work and then having someone run off with it. Some people!

You've gotta do what you've gotta do.

[Keyare]

So?

Corprolite happened.

Bill in thirds. Or my new preferd method.

50% up front on an estimate which mean the bill can go up or down 'Contract' required. 25% upon approval and Invoice the reminder with a net 15 and pentalies there after. Ball is going to stay in my court you hear me. So if the printer hits you with that second proof change or that 'we will never tell you charge till we invoice you' you can cover your ass and still make a profit.

http://www.cbcamerica.com/images/webshots/benjobanner.jpg
Graphic Design Heroes! Call me Captain Type Caster. I’ve fought off “The Evil Cosmic Sans” for year but it seems “Dr. Extreme Untalent” keeps bringing him back. I must find a way to defeat this evil creature.

Capt. Creative bring me those comps…

[subdriverswife]

Still no response from them. Thinking of taking unc's advice and sending a letter. Thats what I get! I'm usually anal about a contract...but not this time...and it came back to bite me.

Perm...House calls eh? I might have a running list for you!

Knowledge speaks but wisdom listens....Jimi Hendrix

[BuckarooB]

In Business? Lube up!

It's just like Papa Roach says in Blood! on the Getting Away With Murder Album...

http://www.zzpop.com/ImageServe/PirateBanzaiSig.gif

[subdriverswife]

Serket...interesting words to chew on. Sorry about your paintings...what a mess!

Oh and you asked in a PM what my name meant. My hubby is a subnuke officer in the US Navy...thus he's a subdriver...and I'm a subdriverswife. I know...very uncreative but it works! LOL

Knowledge speaks but wisdom listens....Jimi Hendrix

[morea]

Nothing wrong with being proud of your man, SDW!

You've gotta do what you've gotta do.