How Would You Handle This?

Soupyone

Soupyone

Banned
Dec 8, 2009
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Les Etats Unis
Website Copywriting Contracting Issue.

You notify a freelancer that you use often that you're going to be sending them the docs to sign and links to reference for a copywriting job and you give them a good five minute description of what the job going to be is.

You say that the project will be due in about 15 days.

They say "okay, I won't be available until next week though"

You say "fine".

Three days later you contact them saying "hey, I have the contract and links ready for you to review".

They say "I'm already done with the work!".

You say... "Umm... Okay? If the client approves it I'll pay you for it."

They say... "great"

Three weeks later the client never approved the work.

Now, you're stuck with a freelancer bitching to get paid over a writing job they did without signing any agreement or using any directions outlined (no agreement in writing AT ALL, not even email).

The freelancer is blowing up your phone calling you nearly every five seconds demanding "my paycheck". Since they have bills to pay and apparently haven't done any work (in 30 days) at all minus that one day of freelance writing... (which I don't think is my issue)

How would you handle that situation?

Personally, I looked over the work and decided that since the client hasn't been available to approve the work (they're out of town) I'm not going to use it and told the freelancer NO THANK YOU via long cordial email.

I haven't received a reply yet, but I'm curious... How would you handle that situation?

And for your time:
Busty-College-Coeds.jpg
 


how much money is involved? if its not a lot to you but obviously is to the writer. Pay him anyways so you can keep him for future work.
 
I think you did everything possible. There was never a "green light" to start work and payment was always contingent on the contractor review and approval. I'm guessing that was probably in the agreement and if not, it should have been. But yeah, if you value the freelancer's work otherwise then it may be a good idea to pay for it with the agreement that any revisions needed will be taken care of.
 
Deliguy said:
how much money is involved? if its not a lot to you but obviously is to the writer. Pay him anyways so you can keep him for future work.
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Definitely not a lot, only $350.

She just responded accusing me of all the bullshit you can muster under the sun. (sexual harassment [she read a wickedfire post on my PC once], shadyness, yada yada...)

She ended it by saying "if I see my work online I'll sue you with my attorney" and judging by the poor grammar throughout the email I'm guessing she's not too happy.

Good riddance.

I don't think she understands the point was the work sucked...

Also, how do poor people always refer to their "attorney"?

I don't just have an attorney in queue just waiting to sue someone.
 
I'd likely pay her.

I'd find a way to use the content (slap it on one of my many domains).

Then keep a good provider. My time to find a new provider is worth more then the issue generally
 
greenleaves said:
I'd likely pay her.

I'd find a way to use the content (slap it on one of my many domains).

Then keep a good provider. My time to find a new provider is worth more then the issue generally
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Nah, based on her emails, this bridge has been burnt to shit. Fuck her, if she needs $350 to pay her bills, she isn't going to pursue any legal action past Yahoo Answers.
 
Contract or not, you owe him the money.

Learn some project management skills next time and avoid this mess. It sounds like you did the right thing, you just failed miserably at communication.

Pay the person and move on!
 
bb_wolfe said:
Contract or not, you owe him the money.

Learn some project management skills next time and avoid this mess. It sounds like you did the right thing, you just failed miserably at communication.

Pay the person and move on!
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Fuck that shit. You produce garbage, you get paid garbage, that's how this business works. Especially if you have contract in place outlining the garbage to payment ratio.
 
Wait - the freelance did the work with out a greenlight.... with out all the details... and when they said they weren't available.

They did the work WITH OUT the links of the reference material.......... so they were just shooting in the dark.

Would you pay someone for not following your directions and giving you something that you didn't need?

Kinda like asking for a website to be designed, and telling the designer - Hey I've got my examples for you like we discussed - and they say "I'm done - I just figured THIS is what you would want.

If the OP is being straight it sounds like he's just working with a nutter.
 
stmadeveloper said:
Wait - the freelance did the work with out a greenlight.... with out all the details... and when they said they weren't available.

They did the work WITH OUT the links of the reference material.......... so they were just shooting in the dark.

Would you pay someone for not following your directions and giving you something that you didn't need?

Kinda like asking for a website to be designed, and telling the designer - Hey I've got my examples for you like we discussed - and they say "I'm done - I just figured THIS is what you would want.

If the OP is being straight it sounds like he's just working with a nutter.
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Even worst, someone I know in the biz just called me saying they posted on FB that I'm a "scammer" and of course, everyone's going to agree. She made it sound like I've NEVER paid her.

Claimed she made below minimum wage... Ummm, you're a fucking contractor! It's not my fault you don't get anymore work! I never had you sign any tax documents!
 
Soupyone said:
Even worst, someone I know in the biz just called me saying they posted on FB that I'm a "scammer" and of course, everyone's going to agree. She made it sound like I've NEVER paid her.

Claimed she made below minimum wage... Ummm, you're a fucking contractor! It's not my fault you don't get anymore work! I never had you sign any tax documents!
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Yeah, it's definitely time to move on.

In other, self-serving news, I'm personally offering copywriting services for the content service website I'm launching so if you need someone, feel free to shoot me a PM or just post in my thread.

/shameless self promotion
 
I say end it peacefully by paying a negotiated amount you could both live with, and use the content for another purpose. Never mind about the attorney; she's just blowing smoke.

$350 for second rate work is a lot of money in my book. Sheesh!
 
I would pay her but explain the misunderstanding and that she shouldn't have started without all the information. Sometimes misunderstandings happen and sometimes you have to take a hit for it. It's part of having a business. If you build ongoing relationships you can minimize that, so don't let this relationship go bad if it could be valuable.
 
Since the amount is not huge, pay her.

Then never use her again for any work.

Clearly she does not value the work that you've provided her on an ongoing basis, failed to follow directions, and sounds like an unhinged personality.
 
am I too far off venturing a guess that this is a whiny American who's 10 credits short of a 2 year English degree from a community college?
 
If she is spreading shit about you, then don't give in and pay her. You'll set a bad example, and she'll feel as though she can always go this route with our clients and "extort" the money from them. Exact reason why the US gov. "technically" never negotiates with terrorists.

Instead, post her information here and well, an eye for an eye :).

For the other posters here, not sure why the OP should be held responsible for ANY of the work done by the freelancer. It was not even agreed that the freelancer was going to do the work, and that alone is enough to not pay for the work.
 
If your client had approved her work, pay her, whether the contract / paperwork was signed or not. However, the client did not approve her work. The contract and paperwork is just there to make sure she understands what she's supposed to provide for you. She was stupid for forging ahead without knowing what you needed.

I'd offer to have her redo her work to the client's specs, and then pay her (probably not use her again since she's behaving so unprofessionally).
 
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