Might be getting ripped off

A

adiakritos

New member
Jul 16, 2009
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So I created a blog for this guy by taking a PDF design he provided and splicing it up. I photoshopped a whole bunch of pictures, created customized sections... basically my mentor who's a professional web designer had a look at it and said it was worth at least 1000. When I told him the client wasn't happy he was kind of baffled.

So now, the client said he wanted to get back to me when he was ready and knew exactly what he wanted. His issue is that he doesn't know what he wants even though I created the design he asked for, and actually made it look better than the design.

Now, I don't know how long he's going to take to get back to me if ever. It only make sense to get paid for what I've done so far. So I invoice him. No response. I wait 2 days. Send him a reminder email. No response.

I'm a bit worried he's simply ignoring me. The site is on one of his own servers and I heard that I could get sued if I delete my delivered project while having it saved on my local drive until he pays up...

Any suggestions for this situation?

I know that in the future I'm going to ask for at least half up front from people I don't trust or know. It sucks we live in a world where people do these kinds of things.
 


If you delete it from his server, you are definitely opening yourself up to trouble.

In the future, host the site on your server until you've received some of the payment and received the client's written approval that the site is completed to his specifications.
 


If he didn't pay for it, it's not his, take that shit back. Non-payment is also grounds for a lawsuit. Shit, anything is grounds for a lawsuit these days. Grow some fucking balls, take your shit back, and don't let people dick you around.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMWVJOMnVbw]What Is this Beta nonsense? - YouTube[/ame]
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Then one you know you've got your shit, take him to small claims court for non-payment. :)
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directresponse said:
If you delete it from his server, you are definitely opening yourself up to trouble.

In the future, host the site on your server until you've received some of the payment and received the client's written approval that the site is completed to his specifications.
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You do your avatar an injustice my friend...

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2jAwiq6YsE]You can act like a man - YouTube[/ame]
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Delete from server, wait for him to either try to be an asshole, or a buttlicker. I'd go with buttlicker.
 
What does the contract say will happen in case of non-payment?

You do have a contract right?
 
adiakritos said:
So I created a blog for this guy by taking a PDF design he provided and splicing it up. I photoshopped a whole bunch of pictures, created customized sections... basically my mentor who's a professional web designer had a look at it and said it was worth at least 1000. When I told him the client wasn't happy he was kind of baffled.
Click to expand...

Your mentor probably didn't understand the scope of the work or is quoting you based on the high end.. splicing from a (I will assume you meant psd) to css/html or wordpress would cost no where NEAR $1,000.. Max you are looking at $200-300 depending on what had to be done.

I know that in the future I'm going to ask for at least half up front from people I don't trust or know. It sucks we live in a world where people do these kinds of things.
Click to expand...

Welcome to the world of design. No reason to not begin ANY project without half upfront. Or have the money in some sort of escrow so you can be assured you will be paid.... The only time I can see a customer not paying at least a portion upfront, if you are a complete flake and never turn around deliverable(s)... And I have run across a couple designers and various workers in my time, that I wouldn't pay a penny to upfront until delivered, because they are complete flakes.
 
directresponse said:
If you delete it from his server, you are definitely opening yourself up to trouble.

In the future, host the site on your server until you've received some of the payment and received the client's written approval that the site is completed to his specifications.
Click to expand...

CCarter said:

If he didn't pay for it, it's not his, take that shit back. Non-payment is also grounds for a lawsuit. Shit, anything is grounds for a lawsuit these days. Grow some fucking balls, take your shit back, and don't let people dick you around.

What Is this Beta nonsense? - YouTube
​

Then one you know you've got your shit, take him to small claims court for non-payment. :)
​
Click to expand...



Ccgjuyw.jpg
 
adiakritos said:
basically my mentor who's a professional web designer had a look at it and said it was worth at least 1000. When I told him the client wasn't happy he was kind of baffled.
Click to expand...

Wait a minute... so you guys didn't agree on at least a ballpark price beforehand? Or you invoiced for far more than agreed upon because your "professional web designer" friend told you it's worth more?

There's a difference. If you quote $200, then invoice $250, that's fine and reasonable. If you quote $200, then invoice $1000, he has every right to tell you to fuck yourself.
 
Take it down and put up google hammer is the only obvious way this should go.
 
imbo55 said:
Your mentor probably didn't understand the scope of the work or is quoting you based on the high end.. splicing from a (I will assume you meant psd) to css/html or wordpress would cost no where NEAR $1,000.. Max you are looking at $200-300 depending on what had to be done.
Click to expand...

You are the problem with the design industry and have no fuckign clue. $200-$300 for coding and wordpress integration? If it's a 1 page site, maybe, however any respectable designer in a first world country will want at least $70-$100/hr for their time, and a seamless wordpress integration is a few days work.

imbo55 said:
Welcome to the world of design. No reason to not begin ANY project without half upfront. Or have the money in some sort of escrow so you can be assured you will be paid.... The only time I can see a customer not paying at least a portion upfront, if you are a complete flake and never turn around deliverable(s)... And I have run across a couple designers and various workers in my time, that I wouldn't pay a penny to upfront until delivered, because they are complete flakes.
Click to expand...

Escrow for a design is utterly ridiculous, unless it's a 6 fig contract or something, in which case you will know if your client is going to pay or not, and have resources to pursue them if not, along with a solid contract with payment release info.

Agree milestone payments in the contract, and have a 10% deposit up front or whatever.

In terms of OP, take that shit offline & send him a cease and desist by email & post demanding payment.
 
Well, because it was the first time I'd ever splice a PDF (it was a pdf file not a psd) and integrated into a wordpress site, the gantry framework, I was charging only $150. Then after I'd done that he requested some more tweaks beyond the scope of simply integrating the design so I charged him $38 or 25 british pounds /hr for 7 hours. which equates to a total of $226 + 150 = $416. Then, while I was working the tweaks, I suggested that my professional designer friend give me some pointers for a fee of $100, and he agreed to that.

So now the total is $516 and that's what I invoiced him for with all the explanation within it.

My mentor suggested that I NOT remove the site because he has a friend that was sued for something like $30k from some diamond company for removing the site from the client server.

Anyone know where I can get some legal advice for free or low cost? It might not be worth pursuing if the cost of getting paid exceeds the payment its self. I can use that time to sharpen my skills and find more clients nomsayin.
 
Zaino said:
Take it down and put up google hammer is the only obvious way this should go.
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I don't know what google hammer is, although a yahoo answer question says it fucks your mac computer up badly lol

Seeking to hurt the guy could backfire to my pocket so fuq that lol thanks tho
 
EricVorheese said:
What does the contract say will happen in case of non-payment?

You do have a contract right?
Click to expand...

No formally written contract. It's a contract that should have at least been conducted through email to have written proof.

I DO have an email specifying the amount and scope of the project. A contract it still formed if I specify the amount and proceed to work, even if the client says nothing - a contract is assumed since we proceed as though it were accepted. He did accept over the phone, although what I'd need is proof to show a court.

I learned about all this kind of stuff in my law class. Thats when I think "hey, college really is pretty useful!" lol

Anyways, the key question here is whether I can legally move the work I've done to my local drive and off his server until I receive payment. Sort of like repoing a car :banana_sml:
 
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