I have a nightmare client that i don’t know what to do with. Can anyone suggest a solution to the problem?
I have successfully designed and developed a website for a client - almost complete. All i require to finish it off is the copy (to be supplied by client). It’s been about 4 months and all i get is excuses - I’ll do it next week, I’m busy… I recently sent him an email saying i wish him to pay me for the work I’ve completed to date and to let me know when he’s ready to continue and we shall go from there. I have suggested getting copy done by a friend of mine but no help. What do i do?.. send legal letter, keep perusing?
Can’t you supply it with dummy latin text. Then when he does supply you can paste it in. He’ll know what he has to fill in then and how long it should be and maybe it won;t be so abstract?
This should have been outlined in your contract to prevent exactly this! Getting content from the client can often become a showstopper. I always build my sites, with a CMS, this way the client is responsible for content submission - NOT ME.
It makes the whole process much easier.
You need to send a formal request for content letter in the mail. If they fail to respond, then perhaps its time to consider sending payment notification reminders.
Again, this should have been covered in your contract ahead of time!
Unfortunately i haven’t got a contract drawn up. I’m only small but works progressing quite quickly so it looks like i’ll need one. Do you draw up your own contracts, go to a solicitor …??
The cheapest way is to use an existing one (as a template) and customise the wording to meet the needs of what you offer or to write a fresh one yourself (and then check it with a lawyer to ensure it’s as watertight as possible), doing the writing yourself means you don’t spend hundreds / thousands on having one drafted up (which will be similar to what’s already out there). There should be some decent guides if you do a Google.
Complete the site using greek/nonsense. Send the client an invoice. Also send them a NICE letter explaining that because you never received the content, you populated the site with sample copy and the job is thus completed, and payment is due.
If you want to increase you chance of getting paid, tell the client that you will be happy to load in the content once you have received 100% of the approved content and the final payment.
Then wait 30 days, and repeat.
Then wait 30 days, and repeat again.
Have you recently approached him by telephone about this situation? Or have you done everything by email so far?
I would strongly suggest phoning him and politely but firmly getting your point across. Ask for the remaining payment and explain why this is now necessary. Emails can always be ignored, unlike a phone call.
If you’re calm, polite, reasonable and businesslike, but quietly insistent, you have the best chance of coming to some agreement.
Threats of ‘legal action’ right now will be like a red rag to a bull and just damage your chances of getting paid soon. As you used the word ‘solicitor’ I’ll hazard a guess you’re in the UK (?), in which case if you go the County Court Small Claims route by yourself then you have to stump up hard earned cash (about £75, IIRC, for a claim of about £1,000-ish) just to submit the paperwork, with no guarantee of winning. And even if you do win, there’s still no guarantee you’ll get paid, in which case you’ll have to pay out even more cash (£100+) to enforce payment via the court bailiffs, and still with no guarantee of success. Really, it’s best avoided, if possible.
Also remember that for the best chance with a Small Claim you need a good paper trail that demonstrates your collection attempts, and this takes time to achieve (like the timetable Sagewing suggests).
That’s why I believe a phone call is easier, cheaper and more effective.
Make a phone call as was suggested. Be calm, certain, polite, and see what happens.
Then MOVE ON! There are other people out there who will hire you and pay you, they’re just waiting for you to contact them.
I have a client with a website in similar shape. Still owes me 50%. After nine months of no communication, he calls and says, “What do we need to do to finish this website?”. I met with him and his staff, and explained EXACTLY what content needed to be created. When they create it, I’ll post it (non-CMS site) and get paid the balance.
But believe me, I’ve done thousands of dollars of work with other clients in the meantime. . . be happy, don’t stress, ask (face-to-face) for your money, and then move on!
Thank you all so much for your response! I did try calling many times but he doesn’t answer his phone. I decided to send him another email one last time before deciding whether to forget it and move on, visit him face to face or take it further. I mean, you do all this work for someone and you deserve to get paid. In saying that i was getting stressed (thanks NOSNEVEL… i know it’s not worth it in the end) but since writing the last email he did contact me (called and emailed) and the content was forwarded to me the following day. I kept it professional and direct.
Hello ***,
Hope this finds you well!
Just following up from my email (12-2-10) which details the content I need to complete your website and the outstanding amount from invoice No. 00009 (as attached).
How are you progressing with writing the content needed to complete the site? Be great to launch the site so your business has an online presence!
Given that I started this project with you in September 2009 I feel I have been quite flexible about the work schedule however it is now at the stage where we need to finalise things.
I am happy to complete the final stages of the website but until you have settled the invoice and supplied content I am unable to proceed.
I am going to cancel setting up domain/s and email accounts as of this Friday 26-2-10.
I’m available on ***** or email anytime if you wish to discuss further.
Ross
He still hasn’t payed whats owing (due today) so i’ll see reevaluate over the weekend.
