Bodyflight.Net 0 #1 August 27, 2004 [rant]Ok, so I'm mad. I have a client, who is also a "friend" This is the 2nd time he's neglected to pay his bill in a timely manner.. we made a verbal agreement on the phone a month ago for payment, he didn't live up to it After a week of being "blown off" I decided to enforce my payment collection policies and his website is now offline, after being more than 30 days past due. I'm sure he's gonna be pissed, but what am I supposed to do? I'm pissed too.. he used our friendship as a paun in this whole thing. Am I wrong here... I was counting on that payment to pay rent, now I have to scramble. I offered an immediate payment option via credit card/pay pal and assured him the site would go live again as soon as he pays (which I will honor) but how terrible it had to come to this!!!! Am I wrong? Has anyone else had an experience like this, from either perspective??? [/rant] Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
towerrat 0 #2 August 27, 2004 business is business. I wouldn't feel bad a bitPlay stupid games, win stupid prizes! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pleifer 0 #3 August 27, 2004 This is why as a man whore I demand full payment up front Really though, I hate it when friends put us in those predicaments _________________________________________ The Angel of Duh has spoke Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Keith 0 #4 August 27, 2004 Nope, you're not wrong. My rigger is a friend of mine. We made an agreement when she started doing my rigging that she would treat me as any other customer, and I would treat her as any other service provider when it came to business. It's worked well so far.Keith Don't Fuck with me Keith - J. Mandeville Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RkyMtnHigh 0 #5 August 27, 2004 Nope. You're not overreacting or being unreasonable at all. Friendship is Friendship and Business is Business. You are not in the charity business nor should this "friend" abuse your friendship. Just my $.02 _________________________________________ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bodyflight.Net 0 #6 August 27, 2004 Glad to know that I'm not completely wrong here... I wish that it were easier... and to think it's only the second Invoice he's ever gotten from me in a year! better to squash this behavior now huh? thanks for the support... what would I do without my dz.com friends.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snowwhite 0 #7 August 27, 2004 My sister rented an apartment from me. I had to evict her. Wasn't easy, wasn't fun. Just business. Told her that I had to have income, or I would lose one of the buildings that I owned, and if I were going to lose her house or mine, rest assured, it wasn't gonna be mine. We're still best friends.skydiveTaylorville.org freefallbeth@yahoo.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mayberry 0 #8 August 27, 2004 Nope, you're not wrong in doing what you did. Business is business. I know shit happens, but a real friend wouldn't have put you in that situation. At least thats how I see it. Just my 2 cents. DonDon Here's to friends! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cocheese 0 #9 August 27, 2004 Way to go. I like to see creative ways to motivate the client. Wait, i owe my packer for some side jobs he did. ( Paying on time before the next pack job . Ha) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rdy2skydive 0 #10 August 27, 2004 Don't mean to sound harsh here, but I don't think you should be worried about your "friend" not having his website. He isn't worried about you not having enough money to pay basic living expenses. Business is business. If he's upset that's too bad. He'll get over it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bodyflight.Net 0 #11 August 27, 2004 QuoteHe isn't worried about you not having enough money to pay basic living expenses.... That's what I'm sayin! but it still doesn't feel good ya know? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jimmytavino 16 #12 August 27, 2004 ... years ago I knew a stone and brick mason who told about a customer who was slow to pay,,,, as the mason was helping him build a house.... The foundation was finished and the framing was done,,,and the customer set the tone for the job ,, by whining about all his bills, and delaying the payment to this mason.... The mason stayed true to his contract though,,,, and went ahead and built this fancy brick fireplace and chimney... The mason asked for payment as the owner was about to move in.... and was "put off" yet again.... It was near the holidays,,, and when the selfish owner decided to light a fire in the new fireplace,,,, huge clouds of smoke,, POURED into the living room,,, and the owner had to douse the fire... The furious owner called the mason and demanded satisfaction.... The Mason said,, " pay me what you OWE me and I'll "fix it "... Upon receiving full payment,, the mason arrived took a ladder off his truck,, set it against the chimney , climbed up and dropped a Brick.... down the chimney flue... A crash was heard and pieces of glass fell to the floor of the fireplace... The mason had "cemented" his own brand of insurance,, by installing a pane of glass across the flue pipe about 4 feet above the fire chamber.... The glass shattered,,, the chimney worked,,, the mason left,,,, and the customer got to clean up the broken glass.....and the rest of the mess.. ... As a tradesman who works hard and always delivers,,, it really galls me when a customer has such low regard for the effort required to meet their demands..... So many people think you just snap your fingers and the work gets done,,,,... To have to wait.... any length of time to be paid for work already finished is absolutely unfair..... but who said life was Fair???????? ..... so you have to anticipate,, and cover yourself... ...... and develop a good instinct regarding who will be honorable and who won't.....And it is a constant surprise that,,,, "those who you think will pay,,,, don't" .... and those who you figure will NOT pay,,,, do.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bodyflight.Net 0 #13 August 27, 2004 I LOVE your story! Thank you, thank you! My god, what a SMART thing to do! and your right about Quote"those who you think will pay,,,, don't" .... and those who you figure will NOT pay,,,, do.... I found that out earlier in life when I had a problem collecting some money owed on construction from Tommy Lee & Pamela Anderson a few years ago! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ACMESkydiver 0 #14 August 27, 2004 QuoteNope. You're not overreacting or being unreasonable at all. Friendship is Friendship and Business is Business. You are not in the charity business nor should this "friend" abuse your friendship. Just my $.02 Uh-huh uh-huh. ~Jaye Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RevJim 0 #15 August 27, 2004 Dawn, I'd like you to meet me good friend here, Guido. "Nice ta meetcha, ma'am. Iz hears ya gotz a little 'collection problem'...."It's your life, live it! Karma RB#684 "Corcho", ASK#60, Muff#3520, NCB#398, NHDZ#4, C-33989, DG#1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bodyflight.Net 0 #16 August 27, 2004 Thanks Rev.. I knew SOMEONE here had those kinda connections Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WFFC 1 #17 August 27, 2004 Quote[rant]Am I wrong here...[/rant] Nope...Had a non paying customer once...I now own his prized domain. Also, build easter eggs in software that if not recompiled by X date, it will become non functional.----- ~~~Michael Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bodyflight.Net 0 #18 August 27, 2004 Quotebuild easter eggs in software that if not recompiled by X date, it will become non functional. That is EXCELLENT!! on a similar note.. sent you a pm Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites mattsplat 0 #19 August 27, 2004 Not only should he pay you, but you should also charge him to reinstate the web site. If he was truely your friend he would have payed you on time. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Bodyflight.Net 0 #20 August 28, 2004 UPDATE It took "client" 2 days to figure out the website was down.. here's his reply to my notification. QuoteI am sending a check tomarrow for the balance due on the website. I expect the web site to be up and running in the morning, I will also be terminating my arangement with you for web design in the future. The little stunt you pulled is vengeful, wrong, and simply rude. Also, I dont want to wake up in the morning to a lengthy rebuttle from you via email, call me if you have a message to convey. Again, Please reactivate the web page immediately!!! VENGEFUL RUDE & WRONG??? GEEZ.. just so you know what kinda gal I am.. here's my rebuttle he didn't request QuoteYou lost your ability to "expect" anything with me when you did not live up to your promise to pay. As I said and is LEGAL "Your website will go back online immediately once the balance on your account has been paid." and not one minute before. And if you think I'm wrong, you should consult an attorney, as I did. If payment has not been received by September 1st a $25 late fee will be added to your account. I have never been so humiliated and felt so used before in 6 years of doing this work for clients and friends. If you want your site back online immediately I suggest you pay for it immediately. I also suggest you don't call names to me when you are the one refusing to pay for work you ordered. I suggest in the future you don't order things you cannot pay for, it is illegal, and you know that. Again, as I have said over and over, I will reactivate your web site once you have paid for it. Dawn Suiter My next step is to sell this account to a collection agency if it remains unpaid.. I certainly hope it doesn't come to that. so now I feel horrible.. AND I lost a client.. of course one who doesn't pay me on time.. so no real loss huh? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites RevJim 0 #21 August 28, 2004 Dawn, this is the reason I don't do web design for a living (anymore). I did it a bit a few years ago, but soooo many people figured it was n't a vital bill to pay, I just gave up. One thing I DID do though, was replace the index.html file with a message about said site not paying their bills, and thus losing their web presence. Some of those index files might even still be out there. I still do some html, but it's for friends as quick 'throw together' sites, and I tell them I'll not update either.It's your life, live it! Karma RB#684 "Corcho", ASK#60, Muff#3520, NCB#398, NHDZ#4, C-33989, DG#1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0
mattsplat 0 #19 August 27, 2004 Not only should he pay you, but you should also charge him to reinstate the web site. If he was truely your friend he would have payed you on time. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bodyflight.Net 0 #20 August 28, 2004 UPDATE It took "client" 2 days to figure out the website was down.. here's his reply to my notification. QuoteI am sending a check tomarrow for the balance due on the website. I expect the web site to be up and running in the morning, I will also be terminating my arangement with you for web design in the future. The little stunt you pulled is vengeful, wrong, and simply rude. Also, I dont want to wake up in the morning to a lengthy rebuttle from you via email, call me if you have a message to convey. Again, Please reactivate the web page immediately!!! VENGEFUL RUDE & WRONG??? GEEZ.. just so you know what kinda gal I am.. here's my rebuttle he didn't request QuoteYou lost your ability to "expect" anything with me when you did not live up to your promise to pay. As I said and is LEGAL "Your website will go back online immediately once the balance on your account has been paid." and not one minute before. And if you think I'm wrong, you should consult an attorney, as I did. If payment has not been received by September 1st a $25 late fee will be added to your account. I have never been so humiliated and felt so used before in 6 years of doing this work for clients and friends. If you want your site back online immediately I suggest you pay for it immediately. I also suggest you don't call names to me when you are the one refusing to pay for work you ordered. I suggest in the future you don't order things you cannot pay for, it is illegal, and you know that. Again, as I have said over and over, I will reactivate your web site once you have paid for it. Dawn Suiter My next step is to sell this account to a collection agency if it remains unpaid.. I certainly hope it doesn't come to that. so now I feel horrible.. AND I lost a client.. of course one who doesn't pay me on time.. so no real loss huh? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RevJim 0 #21 August 28, 2004 Dawn, this is the reason I don't do web design for a living (anymore). I did it a bit a few years ago, but soooo many people figured it was n't a vital bill to pay, I just gave up. One thing I DID do though, was replace the index.html file with a message about said site not paying their bills, and thus losing their web presence. Some of those index files might even still be out there. I still do some html, but it's for friends as quick 'throw together' sites, and I tell them I'll not update either.It's your life, live it! Karma RB#684 "Corcho", ASK#60, Muff#3520, NCB#398, NHDZ#4, C-33989, DG#1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
