17
The easiest thing is to shut down all, but what if the client is sick or something. Chances are 90% that they don't want to pay you, but there are still 10% which you need to consider. This is all true if you expect more work from them and if you really like the project.
Do you have a direct contact with the client? Do Skype call to his mobile and see what ...
15
You need to shut it down ASAP. Chances are that by now, your "client" has cloned all of your work, which is not hard to do at all, and put it up on a different domain. I put the word client in quotes because, without a written contract, you really don't have anything that would prove how the other party is a "client". You may never see a cent from this ...
15
Client wants me to steal secret plans from the CEO of his competing company.
He sent an email today detailing where I can find the plans, how to break into his offices, and a schedule for when the break in would be best.
Do you think you are blameless if you break in and steal the plans?
If the police arrest you for breaking into the office, do you think you'...
14
Generate an invoice marked "past due". Send certified. That's all you can really do in your case, at this step, without getting an attorney involved. The $10,000 is probably more than any state's small claims process.
Other than that, don't lift a FINGER until you've been paid in full. You might hear your client trying to bargain with you, but you've ...
10
I'm a freelance web developer and security researcher, so my experience may be a little biased.
In general, web development is a pretty insecure mess. More experienced developers are generally seen as more security-focused programmers; you first learn to program, then you learn to program well, then you learn to program securely.
In general, if your client ...
9
Life's too short..
You have 2 choices....
Invoice for the work you've completed. Wait until that invoice is paid. Then tell him you're done.
You'll package everything and prepare to deliver things in their
current state and he will be free to find another developer to
finish the project.
Be quiet, sit back, and realize your only option is to deal with the
...
9
Sounds like you're using Upwork? If not, let me know and I'll adjust this.
Personally, I've been using Upwork for over a year and pretty much stopped using it because of low-quality clients.
If there was no issue with your work during the development process and the client was able to see your work and then all of a sudden is not happy, that's a little ...
9
Unless you receive payment, I don't believe you are obligated to do anything.
It's your fault to some degree for letting outstanding invoices "build up over time". You should never allow that to happen for any client. If they haven't paid you they don't own anything.
I would not even entertain transfer of anything until payment has been made in full. And ...
8
If I received the same call and the client started barking requests at me before I could even figure out to whom I was speaking, I think I'd become a bit defensive.
I think it's always important, as a creative professional, that you're able to engage with the client at a certain pace. My "pace" includes:
Who are you?
What line of business are you in?
What ...
8
In India:
If you are in India - then no, there is no legal requirement for you to register yourself as a freelancer. However, if you are directly involved with Govt. contracting then you must hold a valid Govt. issued license. As of your income, you must pay your income taxes regardless. If you are getting paid directly to your bank account then it would be ...
8
Unless your contract specifically states that you own all rights or the right to resell/redistribute the work... then NO you do not have the right to resell or redistribute anything under any circumstance.
If you do not have rights, then adding a "credit" is meaningless. However, a contract can stipulate that reselling or distributing is permissible if a ...
7
Leave this dude alone. You're going to get burned. There is nothing particular to web site development that this guy is doing.
Let's look at this objectively. This is someone who you don't have any vested relationship with -- an acquaintance; not a close friend or family member. To add, he hasn't even become a customer!!! Yet he felt it was okay to ...
7
No matter what is the behavior of the customer, being aggressive and insulting never helps. In some countries, it can, indeed, allow your customer to take legal actions against you for defamation/slandering.
Another consequence is that the insulting e-mail can find its way to internet. What if, a few years later, a potential customer—a large corporation, ...
7
Preface: I am not now, nor have I ever been a lawyer. For legal advice it is always best to ask someone trained in the versatility of the law.
A contract is a written agreement which shows a "meeting of the minds". Email can be just that. It's my understanding that, while not as iron-clad as a physical signature, an email can be used to show intent and ...
7
In our line of work we sell two things:
Our work (outright) and the rights to copyright it, OR
The right to use the work (a license), and retain the copyright.
We use the first approach when it's unlikely that we can market the same work to other interested parties because of its uniqueness. We hand it off. The client can use it, or flush it down the ...
7
Although open-ended, I'll try to address it as best as possible.
GET A CONTRACT DRAWN UP ASAP! Do not offer remote support, except to those you know quite well, and personally.
The contract should be signed before you take in the system, and before you touch it. It should explain that you are a professional, but shit happens... Essentially. It needs to ...
7
If you two have no contract, then what is he breaching? on the other hand, the mutual understanding is valid in front of the law.
I'd say that he was not acting correctly, from what you wrote. He should have given you more tasks. And if not being satisfied, he should have told you that. So if this comes to the arbitration, I'd say that email are enough of ...
7
Ignore it. If escrow was used for payments, they had to relinquish their hold on the escrow.... if they did so without approving of the work, it's not your problem.
Bullying you into more work, or a return of funds, is just that, bullying. If they fail to go through stated channels, it's even more a case of just plain bullying. You do have a contract with ...
6
Employers send 1099-MISC to contractors, not vice-versa. Even if the employer does not send a 1099 to a contractor, the contractor is still on the hook for the taxes.
The instructions for form 1099 explain it very clearly: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1099msc.pdf
"File Form 1099-MISC, Miscellaneous Income, for each person to whom you have paid during ...
6
I actually have to say, I don't think this is a "scam". He has been in touch over a very extended period of time. I do think how this is a very bad idea.
I often meet other freelancers, who with all the best intention in the world really do believe they have the next Facebook. I believe you may be dealing with someone who isn't fully aware of what makes ...
6
Tax law is complicated the world over, and as a general rule you should seek the advise of a tax specialist in the jurisdiction where you'll need to pay taxes, they'll also likely be able to incorporate a company for you if that will be the best option.
In 2001 Ireland moved from a system of tax-free allowance, to one based upon tax credits, the principal ...
6
Obviously, I (or anyone here) have not been part of your negotiations or development, but I can tell you, you're only going to add fuel to the fire. You're also going to put yourself into a legally sticky situation.
You did yourself a disservice by not writing a contract/scope of work etc. At this point, you're both stuck.
You also made a mistake by not ...
6
Step 1 - Run away.
Step 2 - Refer to step one.
I say this because this is how many freelancers get stuck doing work for free, or much less than they should be. Future profits mean nothing when you're waiting a year or two to see a penny for your work!
If they don't have a budget, you can stay in contact, but do not do any work for them. You will have very ...
6
First, kick the notion that people in a part of the world are all linked to terrorism, somehow. It's completely baseless, racist, and xenophobic.
You're getting legitimate business/services from a person in another part of the world. However you pay them is up to your business terms, and your contract (make sure you have a contract, especially if you are ...
6
I'm assuming you are not looking to extend the business relationship, but to end it. In addition, I'll assume it's more important getting the website done than getting perhaps $500 back after a lengthy process?
As it is, the only leverage you have is somehow appealing to his professional conscience.
If the unfinished work is in a state where it could be ...
6
I would suggest asking for a contract to be made, or you make one and ask it to be signed. The purpose of a contract is to protect both parties.
You can simply state (the contract should be more in depth than the following "In the unforeseen event that there is a breach in data I cannot be held responsible for any HIPPA violations". I would include that you ...
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