Comments on: Oh Nooo, Mister Bill!

By: Jessica Anne Elizabeth

Jessica Anne Elizabeth — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 01:56:00 +0000

Whenever I push for my payment, it makes me “hard to work with.” Ha clients are such a pain in the a$$.

By: Irreverent Freelancer

Irreverent Freelancer — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 15:41:00 +0000

Yeah, I’ve been accused of being hard-edged, and I guess in regard to business I am. I don’t think I could have made it almost 10 years in this profession if I weren’t. And in that time, I’m proud to say that I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve been stiffed.

By: devonellington

devonellington — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 14:34:00 +0000

Sheri, get a different and varied clients. As long as you allow this client to treat you this way, the client will continue to do so. Take a page from Lori's book -- halt all work until past invoices are paid.

You can also do what I do, which is add a late fee clause into contracts. At least 20%. AND halt work until all past invoices are cleared up.

If you don't hold the line, you'll always be treated this way.

I have clients from all over the world AND I work on several fiction projects at a time. It can be done.

Don't let this client walk all over you like that.

I've also found it's usually the lowest paying clients that are the worst about paying and the ones who try to make you jump through the most hoops. High paying clients, who understand this is a business arrangement, B2B, not dealing withe someone who "writes on the side" are more likely to pay fairly and on time.

By: Lori

Lori — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 13:29:00 +0000

Sherri, I think it's time you wave goodbye to the dance partner. :)

Sophia, that's very true. We have to form relationships with people who understand it's a partnership, not a situation in which we are considered to be grunts doing the work and we may or may not receive payment.

Michele, I'm just thankful I have more work than this. I wanted to clear my schedule for them, but I'm very glad I didn't.

By: Sophia Levis

Sophia Levis — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 12:28:00 +0000

The thing about it all is this: Freelance writers are small business owners. Every small business has to deal with unpaid invoices, "lost" faxes, etc. In fact, I think it's the business side of things that causes so many talented writers to fail - they just have no head for business.

I am fortunate enough to have some long-standing clients with whom I have a decent relationship. With my biggest clients, I have no problem calling them on the phone and saying "Hey! I need to feed the kids tonight. Are you sending me a check, or what?"

By: Michele

Michele — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 03:42:00 +0000

Whew. I feel the heat through the computer! I think it's great that you'd halt work until payment. I'm sorry you're going through this. :'( If only people realized how hard writing is....

Here's to getting paid!

Smiles,
Michele

By: Writing

Writing — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 22:40:00 +0000

I hear you, Sheri! I think you’re right – it’s time to leave this one and find another!

By: Sheri

Sheri — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 21:24:00 +0000

I HATE this dance too! I freelance only for one client at this point in time. Mainly because it is seasonal, so on my off-seasons I can focus on my novel. They do this same thing to me ALL the freakin' time about my pay and it absolutely drives me crazy! They want my copies on time. They print my copies and I have to wait for three weeks to a few months for my pay.

I often feel like I need a new client and I should leave this one in the dust, but A) clients are hard to find who can offer a steady source of work and B)I will probably still deal with the same BS anyway! Sorry for the hostility, but you really hit a nerve for me.

My other frustration with freelancing is I am the last to know about things since I am not in the office. For example the senior copy writer stepped down. I had no idea. They hired back a copy writer who’s been on an 8 month maternity leave. I had no idea. A simple email could have been really nice, but again, we freelancers have so little rights. We are on a need--to-know basis and usually they think we do not need to know - that others have been hired, when you will be paid, etc... ARG!!!