I am wondering if anyone has encountered problems collecting pay as a freelancer? If so, any suggestions as to how to clear this problem?

I have had that happen once with a freelance web job. The guy was 90 days past due, so what did I do to get him to pay? Did I take his site down? No. I put a big headline on the top of the site saying that this customer was deliquent in paying.

Now although it did make him pay VERY QUICKLY, in hindsite, I wouldn't recommend that. It opens you up to litagation. I would threaten to take the site down. That should get their attention.

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Macintosh and Political Blog
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The easiest way to get paid is not to publish their site until you cash the check. Put up their work on your site so they can see it and wait until they write you a check. Make sure it says that in the contract!

-Jason Tor

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Text Message Website Contact Forms | Powerful Web Design

I think Jason's right. There's nothing to beat a structured agreement with payments scheduled to kick in at certain key points.

However, I don't think this is going to help you right now or you wouldn't be posting. It may help to have a little more information.

I've a fair amount of credit control experience (in the dim and distant past it was my job) in the UK and would be very happy to help anyone experiencing problems.

pne

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lmadler,
Did you have a contract?

-Jason Tor

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Text Message Website Contact Forms | Powerful Web Design

the work I have done and not been paid for are, newspaper ads and magazine design and layout, so far my total for these unpaid jobs = $1,680 which might not sound like alot to the average person but to me, it's pay that i was counting on.
Things that are published and can't be taken back. I had no contracts, just verbal agreements. They use my work and I have a hard time collecting. It's making me want to rething my line of work, but i'm fairly good at it http://www.adleragency.net is my site.

Lana,
Without a contract there is not much you can due except have a meeting with your client and tell him/her in a professional manner that you need to get paid in full for the work you have done, and that you wont be able to do any further work for them until you've been paid in full.

As for any future work you do, I highly recommend you have a contract even for the smallest jobs. It's good business and keeps everyone on the the same page, the client knows exactly what work you are doing for them and knows when and how much to pay you. Never be shy when asking for the money you earned!

-Jason Tor

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Text Message Website Contact Forms | Powerful Web Design

I would draft a final, formal letter listing everyhting that is outstanding, and requesting payment. If they do not pay, you will be referring them to a collection agency. That will usually get their attention. If not, look up a collection agency, and send it over. You may not get everything that is owed to you, but you should get at least some of it.

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Macintosh and Political Blog
Bushism Screen Saver

I think ya'll are right. I have downloaded a independent contractor agreement that i will use now. Funny thing is I trusted that i would get paid and didn't even think about a contract. Doing websites, I usually get 1/2 down and the rest after I am finished and those people I usually see in person. Now the work i had been doing was over the net and the files where due on press deadline, I ASSumed that (did ya'll get that) I met my deadline and they would be so please that I did a good job that I would collect in a timely fashion. I have taken all of your advise and will take a break for a day or two to soak my wounds and probably continue in this line of work. It's in my system! Thank you very much for the advise. Next time I will cover my bases first. I do have a production of a magazine coming up and will send the contract to be signed and returned before work is started.

Personally I have a script which I can aim at a site which will take the site down or I can write to files on remote. I am happy to publish to my customers server once I recieve proof of payment, which can be bank transfer, or third party merchant service. If for any reason at the customers end payment ever did fail I would dissolve all code or write somethimg to speed up payment. Luckily I have only ever had good solid clients, but I dare say there will come a day.

Actually this summer is the first time I have had problems, I have been freelancing for around 10 years now, I have never had this problems before. I think that with the print media it might be that a prepayment or something might have to been done, since it is a service that once printed can't be returned. On the other hand I can insist that I give them only proofs of the work until payment is made. How does that sound?

In case anyone else out there needs a contract where did you download one from lmadler ?

Anyone else know of any resources (free of course) where these type of contracts can be found....

Carju1

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Oh well everyone else does it - http://www.jctdesigns.com - http://www.swanseawaterbeds.co.uk - http://www.bathsrus.com/

INDEPENDENT CONTRACTING AGREEMENT

Gulfscapes Magazine, referred to as CONTRACTING PARTY, and Lana Adler, referred to as INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR, agree:

INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR shall perform the following services for CONTRACTING PARTY:

Graphic Design

at the following rate of remuneration:
$15 per hour

This agreement shall begin on August 07, 2004 and shall terminate on 2005 unless earlier terminated.

Contracting Party may terminate this contract on 14 days notice to Independent Contractor for unsatisfactory performance.

THIS IS AN AGREEMENT FOR INDEPENDENT CONTRACTING SERVICES. THE CONTRACTING PARTY PROVIDES NO BENEFITS SUCH AS UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, HEALTH INSURANCE OR WORKER'S COMPENSATION INSURANCE TO INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR.

CONTRACTING PARTY IS ONLY INTERESTED IN THE RESULTS OBTAINED BY THE INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING ALL TOOLS AND MATERIALS REQUIRED FOR PERFORMANCE OF THE TASKS AGREED TO.

INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYMENT OF ALL FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL INCOME TAXES.

Dated: ____________________________




_________________________________________________
CONTRACTING PARTY BY AN AUTHORIZED OFFICER




_________________________________________________
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR

INDEPENDENT CONTRACTING AGREEMENT

Gulfscapes Magazine, referred to as CONTRACTING PARTY, and Lana Adler, referred to as INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR, agree:

INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR shall perform the following services for CONTRACTING PARTY:

Graphic Design

at the following rate of remuneration:
$15 per hour

This agreement shall begin on August 07, 2004 and shall terminate on 2005 unless earlier terminated.

Contracting Party may terminate this contract on 14 days notice to Independent Contractor for unsatisfactory performance.

THIS IS AN AGREEMENT FOR INDEPENDENT CONTRACTING SERVICES. THE CONTRACTING PARTY PROVIDES NO BENEFITS SUCH AS UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, HEALTH INSURANCE OR WORKER'S COMPENSATION INSURANCE TO INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR.

CONTRACTING PARTY IS ONLY INTERESTED IN THE RESULTS OBTAINED BY THE INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING ALL TOOLS AND MATERIALS REQUIRED FOR PERFORMANCE OF THE TASKS AGREED TO.

INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYMENT OF ALL FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL INCOME TAXES.

Dated: ____________________________




_________________________________________________
CONTRACTING PARTY BY AN AUTHORIZED OFFICER




_________________________________________________
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR

how about that just copy and paste onto notepad or word, and put your name, contracted business, terms. I used my name and some information as a sample