Client Back From Dead
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- e-wo
14 months ago, I started a web design gig with a client. Client pays $1400 to begin project.
13 months ago, client disappears. $400 of work done at this point.
Today, client's wife calls out of nowhere. Her husband's business is gone, but she wants a website designed on time bought from the initial $1400 payment.
I had no contract on the original gig (I know). Advice?
- sigg0
"no speaka engrish"
*hang up telephone*
- hektor9110
Tell them that during the 14 months have become a wood-engraver.
- detritus0
Thank goodness you didn't spend the rest of that money, eh?
- moniker0
"This new project falls outside of the scope of the original"
or
"Payments for service rendered are non-transferable"
or
"Sorry I wait tables at Denny's now"
- dibec0
easy.
here is a very complex formula for concluding a resolution.
(a )$1400 - (b) $400= (c)$1000.
(a) = money collected
(b) = money earned
(c) = money owed to client (or service)hey look at that!~ You are an outstanding samaritan.
- moniker0
or
Sure I can do that. There will be a $1400 admin fee though.
- hellobotto0
I think it's reasonable to conclude that the original $1400 estimate was only between your and his companies. Now that his company is dissolved, so is the agreement.
That said, to keep things positive, you could go into a new agreement with the wife that states you'll do $1000 worth of work, and treat it as a new ballgame.
If you allow backwash, expect an ill feeling. If you let her blur the lines, then you leave yourself wide open.
P.S. As part of this new chapter, I'd suggest you get a "work complete" invoice showing that you've been paid for work done, and you are not expecting further payment since there is nothing to work on for him...zero everything out.
- capn_ron0
I can't believe she had the balls to ask you. Seems pretty desperate to me. I would avoid it at all costs. or do a quick job for her to get her outta your hair.
- popfodders0
HELL NO! Pay up or ship out.
- sureshot0
download a free template and just change the logo.
- monospaced0
When a client doesn't follow through (aka, disappears) and abandons the project (business dies), the project died with it. If anything, they owe you the $400 and possibly the other $1,000 as well. I can't think of any logical reason why they would want more out of you at this point.
- oh, you got paid already... walk away or start a new contractmonospaced
- moniker0
or
Start the project expecting that her business will fail also, then wait for her son to contact you in a years time.
- monospaced0
Does she have a brother? Does he know Flash?
- mg330
"Mam, didn't you hear? The Internet is closing on Dec 31st this year. I'd love to do this work and take your money, but you'd really be wasting it. I'm not sure what they're coming out with next, but websites are all done starting next year. I don't even know what they'll call the next thing. Zorps? Blindons? Ginlops? You might have to visit ttt.cnn.zorp for all I know. Let's connect next year and see what we'll have to work with once they figure out what's coming next."
- fyoucher10
Sounds like a new project to me. I'd quote her for a new project then.
The $1400 was for a different project. If they paid for it and then disappeared and it was never complete, either offer to finish up the current project or don't. They disappeared, their fault, not yours.
I know if I booked someone for a project, paid them for it, and then I disappeared without giving some kind of notice...I'd know it was my fault and I'd take the hit. It's like a cancellation fee of sorts.
- Exactly what I was thinking.Continuity
- Yeah, exactly. And there was no contract. As dibec said though, it may be nice to do something if you have time.Jaline
- Unless she has emails, but still...you have a case.Jaline
- goldieboy0
Tell her your business is 'gone' too! Than start crying on the phone to her
- Continuity0
Think of it this way:
It'd be kind of like: ordering a pizza in person at the pizzeria; paying for it before it got cooked; taking it home once cooked; eating a third of it, then binning the rest.
You can't go back to the pizzeria and say, 'Look mate, I only ate a third of that last pizza I ordered from you. How about you cook me two thirds of a new one, cos I paid for a full one last time and ate only a third. What d'you reckon?'
Same thing with this. Not your fault they walked off before the project was finished, regardless of if they paid your deposit or not.
- well stated. now i'm hungry.capn_ron
- +1fyoucher1
- Well... in this case only 1/3 of a pizza was delivered, actually. :Pmonospaced
- Continuity0
Out of curiosity ... was the arrangement for your deposit to start the work done by email or verbally (in person or over the phone)? This bird might try to raise a stink if you don't take this gig on, and if all of it is in email, it's pretty much as good as a signed contract, as far as protecting yourself legally goes.
- dibec0
In Oregon ... verbal is as good as signed. yip.
- honest0
i hate to ask, but how hot is she?