I just had a client ghost me after I delivered the final files. We had a solid relationship for six months, so I didn’t see it coming. It’s a small project, but the principle stings. I’m wondering if I should publicly name them or just chalk it up to a loss and move on. How do you all handle non-paying clients?

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Good lesson. The fastest way to get this money is find any friend who is a lawyer with a bar # and help you draft a nasty demand letter. If you don’t have that find someone. May cost you a couple bucks but it won’t be much. That should do it.

As an individual contributor, you should demand at least 50% - 75% before you handover any artifacts. It’s the only time you have leverage. Then bill the balance / whatever you think per their terms. You can also demand payment for the files before hand over.

As a producer I’ve been in this position - if I have a client that did not pay the upfront start up for a production and we get to the last shoot day or the first batch of dailies needs to get to edit and we haven’t seen any money? I hold the drives until I see the money. This is rare but it’s happened a couple times - trust me the money always comes. They need the stuff, they will find the money.

As a freelancer, you’re a business - you need to think like it. It’s not personal - a lot of companies have bad people inside running things that don’t think about others. You have to be defensive and you have to stand up for yourself. It’s not personal, you are just a cog making stuff. The sooner you accept this and that you are just the “person right now” designing whatever - when in the future somebody behaves this way and you’re afraid of “burning a bridge“ - don’t be - you don’t want to ever engage with them again anyway, the only reason to do this stuff is for money, so when you don’t get it you are doing YOURSELF a disservice. Good luck!

likesmart

Great response!!

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Always get prepayment

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I always do.

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Stay persistent in billing them. Sometimes following up will get you the fees.

likehelpful

From a wise old man, never release files until payment, even for your mother.

likesmart

Persist for three months, and then tag them in shame on LinkedIn. How long have you been chasing your money?

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Say you already have a lawyer on retainer for something else and it won’t cost you a dime to collect. Ask them to just pay it and avoid the hassle for everyone.

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Don’t threaten legal action. You either take action or you don’t. Threatening it is a fool’s errand.

likesmart

Depending on the state you live in their different laws. Go to freelancers union.org and look up resources.

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