Hi guys, I'm currently in a tight position and I'm looking for help... Recently i've taken on a customer which I didn't get the chance to thoroughly go through with the terms and conditions. I usually ask for a 50% deposit after showing a semi-finished job. This guy who has given me a .PSD to code isn't willing to pay the deposit in return for seeing a sample of the working website. I've also asked if he can tell me if someone could vouch for his trustworthiness he keeps on stating it wasn't in the TERMS... I'm currently confused and seeking urgent help. I don't want the work I've done goto waste, but I don't want to be scammed/ work for free... Note: If i've posted this thread in the wrong section I apologise... Thanks Everyone
Generally speaking you cannot retrospectively add terms and conditions to a contract after commencement. You really would need all communications reviewed by a solicitor/ lawyer to see where you stand as in the absense of a formal contract discussions leading up to an agreement effectively are the contract. Never commence work until you have a formal contract agreed
I know I made the mistake by not stating my terms clearly to him. But I also think he should make some contribution, i.e. deposit if I can show him that I'm not just going to take his money and run for it...
Offer him a very very well watermarked version of a small .jpg version of the work and refuse to give him anything else before you see that 50%. If you give him ANYTHING without seeing payment you will be scammed. An honest person should have no problems with a 50% deposit, especially after seeing part of the work done.
On second thoughts, I think I'll demand a deposit before I code anymore as i've already done 60-70% of the work... I'm going to offer him that I'm going to stay online and work untill the project is finished, but not without the deposit. Thanks for your encouraging words hannah.
I would watermark the file very well as Hannah said, in a way it is sad that you have to go about it that way but I would expect that you might be dealing with someone who is not the most honest person around. And I would get him a jpg that allows him to see what is going on but not enough to use. There is a fine line between making sure you are not ripped off and possibly insulting an honest person.
There is a risk by refusing to continue that you could be sued for breach of contract. Realistically you need to have the communications between you and the client reviewed by a solicitor/ lawyer
This is really a mess, when you have some mis-communication with your client. I am having the similar kind of problem. We had provided Customer Support Service to a client for 2 months. But Its been 7 months, not even a single penny. I am also looking forward to get help from a lawyer. I also suggest you the same. I have a plus, that we have contract signed with him. This is advisable, dont work without UPFRONT. Why dont we people create a unity and have some terms and conditions to work with. If a buyer isnot ready for upfront, No one whould work for him. There must some ranking system for service provider as well so that a buyer can select a best suited for his/her job.
Get real. He is not going to get sued based on coding a psd. He does not need any attorney to review the emails that is overkill. He needs to state his terms, if the other guy refuses, that is the end of the deal.
well it didn't work out, we both got a negative iTrader because of our mistakes, I'll make sure I'll state all of my terms from the very beginning..