No, but when I was in the corporate world it happened all the time. That's when I learned to put it in writing. Communication by e-mail or IM is always preferable. If I do come to a verbal agreement I always follow it up with a "just to recap our conversation" e-mail. I'm sure this doesn't help you right now, but hopefully it will going forward.
A verbal agreement means nothin', even when you stand in court and pledge allegiance...it's all a load of bollocks until you sign the dotted line. Seems you got humped by this - thankfully you'll learn from your mistakes this time.
Yes that happens all the time. Verbal agreement doesn't count for anything. You can't accuse anyone or anything based on something he or she said. That's a sad fact and that happens all the time in the corporate world where people step on each other's faces to move up. Always remember to put everything in writing and always seal with a signature.
Well I appreciate the feedback. I'll remember for the future to get something in writing. I guess I was too trusting. Lesson LEARNED!
Touch wood I've been pretty lucky with clients so far. All of them have paid and been happy with my work, I do tend to work with emails/IM's so that I have a log of everything just incase. I don't really advertise that much though, I get my clients from here usually.