Hi! This is an important subject for every web designers: what to do if a client doesn't pay our work? Do you think that it is legal to revenge on the client? What do you do in these situations? Here is the article: You can read the full article here: http://www.digitalartsonline.co.uk/news/creative-business/taking-revenge-on-client-who-doesnt-pay-is-it-legal/
It's a tricky one in my opinion and depends on how its argued. One the 1 argument from client to designer you've got "he used unauthorized access to my server and stole my website" On the other argument from designer to client you've got "huh? We haven't been paid, we were authorized to design and install this website and as we haven't yet been paid we must still be authorized as the project is incomplete." Its horrible being shafted like that though, its happened to me before a few times and even on here. Couple of years ago I got shafted on this forum for about $600 if I remember rightly. It was the simplest con of all time, they bought a website from me, I sent over all the details, transferred the domain after they paid me and about 15 mins later, Paypal hit me with a not received goods complaint and as hard as I tried they wouldn't take anything I gave them as evidence. I sent PMs, emails, screenshots of the transferred domain from domainsite and nothing, I lost the website and the money.
One it looks childish and unprofessional to take revenge on a non-paying client. That's why in your contract with the client; you have the client pay a milestone % upfront and have them pay the other milestones as the project is completed in steps rather you know or don't know their reputation and reliability for paying on time as the project milestones are completed. That way you don't loose money and the customer cannot do a single charge back after the work is delivered because you will have records including an electronic signature that they acknowledge the work as been completed according to the contract that you and client signed.