Paying invoices - Don't be the douchbag client from hell

It is unfortunate when one is stiffed by a client for services rendered. Especially unfortunate when that work was praised and accepted, and then when the time came to pay for it, it was suddenly  something they were unhappy with.

Don't be that douchebag client.

If you can't pay for it, don't ask for it. If you have run into financial difficulties, which I suspect is the case here, just admit to it, so arrangements can be made.

But to ignore invoices for months and months, and then suddenly attack your designer out of the blue for work you'd previously praised, just to get out of paying for it, is unprofessional as well as a bit desperate.

We were contracted for work in November of last year for AllAcres.com. Big rush project for their new website. They provided documents for me to edit and update, changing their minds over and over and over, creating more work than originally planned. Their requests for additional graphics were vague, conflicting, and once explained, were then immediately changed.

They hired a college kid for the programming end, whom we provided with layered documents to use in the development of their CMS. These graphics were distorted and fuzzy by the time he completed his work, and had to be sent repeatedly to manage quality control.

When months passed after the submission of our last invoice, we stepped up our requests for payment, since the graphics requested had been developed in February and had been approved with no issue. Imagine our surprise when the client ignored us for two months and then sent a vicious email attacking the work we had done that had already been approved.

Again, don't be that douchebag client.

I am sorry that their website development hit a snag, and the rush rush project back in November is still not online. I think they might want to ask their developer what the problem is, and why they have been telling everyone that this website is "coming soon" since March. That is obviously not the case.

Attacking the work we have done, which was not only accepted, but praised (we keep all emails to document the workflow and acceptance) is a questionable business practice that I would not recommend.

I know we will never see the money we are owed from this particular company, but I can guarantee that we will never see their new website either.

Have fun talking with our collection guys. They aren't very pleasant. But why should they be when you are indeed one of "those" douchrbag clients.