After 4 days, they revert saying that some parameters are missing and that I should rework only 3 pages now and that payment schedules will be discussed only after the reworked content is received by them. I was furious – they had wasted my time in doing so many pages if they did not need me for all. They could not expect me to wait for weeks for their inputs and most ridiculously what was there to discuss about payment? How could they have asked me to do work for another website and I thank my lucky stars that I did not begin work on that one. I told them that I was not willing to work for such unprofessional people and would sue them for copyright infringement if they ever used my content in any way. I have set alerts to check on this.
The whole experience left such a bitter taste in my mouth. Among all the clients I have worked with, this one was most unscrupulous. They made me work, did not pay me and displayed utter unprofessionalism. It was my mistake also that I continued doing work for them on good faith alone. A very big lesson for me. I have become very careful these days and upfront want all payment schedules and other guidelines to be laid out. I hope the other who read this are also wary of such people and take necessary precautions.
It’s all good. Good that you got your lesson early in your career and at the cost of only 4 days of efforts, though 4 days is not very small.
Amen. My dad always said: “To work for someone, you need to have a business relation. The way to strengthen the relation is a first payment.”
I took a note from his book and do not start before receiving the first payment. Now watch that client make the fastest payment you’ve ever seen! Companies that easily take between 30 to 60 days to pay, will often pay within 3-5 days for the first payment.
Love it when they scramble paying me 🙂
@Gurdev and Bart I agree. People should know that building relationships is the key to building a successful business and I know now that it is naive to expect to work on good ethics and faith alone. I truly have learned my lesson and I am positive that these people will learn this lesson the hard way as well.