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I had to threaten someone

ThePresence

ThePresence

Elite Member
Here's the scenario. I designed and created a website for someone. The website took off and now gets many thousands of hits per day. So he decided to put ads on the site. I designed flash banners for him and static ads. He is making nice money now off these ads (to the tune of $500/month per ad - and he has about 10-12 ads running).

He paid without a problem the first time I asked him. Now he owes me more, and I haven't been able to contact him since Wed. evening. I called him numerous times, left voice mails, emails, etc. I see he keeps updating his website so I know he's going online somewhere. I see him in Google Chat, so I know he's getting his emails, he's just choosing not to respond.

I sent him an email last night that unless I hear from him today I'm taking down his site. I needed to get his attention somehow. It worked. He responded that he'll call me at 1:00 today. We shall see. He also wrote "That was a very nice email you sent me, by the way". WTF? The guy has some serious balls to say that. This is not going to be pretty.

UPDATE: He called me (about 3:00) and we worked things out.
The threat worked. He still cannot really explain why he was avoiding my calls and emails.
I'm confident I will get the money within a few days.
 
I had to put my foot down the other day too.

If they owe you money and you are acting politely, and they do almost EVERYTHING to make you believe that they are hiding from you, put your foot down. Then apoligize later if you are wrong.
 
If he's dodging you then yeah, you should have taken it down. Side question... why not put your own site up and collect the advertising revenue?
 
Originally posted by: TrandM
If he's dodging you then yeah, you should have taken it down. Side question... why not put your own site up and collect the advertising revenue?
Click to expand...
My site would not attract as many people. This guy is in a unique position, whatever. I don't want to get into what kind of site is and which site, that's not the point here.
 
Originally posted by: Goosemaster
I had to put my foot down the other day too.

If they owe you money and you are acting politely, and they do almost EVERYTHING to make you believe that they are hiding from you, put your foot down. Then apoligize later if you are wrong.
Click to expand...

I kinda apologized in the very same email I sent him bout taking the site down. I wrote"You know, I'm usually a pretty nice guy and I deal nicely with people.
You are forcing me to be an ass, and I hate that you're putting me in this position."
 
Originally posted by: Goosemaster
Hopefully you have a contract [and some goons] so there aren't any disputes
Click to expand...
Goons, I have.
Contracts, I don't.
I thought he was a friend. You know the way that goes.
 
Originally posted by: ThePresence
Originally posted by: Goosemaster
Hopefully you have a contract [and some goons] so there aren't any disputes
Click to expand...
Goons, I have.
Contracts, I don't.
I thought he was a friend. You know the way that goes.
Click to expand...



I proceeded the same way. Basically, I learned that in business there can be friends, but that business is business, and you need that little piece of paper amoung other things to get their ear.

 
Originally posted by: ThePresence
Originally posted by: Goosemaster
Hopefully you have a contract [and some goons] so there aren't any disputes
Click to expand...
Goons, I have.
Contracts, I don't.
I thought he was a friend. You know the way that goes.
Click to expand...

Contract with every contract job, regardless of if it is a friend or not! Business is business. Unless they are immediate family, you need a contract, and even sometimes in immediate family (unless money was never an issue in your family 😉 )
 
Originally posted by: Goosemaster
Originally posted by: ThePresence
Originally posted by: Goosemaster
Hopefully you have a contract [and some goons] so there aren't any disputes
Click to expand...
Goons, I have.
Contracts, I don't.
I thought he was a friend. You know the way that goes.
Click to expand...
I proceeded the same way. Basically, I learned that in business there can be friends, but that business is business, and you need that little piece of paper amoung other things to get their ear.
Click to expand...
Yes, I know. I usually do that. This is a unique case for a whole bunch of reasons.
 
Originally posted by: ThePresence
Originally posted by: Goosemaster
Originally posted by: ThePresence
Originally posted by: Goosemaster
Hopefully you have a contract [and some goons] so there aren't any disputes
Click to expand...
Goons, I have.
Contracts, I don't.
I thought he was a friend. You know the way that goes.
Click to expand...
I proceeded the same way. Basically, I learned that in business there can be friends, but that business is business, and you need that little piece of paper amoung other things to get their ear.
Click to expand...
Yes, I know. I usually do that. This is a unique case for a whole bunch of reasons.
Click to expand...

That's what I've said on ocassion and it has led to trouble🙁
 
Originally posted by: Goosemaster
Originally posted by: ThePresence
Originally posted by: Goosemaster
Originally posted by: ThePresence
Originally posted by: Goosemaster
Hopefully you have a contract [and some goons] so there aren't any disputes
Click to expand...
Goons, I have.
Contracts, I don't.
I thought he was a friend. You know the way that goes.
Click to expand...
I proceeded the same way. Basically, I learned that in business there can be friends, but that business is business, and you need that little piece of paper amoung other things to get their ear.
Click to expand...
Yes, I know. I usually do that. This is a unique case for a whole bunch of reasons.
Click to expand...
That's what I've said on ocassion and it has led to trouble🙁
Click to expand...
I really wanted this site. I knew it would do well, and it could make me money. It would get me more exposure and it would look impressive on resume. I was willing to trust his friendship on this.
 
Originally posted by: Goosemaster
That's what I've said on ocassion and it has led to trouble🙁
Click to expand...

Agreed. I did some work for a charity organization last year. I programmed a database to keep track of information that they needed. They were willing to pay me a small stipend and things, but since they were a small charity organization, I told them I would do the work Pro Bono. Big mistake that I didn't get the stuff on paper at least.

The project kept on growing and growing till it was taking all my free time weekdays and weekends to keep up. I was going to 3+ hour meetings on the weekend just to get specs for the project which was more complex than I believe they really needed.

Trust me, even in Free work, get it on paper, otherwise things spiral out of control.

**EDIT**
BTW, it got to a point where I had to do a little of the work at work. That is where I finally drew the line, and stopped programming. I got to a point where the program would function, but not with all of the crazy requests they made. (they started to want "everything" automated)
 
You should take the site down immediately and commence with contract talks if doesn't immediately agree to a written negotiated contract. Contract = happy for you.

Edit: typos
 
Take the site down and put up a single page in its place:

"Site taken down due to non-payment. <Insert dipsh!t's name> is past due on payment for web design services. Please call him at <Phone #> to let him know how much you want this site back up, or to let him know how much of an asshole he is by not paying his friend for the work he did."
 
Originally posted by: ThePresence
Originally posted by: TrandM
If he's dodging you then yeah, you should have taken it down. Side question... why not put your own site up and collect the advertising revenue?
Click to expand...
My site would not attract as many people. This guy is in a unique position, whatever. I don't want to get into what kind of site is and which site, that's not the point here.
Click to expand...

That's cool.
 
Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
Take the site down and put up a single page in its place:

"Site taken down due to non-payment. <Insert dipsh!t's name> is past due on payment for web design services. Please call him at <Phone #> to let him know how much you want this site back up, or to let him know how much of an asshole he is by not paying his friend for the work he did."
Click to expand...

:thumbsup:
 
1:45 - still no phone call.
He did IM me this morning right after I posted this thread to tell me again that he'll call me at 1pm.
He's 45 minutes late.
 
Originally posted by: ThePresence
1:45 - still no phone call.
He did IM me this morning right after I posted this thread to tell me again that he'll call me at 1pm.
He's 45 minutes late.
Click to expand...

kick his ass, seabass
 
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