A few weeks ago, I wrote a post about a client whom refused to pay or reply to any of my emails. I had just about given up hope of receiving any further compensation. I was about to say "Forget it!" I am a little to stubborn for that, though!
Per my lawyer friend's advice, I sent two separate emails roughly 2 weeks apart. The first simply reminded the client about the articles he had requested and accepted which resulted in the accompanying total amount due. I got a big nothing in response.
Then, I sent out a formal letter requesting payment immediately. Once more, I got nothing in return.
I decided to try once more. My lawyer friend agreed to represent me in my final attempt to gain payment. I know many people will believe I should have just given up but it was not the monetary sum that fueled this fire. It was the fact that the client "could not use or pay for some of the articles" then asked me to submit an entirely new set of articles that he never responded to. After communication ceased, I discovered he had published every single article, both the "unusable" articles and the "unreplied to" articles. And he used them word for word with my name attached as author.
My lawyer friend typed up and sent a nicely worded, formal request for payment which basically said, "Pay for what you published or this is going to court for copyright and contract violations!"
Low and behold, there sat my payment in full today. I even got an apologetic email. Except the email ended with, "Proper business arrangements and relationships work best without legal interference and threats of lawsuits. The company agrees it did not pay within the seven day time frame outlined in the contract and agrees the articles were published without author consent or payment. This has now been amended. However, because of the recent communication and interference of an attorney, we hear by discontinue all business and ask the contract be ended today, 1/14/2011. Lawyers should never be involved in independent contract affairs."
I guess this client/company feels freelance writers should enjoy being uncompensated for their time and work. We should love to see our 'rejected' work published without consent. And all legal aspects and lawyers should be banned from being included in any freelance writing affairs....unless the writer is at fault. Yeah Right!
No, those were not the exact words to and from this particular client. It is in the best interest for all involved to never give out specific details, quotes, or information. I just wanted to share the outcome as I received several comments (not all were published because of inappropriate language and such) stating I would never see this money. Perseverance pays off. I will agree about one thing though. Had I not discovered my work had been published anyways and kept valid records of the specific articles that were written and paid for and which ones were not (and had a very good friend help me), I doubt I would have received the compensation.
Alls well that ends well!
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