Comments on: Should You Tattle On A Bad Client?

By: Piano

Piano — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:36:19 +0000

Piano…

Megacool Blog indeed!… if anyone else has anything it would be much appreciated. Great website Enjoy!…

By: M.

M. — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 14:37:49 +0000

I recently had an unfortunate experience where the client was less than gracious. I hadn’t worked with them before, but it did not go well. Not only did they refuse to pay, but this refusal was included along with several personal insults.

I agree with speaking about clients in generalities, but in this case I was very tempted to publicize the experience or file a complaint with sites like ‘The Ripoff Report’. Fortunately, all of our communication was in writing, so everything I’m reporting would have evidence to support it.

In the end, thought, the fee wasn’t big enough to get upset about. The only thing that would prompt me to expose the client is the belief that I’m probably not the first freelancer they’ve treated like this, nor will I be the last.

Some people are just disgusting human beings. It’s a fact of life.

By: Robin S.

Robin S. — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 18:54:09 +0000

Hello!
I am currently dealing with a client who owes me for two months worth of work. I’ve emailed her countless times with ‘friendly reminders” and then resorted to a little stronger tactic like threatening to file a complain with the BBB and her state’s attorney general’s off ice and yes, exposing her on some writers/designers forums. When I sent this email, I all of a sudden got a response. I’ve also recently found out that she has 2 unsatifactory ratings with her state’s BBB and has stiffed several other writers.

Personally, I would have LOVED it if this info about her was on the web somewhere BEFORE I agreed to work with her. I definitely wouldn’t have if I’d have known what a deadbeat she is. It would have saved an awful lot of grief and stress. So, I’m sorry but I will have to disagree about not exposing the slime that refuses to pay their freelancers after the work is submitted…and used.

By: freelance seo

freelance seo — Tue, 13 May 2008 03:58:22 +0000

Being in the business of SEO (search engine optimization) I always run across clients who have out of this world demands, such as wanting to pay $100 to rank #1 on all search engines for 20 broad single-word keywords in less than a month. Many times I waste my breathe trying to explain to the clients that their demands are unrealistic but with so many shady SEO the clients hold on tightly to these views that its possible, regardless how I try to deprogram them. I usually find the humor in this and plenty times I write it to my blog or publicly flame these clients without revealing their direct name or company. I guess it’s just one of those things where it’s just so out of this world demands that I just have to say something to someone (everyone).

By: Susie

Susie — Mon, 12 May 2008 18:18:47 +0000

Katherine, that is an amazing story of loyalty to your ethics, so many would not take such a stand, you should be quite proud of your integrity.

I do not believe in burning bridges either, I know there are cases when the choice is not truly ours, but if given the choice, it is smarter not to and leave that avenue open, you never know where that bridge could be needed in the future.

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05/10/2008 Writing Jobs and Links : Writer’s Resource Center — Sat, 10 May 2008 19:21:31 +0000

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By: Katharine

Katharine — Sat, 10 May 2008 18:39:30 +0000

Argh! I meant: That might help keep a freelancer from ending up …

By: Katharine

Katharine — Sat, 10 May 2008 18:38:30 +0000

Yes, you’re right, Laura: the information was publicly available but not widely known in some circles. What I learned from that situation was to do an Internet search to learn all that I can about a potential new client, its associates, and its parent company before accepting any projects. That might help a freelancer from ending up in a morally or ethically sticky situation in the first place.

By: Laura Spencer

Laura Spencer — Sat, 10 May 2008 18:31:03 +0000

Wow Katharine! That’s an interesting dilemma that I hadn’t thought about.

This is definitely an example of taking a stand on moral/ethical grounds.

Also, I don’t think that it would have been considered libel or slander because it’s likely that the information was already publicly available (although perhaps not widely known).

Thanks for adding this element to the discussion.