[mad-as-hell]

Hi,

So I recently designed a site for a client. We've worked together before and I've never had an issue with him, But we recently worked on a new site, He paid me the expected $400 deposit, to begin said work. I finished the site, got it up and everything and he paid me the next $450, as discussed, only a day later he calls he credit card company to cancel the first payment. So at this point I'm out of $400, Paypal is no help, and tells me we have to wait 75 business days for the case to be resolved but because a website isn't a tangible product, I most likely will lose this case, which means i'll lose out on $400 and he gets a free damn website. What are options that you can suggest to possibly taking down, his site, which is not on my servers, and he's changed passwords, or coercing him to paying back the amount?

[Ste Hughes]

Take all the emails ect and proof he paid then cancelled and go to a small claims court.

I think you have a very strong case.

Be professional about all of this. Do not turn it into a personal attack thing.

Also make sure you did everything he asked you too as well and make sure that him not paying is him being a dick and not because you didn't do what he asked.

[simonkincaid]

mad-as-hell, on 29 January 2012 - 10:46 PM, said:

Hi,

So I recently designed a site for a client. We've worked together before and I've never had an issue with him, But we recently worked on a new site, He paid me the expected $400 deposit, to begin said work. I finished the site, got it up and everything and he paid me the next $450, as discussed, only a day later he calls he credit card company to cancel the first payment. So at this point I'm out of $400, Paypal is no help, and tells me we have to wait 75 business days for the case to be resolved but because a website isn't a tangible product, I most likely will lose this case, which means i'll lose out on $400 and he gets a free damn website. What are options that you can suggest to possibly taking down, his site, which is not on my servers, and he's changed passwords, or coercing him to paying back the amount?

Yup, agree with Ste Hughes, look at all the paperwork involved with the project, double check you've held up your end of the deal; speak to the guy on the phone and ask him calmly if there was any reason why he's withdrawing the money. If you've worked with him before then maybe there is a genuine personal emergency where he needed the money (it's a long shot but it happens) but really if you have access to the FTP I would probably take your work back and put up a normal under construction page until it's all resolved.

[notbanksy]

Definitely try to have a civil discussion with the client before making your next move. I had a similar thing happen to me recently. I'd worked for the client before, never had a problem with payment. I took on a small job of just a few hours work for him, so didn't bother with a contract as I'd already established trust.

I still really don't know why, but the original invoice got lost or forgotten, and then he changed email servers and suddenly stopped answering my emails. I'd just broken my phone, so I no longer had his phone number...

Long story short, I eventually discovered his phone number online, and got it sorted. I had to call about 6-7 times to get paid, and it was a pain in the arse. But I think the reason he ignored my calls was as much out of embarrassment as anything, because when he did pay, I received a very apologetic email.

Give the guy a chance to explain, and then pay you. If you get neither, then small claims court sounds like a good next step.

Good luck.

[MikeChipshop]

You had a signed contract in place right?
Follow what the others have said above, be the good guy, get in touch and ask for an explanation as to why the payment was stopped. If he gets the hump about it then small claims court it is. Usually the initial threat of that will spur them to make payment.

In the future, make sure all payments are received and cleared before you hand over the goods.

[rallport]

mad-as-hell, on 29 January 2012 - 10:46 PM, said:

Hi,

So I recently designed a site for a client. We've worked together before and I've never had an issue with him, But we recently worked on a new site, He paid me the expected $400 deposit, to begin said work. I finished the site, got it up and everything and he paid me the next $450, as discussed, only a day later he calls he credit card company to cancel the first payment. So at this point I'm out of $400, Paypal is no help, and tells me we have to wait 75 business days for the case to be resolved but because a website isn't a tangible product, I most likely will lose this case, which means i'll lose out on $400 and he gets a free damn website. What are options that you can suggest to possibly taking down, his site, which is not on my servers, and he's changed passwords, or coercing him to paying back the amount?

Am I reading this right? You're relying on PayPal to take payments for your business? If so, you have no right to moan here unfortunately.

Cleared payments, sitting in my current account is the only way I start work.

[Sinero Web Design]

I presume you are based overseas if your being paid in dollars ($) please confirm your county of origin. Unfortunately these things do happen , the best thing you can do is take the client to a small claims court which will cost you money and you could end up loosing.