Ditto to Jon's comments. However, I would add the following: You have a situation where there is an established expectation - and you are the point guy. Not to mention you have been "a nice guy" for her in the past. For that to change you need a starting point. I would sit down with her and express my "concern about outstanding issues" and ask her to "outline any remaining issues". Then fix those issues she brings up and accept whatever fee you are able to collect from her. Then you have a "starting point". The next time she comes to you with a link or something she doesn't like say "...well you know Alice, that's really a new issue. After all we did a review and took care of all outstanding issues for the site. Let me review this new problem and get back to you with an estimate of how much it will cost - ok? That way there is no misunderstanding."
As a side note, I learned early on that a client must be thoroughly informed that every change or modification must be documented and an estimate agreed upon. This should be done before the first project is even begun. Additionally, if a client ties you up with "maintenance" or "web mastering" type work, ask them to enter into a binding maintenance agreement. I have 2 clients on such agreements. I charge them each a set amount and for that amount they get up 5 hours of maintenance programming. The ratio is at a discount to my normal hourly rate - so if they feel they need it, they are getting a bargain. But whether they use the 5 hours or not - they still get that line item on their statement (or an invoice). my 2 cents. Mark -----Original Message----- From: Jon Hall [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Saturday, March 16, 2002 12:39 PM To: CF-Talk Subject: Re: OT: Advice and opinion on client who has a problem paying bills Lay down the law if you can, if not chalk it up to a learning experience. Get them in a contract. No one client should make up more than 20% of incoming money...for situations just like this. Besides, if you don't handle the site, she is going to need someone else right? Chances are that either she will get sticker shock, or come runnning back when some yahoo fubars the site. jon Mark Smeets wrote: > Hi All, > > I realize this is off topic but I could use some advice from everyone on > this list. > > I have a client that is very stingy when it comes to paying bills. I?ve > already had one incident with her and that resulted in her getting out of > paying the majority of the bill but this time I fear when she gets her next > invoice, I?ll have more trouble with her. > > The thing she likes to do is call me up and tell me there?s a problem with > the site and of course since I?m just being the nice guy (the kiss of death > I know) I can just pull the site code up and see if I can find the problem. > Now the latest incident was a case of the links page not working correctly, > I told her it would take an hour to track down and fix and she put up quite > a fuss when I told her that she would be charged for this. (She tried to > argue her way out of paying) In the end I went ahead and fixed the problem > and I sent her a confirmation email before the work was started as well. She > never replied to that confirmation email even though I asked her too. > > So now I?m wondering what are my options. I know I?m going to have trouble > collecting from her, I mean there?s more to their next invoice than this > links page and she is well aware of my rates. I don?t exactly have the funds > to take her to small claims court either. > > The only option I have come up with is this. I can change the administrative > status on her account to ?Disabled? instead of ?Enabled? but I think I run > into a problem there because they already paid for the web site last year. > These are all new changes and problems. I figure if I go this route then the > BS will end and at least I will get my money. (She doesn?t have FTP access) > > Any ideas are most welcome, I?m not exactly in a position to just dump her > as client but I?m getting sick and tired of being taken for a ride. > > -------------------------------------- > Mark Smeets / stranger0 / ICQ: 1062196 > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://www.prowerks.com/stranger > > "Life is a series of small victories" - Gene Simmons > > > > FAQ: http://www.thenetprofits.co.uk/coldfusion/faq > Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/index.cfm?sidebar=lists > ______________________________________________________________________ This list and all House of Fusion resources hosted by CFHosting.com. The place for dependable ColdFusion Hosting. FAQ: http://www.thenetprofits.co.uk/coldfusion/faq Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/index.cfm?sidebar=lists
