Thread: Nightmare Clients!

Talk about your worst clients (no names please!)

One of my worst was a guy that emailed me saying he'd found a typo in his copy. Not a big deal, right? Well, the guy insisted on saying such things as "you clearly wrote this without any second thought" and "this isn't the kind of quality Corey Freeman can produce." Needless to say, I don't work with him anymore. Never trade money for disrespect, not that he ever kept track of his payments.

Firstly, I have to say you are one of the best writers I have ever worked with.

And as for not taking disrespect, yes there is a line that no client must pass.

My worst client experience when I was freelancing was:

I was designing logos and one guy started telling me how to design logos and he started to get rude...LOL....i just gave him the logo PSD (of what I had completed) and I didn't take any money. And the best part is even though a year has passed since then he is using my logo on his site.

Originally Posted by Farrhad A

Firstly, I have to say you are one of the best writers I have ever worked with.

And as for not taking disrespect, yes there is a line that no client must pass.

My worst client experience when I was freelancing was:

I was designing logos and one guy started telling me how to design logos and he started to get rude...LOL....i just gave him the logo PSD (of what I had completed) and I didn't take any money. And the best part is even though a year has passed since then he is using my logo on his site.

No payment? I would have kept the work. Clients telling you how to work is irritating. Even worse is clients who don't know what they want. Creative freedom is cool, but we need guidelines!

I was contacted by a certain individual who gave me web design work 2 years ago, i have finished 5 designs for him 2 of which is a redesign and i also make a shopping cart integration in one of his sites.

When I completed every work he did not pay me, instead he recommend me to his friend and I get a $800 project. His friend pay me $800 after I finished my work for him. this new guy asked me to maintain his websites, he has about 6 website and we agreed that he will pay me $450 every month which is not bad because there is only minimal updates every month. To make the story short, he did not pay me anything.

I emailed him many times but did not get any reply. He is always offline in his messenger. I thought he died or something. After 2 months he finally reply my emails. he asked an apology for not replying... he said he had a problem with his business and have to deal with it first. he told me to wait for 1 week so he could pay me. I have waited weeks after weeks but he still did not pay me his dues.

He need to pay me $3,150 but he just keep on telling me he will pay on a certain date but when that date comes he did not. as my last recourse i remove the database of his website and put the site down. now he is begging me to put the site back, but I will not do it until he pay me his dues.

Originally Posted by sparrowhawk

I was contacted by a certain individual who gave me web design work 2 years ago, i have finished 5 designs for him 2 of which is a redesign and i also make a shopping cart integration in one of his sites.

When I completed every work he did not pay me, instead he recommend me to his friend and I get a $800 project. His friend pay me $800 after I finished my work for him. this new guy asked me to maintain his websites, he has about 6 website and we agreed that he will pay me $450 every month which is not bad because there is only minimal updates every month. To make the story short, he did not pay me anything.

I emailed him many times but did not get any reply. He is always offline in his messenger. I thought he died or something. After 2 months he finally reply my emails. he asked an apology for not replying... he said he had a problem with his business and have to deal with it first. he told me to wait for 1 week so he could pay me. I have waited weeks after weeks but he still did not pay me his dues.

He need to pay me $3,150 but he just keep on telling me he will pay on a certain date but when that date comes he did not. as my last recourse i remove the database of his website and put the site down. now he is begging me to put the site back, but I will not do it until he pay me his dues.

It was actually nice of you to work for him for so long without payment. You took the only available option which you had so there is nothing wrong by taking his site down.

Originally Posted by Farrhad A

It was actually nice of you to work for him for so long without payment. You took the only available option which you had so there is nothing wrong by taking his site down.

Agreed. Keep his site down until he pays you, and if he refuses, then bring in the lawyers, because that's a sizable amount.

He finally paid me after many months wohooo!!!!

2 weeks ago he sent me the payment and now he wants me to work on another project. I demanded that if I will going to work on his project he will give me 50% before I start and 50% just after I'm done with the project. he didnt say anything he just told me to do it.... I told him I will never do any projects for him again!

Originally Posted by sparrowhawk

He finally paid me after many months wohooo!!!!
2 weeks ago he sent me the payment and now he wants me to work on another project. I demanded that if I will going to work on his project he will give me 50% before I start and 50% just after I'm done with the project. he didnt say anything he just told me to do it.... I told him I will never do any projects for him again!

Yay!

You should always demand 50% upfront for design projects, as a deposit for acquiring materials, etc. And it ensures the client's interest in the project.

But yeah, if you get a client who acts that disrespectfully, then I would opt-out of working for them. Remember, you are NOT an employee, nor are you "employed" to them. It's more like a short-term paid partnership. Like a lawyer or contract builder.

Well,

I had a form go in and do some design work for me about 2 years ago. The work he provided to me was so sub par, my dog could have done better. I rejected the work but he still demanded full payment.

I ended up setteling by paying him %25 for his time.