What to do? A Q for web designers

[megfenn]

I am on the verge of taking a clients site offline due to non payment. I've contacted the client both by phone and by email asking for the final payment for their website. They keep saying check is in the post. It clearly states in my contract that I will withhold work if final payment is not made (or until final payment is made). I have had all sorts of problems with them in the past for some brochure work I did and never got the full payment for. This website is the last piece of work I will ever do for them (I started the website before the problems with payment before - I'm not daft!).

Has anyone else had to take a site offline temporarily in order to facilitate receipt of payment? I have not taken the site down yet, but if I still have not been paid by the end of next week, then I will - do you think this is unfair of me? Their site is getting orders every day and they already have over 60 customers so I'd really feel bad about taking it offline, but I do very much need to get paid. They are very bad at communicating with me and every time I phone them they say, 'no problem, we'll sort out payment for you' or 'the check is in the post'. Perhaps if they think they can fob me off, then I should be able to take their site offline and not feel guilty. Maybe I should just tell them it's standard practice???? Any views appreciated - thanks.

[Ravenfire]

I personally would send them an email giving them seven days notice stating that if payment is not received within seven days you will have no alternative but to take the site down. At the end of the day you still own that site not her.

[Daffs]

I would send them an email today Meg saying that if you have not received payment within 7 days, you will suspend their site. I have had to do this and currently do have one client suspended because of this. Be firm or they will take you for a ride continually. It is totally fair of you. This sort of thing winds me up. If someone says to me I'm a bit strapped, can we sort something, sure! But when I have to chase and chase with fobbing off, it gets on my nerves. This is why I have changed my pricing structure to get paid upfront.

Good luck! ""cutey""b

[megfenn]

I would send them an email today Meg saying that if you have not received payment within 7 days, you will suspend their site. I have had to do this and currently do have one client suspended because of this. Be firm or they will take you for a ride continually. It is totally fair of you. This sort of thing winds me up. If someone says to me I'm a bit strapped, can we sort something, sure! But when I have to chase and chase with fobbing off, it gets on my nerves. This is why I have changed my pricing structure to get paid upfront.

Good luck! ""cutey""b

Good for you Daffs, hope that helps out. And I'm glad to hear you've had to suspend a site before (but not glad for you, IFKWIM). I feel more confident now and I will definitely send a 7 day notice. Thank you.

[megfenn]

I personally would send them an email giving them seven days notice stating that if payment is not received within seven days you will have no alternative but to take the site down. At the end of the day you still own that site not her.

Right, OK then. That settles it. Thanks!

[Chutney]

I personally find that disgusting. I would do as RavenFire suggests. I can't believe that people would do that. I hope you get your money. Good luck.
X

[Al1x]

I can't see anything wrong with you suspending their site if they haven't paid you... give them their notice and hopefully they will pay up.

[Tanya]

I agree with the others, give her 7 days to pay but I would suspend the site now which may prompt her into paying sooner to get the site back online.

[trogette]

is like when I worked for an accountancy firm, we simply didn't submit their tax returns until they'd paid.

[Ruthierhyme]

is like when I worked for an accountancy firm, we simply didn't submit their tax returns until they'd paid.

:smiley-fa omg ~ if the firm has all the businesses accounts in their hands aren't they liable if the returns aren't submitted?

and megfenn .. I agree with everyone else 7 days then suspend them .. it's pure ignorance on their behalf and incredibly disrespectful to you for all the work you've put in 20061008

[Dino]

I haven't had to suspend a website yet, very close but not quite. I bet they'll pay up quick when you take their site down.

I do have a bad debtor but the website wasn't designed by me, I just did some work on it and it's on another server even though I still know the access details so I could take it down if I wanted. Anyway I am planning on taking the company through the small claims court, just need to send a warning letter first because I would really like the money.

Has anyone used the small claims court?

Karen

[Arianna]

Hi Meg,

I would definitely send them an email/letter stating they have 7 days for payment to be made or you will be suspending their site until you have received full payment.

We are quite possibly going to have to do this to a client of ours as they have yet to pay us. I will wait until we're back in the country and if I still have not received any form of payment they will get an email (or a letter) stating that payment of x amount is required by x date if they wish to continue with the website.

The only problem is the site is not hosted on our server so it might be a bit trickier. I have the login details so I can remove the site, but I'm not sure if that will be enough.

I'm hoping the person has just gotten busy and totally forgotten that they need to pay.

Good luck Meg!!

Arianna

[littlesheep]

I agree with the others - tell them that you will be taking down on x date if you haven't received payment

Love Elaine

[maggiescandles]

I agree, take it down, its what i would expect my webhost to do if i didnt pay her

[trogette]

:smiley-fa omg ~ if the firm has all the businesses accounts in their hands aren't they liable if the returns aren't submitted?

well this was before Self Assessment came in so it wasn't so stringent but yep. more often it was that inland revenue as was had issued an estimated assessment that was waaaaayy too high and were demanding payment.