Chasing Payment..

[TimDarracott]

I did a website for what i thorught was a friend, he has worked on my cars over the past 18 months or so and we got along quite well.

In the beginning of September he asked me to do a website for him, which i did and he liked. I set it live just before i went away on Holiday at the end of September and told him to sort payment out once i returned. Now it's only a two page small website so really it isn't worth that much to me.

After a couple of weeks of me returning from holiday, plenty of unanswered calls, text messages and emails i took the website down after sending him an email explaining why i was doing this.

Recently he's been in touch, asked me to add some extra information to the website and said he would pay for it. This hasn't materialised and was dum enough to write the short paragraph he wanted.

Now i'm wondering how to play this, are there any ways i can squeeze the pressure onto him for payment? I don't want to lose my rag with the guy but it's very fustrating when you complete work for someone and they don't feel like they have to pay for it.

I quoted him for the work prior to me starting and he agreed, i sent him a proof of the website and which he also liked.

Any help appreciated..

[Glassman]

Ask him what you're asking us. Have it out with him; ask for a payment up front (based on his own track record / or because it's the way you do business now).

[Terry Tibbs]

how much is he a friend

polite letter reminding him of the oversight

pop round on the excuse of needing some advice and drop it into the conversation, might be financially in trouble and embarrassed, then again he could be taking the piss at least you'll gain some idea

to be honest, any work for friends/relations (i have to be really pushed into it), i do free and then hold it as a favour

otherwise, i try not to do business with family and friends its always complicated

[rsv gone!]

Glassman said:

Ask him what you're asking us. Have it out with him; ask for a payment up front (based on his own track record / or because it's the way you do business now).

....because you've had a few people not pay you lately....

[timskipper]

I honestly think you'll spend more time hand-wringing over this "friend" than it's worth to you, either in time or money (assuming we're not talking big bucks for a two-pager).

Take the site down, tell him he's taken the micky and then forget about it is my advice.

[jacobyte]

Get him to pay up front for any updates, but only once he has settled in full for the main site. Don't forget hosting costs as well - ensure these are paid up front, as you'll be even more out of pocket.

If he's skint, remind him there are zillions of very low cost website-in-a-box companies. Tell him to use them instead, and cut your losses.

[Robatr0n]

This is a tough one to be honest because if you are a friend its sometimes too difficult to extract money how you normally would but obviously every circumstance is different.

You could do what I am doing and ring/text/email everyday until you get a response.

Btw, I appreciate this sounds like sissy advice but as I say circumstances are always different and its far better to be annoying than threaten with small claims court.

[TimDarracott]

Decided not to go as far as Small Claims, i text him today telling him how i felt and he seemed to think it was ok to ignore emails and wanted me to upload the website with the changes made.

I've done this, begrudgingly.

TBH i could do with the money as little as it is (over spent on a recent holiday and am now regretting it) so I'm willing to play ball for a little while longer.

Site will be down at the weekend should he mess me around again.

Thanks guys.

Another note, should anyone want a small website done to front a domain then please get in touch I'm quite cheap but like to think i do a professional job. I am capable of doing larger websites but due to my working hours it does take me a little longer to complete them if they take longer than a few hours.