Re: FLASH: Dilemma

[richard proctor]

on 1/4/00 2:03 pm, Brian at

mattonebhip [dot] infi [dot] net

 wrote:


> I have a bit of a dilemma that I would like to get some advice about.


  snip


> 

> What opinion does anyone have here?

> 



  I'm a freelance (print) designer in the UK (I'm lurking on this list

hoping to pic up some web tips)


  I've been freelance for six or seven years and I've *never* had any

payment up front for any job i've done. In fact, I think that not getting

paid until the job is complete gives a sense of purpose.


  Not that I'm saying that this is a particularly correct way for a client

to behave - in fact I have one client who i *still* do regular work for who

always has to be nagged and eventually cursed into paying up - but they

always do pay - thats no excuse for the client to behave like that - in

fact, it stinks.


  It's tough if you're forced into freelancing - which it seems may have

happened to you - and this may have some impact on your relationships with

clients. I think it's important to stand your ground with clients and sell

your services for a professional fee - and of course you give back a

professional job.


  I've also been in the client situation when i've had to tell people that

their work is not good enough - but I was able to say this at an early

enough stage so that little discomfort was felt on either side. This is down

to good client handling of freelance services - a situation that only

happens by chance in my experience - unless you are an 'approved contractor'

- then the ball game changes.


  lastly - I once did a job several years ago, the job went fine, was

approved by the client and printed etc - then came the hassle over the

invoice - after it hadn't been paid for a couple of moths I started to ring

to inquire why - thos went on for a while and escalated into a 'difficult

conversation ' area. I then happened to speak to somebody in the firm who

was more sympathetic, he said that it was official policy in the firm not to

pay contractors who they thought were going to be one-off!


   complete bastards - I would never work for them again - but I did get

paid!



   rp




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