domain advice

[pauland]

So what's showing on the domain now and are there unpaid invoices?

[mikerawlinson]

There is nothing on the domain...... but i will invoice for work done up to date.....when its paid they can have it all .

Mike

[pauland]

Mike it gets worse, you did work but haven't invoiced them already?

[mikerawlinson]

Sorry paul ....should have said "but will invoice them again for work done up to date"
They have been invoiced for work up to date and for hosting for year.
When they got the invoice is when I got the dear John email.
Invoice was for £170..... I then sent an invoice for £30 for transfer of domain.
Hence £200.
They have got a company to set up another Domain www.cirqueduhilarious.co.uk
They are going thro a lot of domains and web designers..... ha ha ha .

Mike

[pauland]

Right. There's also the route of the small claims court.

I wouldn't lose sleep over these clients - clients are entitled to change designers/developers.

A month after invoicing them, send them a reminder. If that doesn't work mention that you will pursue the money (plus expenses) owed through the small claims court.

I don't know what is showing at the disputed domain, I'd be tempted to put up a notice - "Operation of this website is currently suspended" at least. Interested parties may make enquiries at XXX.

It may make them nervous that you'll sell the domain to someone else.

[Brazen]

Post a pdf copy of the outstanding invoice on the domain. LOL

Don't shoot..... it was just a <del>thought</del> Joke!

So what's showing on the domain now and are there unpaid invoices?

[gwpriester]

Web Design, Graphic Design, Illustration, etc. is a business. And when you are doing work for clients who are business persons, they expect you to work in a businesslike manner.

When we had our graphic design business, rule number one was never lay a pencil to paper (or mouse to page) until we had a signed agreement (that we presented with costs, timing, and our boilerplate legal copy). We demanded 1/2 up front to begin any new job for a client we had not worked with before. And even if we had worked with client before, if they were the slightest bit flaky, it had to be 1/2 up front.

When the client signed off on the product, we submitted our final 1/2 invoice and when we got paid, the client got the materials.

If any client objected to this, or said, trust us, we're good for the money, we thanked them and ended the relationship.

The result was that we only got stiffed once by a software company that in the middle of a project, declared bankruptcy.

If you run your business in a business-like fashion, you'll be respected by those with whom you do business.

[Brazen]

Oh.... and not sure how it's done over the pond... but in the US be sure to send it "certified mail" with receipt (delivery confirmation) that way you can show the magistrate you did everything feasible to contact & resolve this amicably.

[Cloud]

It is a simple process - this is what we do:

1. Client contacts you and asks for a quote
2. You meet with the client and get full details of what they want
3. You prepare a quote with a list of all the work to be undertaken
4. Client agrees to the quote, you prepare an invoice with full terms and conditions
5. Take a 50% deposit before ANY work is carried out
6. Prepare a Home page of the site to show what it will look like, make any amendments at this stage and take the balance of the payment
7. Prepare the remaining pages, once pages checked by client you can upload the site to their server; only if they have made all the changes required, once the site is uploaded they must pay for any changes.

The client has to have the following in place before we start work

A Domain name in their name
Hosting for their site
Logos, pictures, text content etc in the correct format.