What to doabout non-payment by a client?
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What to doabout non-payment by a client?
I’m a graphic designer and recently made some designs for a client. I have delivered a few arts, and all was fine, but the payment time was always a problem. I have delivered another set of arts and the company has avoided my payment for about 4 months. Now they tell me the are not going to pay. I did all they want. I have email evidence (tons of it) with all the communications following their direction and line of action, even congrats from the client for the work was done.
Asked on September 2, 2011 under Business Law, Florida
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
You can sue them for the money they owe you. If there was an agreement between you and your client that you would do certain work and they would pay a certain amount by a certain time, that agreement is enforceable. If you upheld your obligations under the contract, then the other party must uphold their obligations and pay you. They may *not* simply decide to not pay. If they don't pay you voluntarily, you can sue them to force them to pay and let the courts enforce the terms of the agreement. Depending on the amount at stake, it may make more sense to sue them in small claims court, representing yourself, rather than hiring an attorney--an attorney would cost several hundred or a few thousand dollars, which would eat (and possibly cancel out) a smaller recovery.
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