How to get back pay for work performed as an independent contractor?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
How to get back pay for work performed as an independent contractor?
I did over 9 hours of freelance work for an independent movie. On the job listing they offered $25/hour. I met with the director and producer and they confirmed that wage. I finished color-correcting the clip they gave me and returned to them. They gave feedback, took 1 file and said they’d get back to me with the rest of the movie. It’s been 3 weeks since then and I have made the changes they wanted. I’ve emailed them several times with no response. If they decide they don’t want more work can I still get my payment? If they don’t pay do I have any legal precedent and what can I do about it?
Asked on July 19, 2011 under Employment Labor Law, Pennsylvania
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 13 years ago | Contributor
1) If you had an agreement, including an oral or verbal agreement, to perform certain work for a certain wage, that agreement is enforceable. Therefore, if you did the work, they have to pay you, regardless of whether they want to hire you again in the future--future work or opportunities has no bearing on the obligation to pay for work actually done.
2) To get your money if they won't pay, you will have to sue them, unfortunately--there is no other mechanism to seek recourse or recovery. You could try suing in small claims court, where you do not need an attorney, where the rules are more relaxed/less technical, and where the filing fees are smaller. Good luck.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.