Ugh-UH: The Invoice Showdown Continues
If you keep up with things around here, you know about the Invoice Showdown I’ve been having with a client of mine. If you don’t, the basic story is that I have a client who, in spite of asking me to do multiple rush jobs (which I did), has not paid me for any work I’ve done since June. Or at least he hadn’t until today.
That’s right. Mr. I’ll Send You a Check finally sent me a check. But before you get too excited, get this: he sent me too much. Like almost double too much. So, now I’m in a new dilemma.
The confusion happened because I sent in two different invoices. I sent one that had the amount I was owed, plus a pre-payment for future hours. Once the Invoice Showdown began, I sent a second, revised version that only billed for work I had completed.
Mr. I’ll Send You a Check sent payment for the first one. Sigh.
The thing is, when I sent the revised invoice, I was hoping to simply get paid for what I’d done and move on with my life. Now, I don’t know if this check is simply a dumbass mistake or if this guy’s trying to pay me a retainer so I can keep working on his stupid handbook, which I have no interest in doing.
In fact, over the past few months I’ve grown to despise this guy and I don’t want any more to do with his stupid project. So now, I’ve got to figure out what to do with this check. Do I cash it and send him a refund for the overpayment? Do I send the whole thing back and start a second showdown?
Erica thinks I should just suck it up and do it for the money, but for the amount of stress and irritation it would cause me, it’s just not worth it.
One of my favorite things about being freelance is that I get to choose who gets the pleasure of working with me and either you deserve me or you don’t. You wanna know the quickest route to the don’t pile? Constantly demand rush jobs while persistently ignoring invoices.
Peace out, Mr. I’ll Send You a Check. I’m not quite sure how I’m gonna work it out, but once I do, you and I are done.
September 24th, 2011 at 7:52 pm
I say HOSE the guy-or at the very least send him a strong message….won’t do work beyond the “retainer fee” (which you already have). YOU are in the position to call the shots! If he doesn’t like it, send him a check.
September 26th, 2011 at 12:25 pm
Totally just sent an email. “You paid too much. I’m sending a refund.” No negotiation. Just putting the whole thing behind me … I hope.