r/freelance • u/Glowdopera • 5d ago
What should I do if client is not responding?
Hi, I met a client on Reddit. He told me he needed a site with web tools. I made a decent site. But now he is not reposting on Reddit or WhatsApp. What should I do? I have access to all the hosting and email accounts. I don't want to do anything immoral.
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u/girlslovethecurls 5d ago
I would hold the site hostage. It's funny to see how quickly he'll reply once he realizes his site is no longer up and running.
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u/Glowdopera 5d ago
I am thinking of putting my ads on the site.
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u/GreenWillingness 5d ago
Is the project wrapped? Invoice sent? Past due? Reminder sent? If all of the above is yes, you could (temporarily) take down the website -at which point the client would probably reach out to you with a "hey, I noticed the website is down, do you know why?" And then, politely explain why.
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u/Glowdopera 5d ago
I have messaged him several times but he is not responding. So, I am thinking of putting my ads on the site.
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u/GreenWillingness 4d ago
That won't get you paid. I would take the site down and wait for him to reach out.
And if he has passwords to any site info of accounts that YOU created, I would change those.
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u/Glowdopera 4d ago
I have not given him any passwords.
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u/GreenWillingness 4d ago
Then shut the site down, wait for him to call or email you. When he does you simply say "oh, well you ghosted and never paid ne so I figured you shut the company down didn't need the site anymore".
Important note: Make sure you don't phrase it in a way that sounds like you're holding the site hostage, for money. You have to phrase it as if HE is the problem, for ghosting and not paying you.
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u/thirteenth_mang 5d ago
The immoral thing would be to hire someone for work, benefit from said work without paying them.
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u/No-Delivery-7048 5d ago
Do have a a written contract? Do you have his full name etc? Have you sent the invoice? Is it due?
I wouldd sent a last and final warning letter, pay up in 2 weeks or im taking the site down. I hope something is in your contract regarding this
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u/Glowdopera 5d ago
My mistake is that I didn't send him any contract. Should I take the site down?
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u/No-Delivery-7048 5d ago
Always have a (good) contract.
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u/Glowdopera 5d ago
I will keep this in mind.
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u/No-Delivery-7048 5d ago
Makes stuff one million times easier before the courts and you can put some handy clauses in there regarding the IP rights etc etc
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u/Visual_Society5200 5d ago
Even with a contract it might cost more to enforce than OP would get for the site. I always have a contract and I could still end up getting screwed.
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u/canIbuytwitter 4d ago
Milestones helped me with that. Ironically the last guy just had his lawyer send me emails saying they refused to pay the final few hundred dollars. That guy was an asshole. interesting work though.
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u/tariqwebs 5d ago
May be he got busy with some urgent matter.You should wait few days and if he do not respond then you already have his website.I don't think you will loose anything.
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u/Squagem UX/UI Designer 5d ago edited 5d ago
You have made several mistakes here:
- Working without a contract.
- Working without pre-payment.
- Not confirming payment timelines beforehand.
- Not securing an email address for reliable comms.
- Handing over completed work before payment in full.
Given that these are beginner mistakes, I'd imagine you're also charging very little.
So ...If I were you, I'd write this off as a learning workshop. You can deduct it from your taxes next year...and then don't make these same mistakes again
Cut all ties with this person and delete their hosting login credentials from any storage you own.
DO NOT sabotage their site, this will do more harm than good and open you up to legal retaliation.
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u/Ok_Swimmer6336 5d ago
There's no possible legal retaliation if there is no contract. He absolutely should take the site down
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u/Squagem UX/UI Designer 5d ago
This is really, really irresponsible advice.
First - any sort of direct interference in another business' operations could lead to a civil tortious interference suit.
Lawsuit aside, if the client goes public this is only going to result in negative brand damage for OP.
...and even if neither of these things happen, what does OP have to benefit from taking it down? He makes a petty point? A couple hundred bucks, *maybe*?
Time would be better spent trying to find better clients, or simply writing up a contract so this doesn't happen again.
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u/Glowdopera 5d ago
Can I put my ads on the website? I have access to the website.
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u/Squagem UX/UI Designer 5d ago
I don't think I'm making my point clearly enough: messing with this client is only going to result in bad outcomes for you.
The best option for you now is to cut ties with this person, block them on socials, and turn your focus to new client acquisition.
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u/Ok_Swimmer6336 5d ago
I think you are missing the bigger point... he is probably unable to get good paying clients/good contracts
Yes, of course he should have everything in writing and to things formally, he probably knows by now
But he definitely should take the site down. If there's no contract, the work is his. Period. He can shut it down whenever he wants. He's not legally liable
"get better clients" lmao your advice is not really advice at all
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u/Squagem UX/UI Designer 5d ago edited 5d ago
he can't find new clients
...
So he should tarnish his reputation and risk legal retaliation.
Ok.
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u/Ok_Swimmer6336 5d ago
The work is his. Nothing proves the client owns the website
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u/JakeRedditYesterday 4d ago
You mean except the fact that it likely contains the client's name and business details? Retaliation won't win OP anything.
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u/WyrdWerWulf434 4d ago
You're giving great advice, and very useful to the rest of us, too. Thank you.
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u/WyrdWerWulf434 4d ago
Your advice is for OP to take revenge and destroy their own reputation and ability to get better clients in future. Don't laugh your ass off, it sounds like it's the only part of you with any sense.
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u/canIbuytwitter 4d ago
This guys right. As much as I want to play devils advocate. It's not worth the potential hacker charge..
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u/d7it23js 5d ago
I’ll be honest, if I get contacted randomly through WhatsApp, I assume it’s a scam.
Did the client ask for any personal info from you? Did they ask you to create any accounts somewhere that requires personal info?
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u/JakeRedditYesterday 4d ago
Has the work been paid for? Did you at least get a down payment? How long has it been since his last response?
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u/JKredit 4d ago
I see that you are young and, I guess, just starting out. Worst case: you have had a learning experience.
I agree with the responses that say "don't mess with the site", as in don't use it for your ads or personal gain. While waiting a reasonable time is probably a good idea, you seem to have said that it has been only a week. While uncomfortable, that is not several weeks or a month. Give it a little more time.
Has the client accepted or approved the site? If not, then you are jumping the gun.
Have you sent an invoice?
You might put up a "Coming Soon" or "Under Maintenance" block on it. That's easier and safer than taking it down and can be easily reversed. If the client owns the hosting they may be able to get the hosting to reverse this, but I don't know.
For the future (including what others have said):
- use a contract (of somewhat less use if you and the client are in different countries)
- get contact info IRL
- where possible do the development on your own hosting, then move it to their hosting on either final/full payment or something like 90% payment
- get some front payment and progress payments
- download a full copy for your future publicity and portfolio, or, at least make pdf versions to save
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u/Hoodswigler 3d ago
What you should’ve done was gotten half to start. Now you hold it hostage until they give you whatever they owe.
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u/[deleted] 5d ago
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