Liability & Legality

**imported_punkstar** · 07-03-2006, 08:23 AM

I regularly conduct business online and I usually agree to start work after the inital deposit is paid.

Does anyone else use some kind of contract where by the customer is bound by international law to pay me when the work is done (if so, can i see?), do you take all monies upfront or are you trusting?

I need to start going about this the right way..

**Gareth** · 07-03-2006, 08:28 AM

Whenever I work with freelancers or do work for clients this is the standard procedure:

- 50% payment paid upfront.
- Work commences.
- Client shown files.
- Revisions made.
- Client shown.
- Client happy.
- Final 50% payment made.
- Files sent.

This works very well for me, and ensures everyone is happy. Also, there's no way the freelancer can get ripped off as the 100% is paid before the files are sent.

**Haimadan** · 07-05-2006, 10:16 AM

S got it.. great one.

But tell me what about porjects for logterm(in years) or ongoing project for lifetime? This will make alot of changes.. am i wright?

**Hexation** · 07-05-2006, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gareth

Whenever I work with freelancers or do work for clients this is the standard procedure:

- 50% payment paid upfront.
- Work commences.
- Client shown files.
- Revisions made.
- Client shown.
- Client happy.
- Final 50% payment made.
- Files sent.

This works very well for me, and ensures everyone is happy. Also, there's no way the freelancer can get ripped off as the 100% is paid before the files are sent.

I usually do the exact same thing. Works out pretty well.

**Tran** · 07-05-2006, 08:56 PM

Well only one way the freelancer can be ripped off and that is if they use PayPal and get their monies reported for "fraud" or whatever.. then all work accomplished goes into the trash and the person buying gets off with the product.. but ierno heh..

**Bryan Le** · 07-06-2006, 03:32 AM

I hardly use a contract TBH...they are too time consuming. I do have a template laid out, but its just so much trouble, and since I don't really deal with anything over $1,000 it just really isn't that worth it IMO.

I know one day this'll come back to bite me in the ***, so I'm definitely knocking on some wood...

**Hexation** · 07-06-2006, 03:44 AM

Its better to be safe than sorry, Bryan.

**imported_Alexis** · 07-23-2006, 12:22 PM

Does anyone use freelance contracts for writers?

**paowiee** · 07-23-2006, 01:18 PM

I use Scriptlance to get freelance writers and I usually require that they have a validated Paypal account.

**Tran** · 07-26-2006, 01:06 AM

Yeah.. but then again Gareths method is what I use as well

**Plugin-Developer** · 07-26-2006, 01:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave

Well only one way the freelancer can be ripped off and that is if they use PayPal and get their monies reported for "fraud" or whatever.. then all work accomplished goes into the trash and the person buying gets off with the product.. but ierno heh..

Actually, if some one claims on Paypal that you stole money for them and didn't deliver the item in some condition, it doesn't matter. Paypal doesn't protect buyers on digital (non-tangible) items. It says so in their terms of service.

-Nick

**Pax** · 08-02-2006, 12:58 PM

Then send them a print out...with a FREE COMPLIMENTRY .PSD

**PeterLancs** · 08-03-2006, 05:46 AM

i upload the files to my server beforehand and can delete them if the client wont pay up

**matrixlover** · 08-06-2006, 10:22 PM

I use Gareth's method as well. Safe and nifty

**Bastiat** · 09-02-2006, 05:14 AM

Bryan,

Yours may be the right way if you don't sweat a small loss. The time spent in compliance with every client, and the business lost, may be a greater expense than the occasional jerk.

At one point Sears loosened their credit policies to a allow a greater percentage of default. They reasoned that the lost sales from less than top borrowers was far more expensive than their bad debts.

But for those that would emotionally blowup at being stiffed - the paper work is probably necessary.

enjoy life