Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Pay the man

I have a client in England – NZ expat, always thought he was a good guy – whose response to my invoice for editing his novel was, “I’ll think about it.”

I’d like to see him say that in response to a builder’s invoice.

Normally I get clients to pay the whole fee in advance but because I thought this guy was a good guy, I didn’t. Got $500 in advance, did a month’s work and it seems I will be stiffed for the rest.

So here is David Lindley, from his 1981 album El Rayo-X. This track (no visuals, sorry) features drummer Ian Wallace, who was briefly in King Crimson, and the ever-amazing Willam “Smitty” Smith on keyboards:




UPDATE
I have had five abusive emails from this client, all tl;dnr because batshit-crazy but from skim-reads they accuse me of being a terrible editor, lazy, a liar, a drunk and a megalomaniac. In one he offered $250 in settlement of my $1000 invoice (which had been reduced in the hopes of payment rather than argument) and now he wants a refund of the $500 he paid in advance for what was a month’s work. The latest email begins:
You’re busted, you devious little popinjay!

He lost me at “You’re”.

15 comments:

Paul said...

That's rotten. I hope he reads your post and realises the damage he could do to his reputation. Word soon gets around in the literary world and he will never get another editor.

Chad Taylor said...

Always worth a watch:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/mj5IV23g-fE

Harlan Ellison: Pay the writer.

Mark Hubbard said...

Hope you didn't give him the edited manuscript before payment?

Stephen Stratford said...

@Paul: yes, this a collegial industry and word travels fast about ratbags.

@Mark, sadly yes because I trusted him. I have explained to him that legally he may not use my edited version because until he pays me the edited version is my IP, not his - but he has already submitted it to three publishers. I have given him 48 hours to pay and if he doesn't I will go public with his name - you will recognise it - and the title of the novel.

AnneE said...

Good. Luck, Stephen - that's appalling behaviour.

Anonymous said...

Did he say why he was thinking about it? There is usually a reason for non payment. An old pal doesn't generally stiff you.

Stephen Stratford said...

@Anonymous, just silly stuff. Some minor errors in the edited ms which is bog-standard and why we have page proofs and proof readers. He's not an old pal, just someone I met once and quite liked 30 years ago. If I had known his subsequent history, I wouldn't have taken the job on.

Anonymous said...

What's the latest? Can you update us?

Stephen Stratford said...

Yes, @Anonymous. This below came tonight from my client, in response to my polite request for payment which suggested that "I'll think about it" was not a satisfactory response in October re an invoice for work done in July:

"You're an idiot and, I suspect, a drunk.
Be it on your head."

I'm guessing that's a no.

Stephanie said...

Go on, follow through and tell us all, so we can boycott the creep.

People/companies who won't pay deserve everything they get.

Denis said...

It's a shocker, and we probably didn't need it but it clear proof funny business is alive and well in the editing/publishing industry

Kevin Smith said...

Rather than sucking the kumara and blackballing the ingrate, there is the option of debt collection. EC Credit, a NZ owned company has offices in the UK. They usually work on a no gain, no pay principle. The end result even if your good guy does not pay is that he gets a negative credit rating. You can contact them info@ecgroup.co.nz

Stephen Stratford said...

Thanks very much, Kevin.The client has until 6pm NZ time today to pay otherwise it's name and shame. And then I will pursue this option as well.

Stephen Stratford said...

@ Stephanie, I am following through, oh yes, but not here, rather it's private chats with publishers here and overseas. Still hoping he will see sense and pays up so the novel can be published.

Stephanie said...

I do understand...and wish you every success in getting what you are due. You deserve every penny/cent!