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.
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:
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.
Always worth a watch:
https://www.youtube.com/embed/mj5IV23g-fE
Harlan Ellison: Pay the writer.
Hope you didn't give him the edited manuscript before payment?
@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.
Good. Luck, Stephen - that's appalling behaviour.
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.
@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.
What's the latest? Can you update us?
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.
Go on, follow through and tell us all, so we can boycott the creep.
People/companies who won't pay deserve everything they get.
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
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
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.
@ 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.
I do understand...and wish you every success in getting what you are due. You deserve every penny/cent!
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