A reader writes:
I’m the only real proprietor and member of an LLC that sells merchandise and associated providers, particularly consulting on a subject of my experience. I’ve lately discovered that for an upcoming workshop I’ll be delivering, one of many co-hosts is somebody who didn’t pay me up to now for agreed upon work. I’m unsure what to anticipate, and I’m unsure what my particular query is – I suppose simply in search of perception in methods to put together for no matter might occur.
The background is that in 2021, I made a session go to and a follow-up design plan for a challenge at a shopper’s dwelling. I knowledgeable the shopper up-front of the fee for every merchandise. I billed them after finishing each and giving them the design plan. They didn’t pay, I despatched the bill reminder two occasions, and when it nonetheless wasn’t paid, I let it go. The overall quantity was simply over $600. That is the one expertise I’ve had with a shopper not paying. I discovered a lesson from it, so I now invoice and obtain a 50% deposit for initiatives that exceed a specific amount earlier than placing additional work right into a challenge.
That is no large deal within the grand scheme, and I hardly consider it in any respect anymore.
Within the interval after I was coping with it, there have been occasions after I was being extra beneficiant in my reflection, explaining to myself that the rationale they hadn’t paid could possibly be as a result of they in some way by no means acquired the payments, or as a result of they had been experiencing monetary hardship and didn’t talk that. Being much less beneficiant, the rationale could possibly be that they had been jerks who didn’t maintain up their aspect of the transaction. Or different causes, who is aware of.
Quick ahead to the current. A neighborhood group has employed me to ship a workshop on my matter of experience. The organizer has organized 4 areas that the group will go to as a part of the workshop. Right this moment I discovered after I regarded on the workshop map that a kind of areas is the house of this shopper, and the workshop topic overlaps with the session and design work I did. The shopper might be current on the workshop.
I’m not confrontational, I’m skilled, and actually, this was behind me. I’ve considered mentioning it to the workshop organizer – for the reason that shopper’s inclusion within the workshop confirms that the group is offering providers to them, and I might see the worth to the group to know my expertise with this shopper. I wouldn’t say something to the shopper concerning the non-payment, however I’m anticipating some awkwardness (though perhaps we’ll all maintain it hidden inside) after we’re within the workshop collectively. This presumes that they’ll bear in mind me and the unpaid invoice. Possibly the awkwardness will solely be for me. I’m additionally curious to see if or how they used my design at their dwelling.
I feel you’ve acquired two choices right here, and both is respectable; it simply will depend on what you are feeling probably the most snug with.
The primary is to talk up. I do know you stated this isn’t an choice you’re contemplating, however I wish to make the case for not less than excited about it! It was one factor to resolve to put in writing off the fee if you couldn’t get a response … however this particular person stole from you, in all probability figuring they wouldn’t ever see you once more. It’s going to take an unbelievable quantity of chutzpah for them to co-host a chat with you that’s not less than partly about the work you probably did that they by no means paid for, so this could possibly be an ideal time to get the bill in entrance of them once more.
To try this, you would e mail them forward of time and say one thing like, “I simply noticed that we’re co-hosting the Gardens of Oatsville occasion at your house. I’m trying ahead to it. Earlier than the occasion, I’m hoping you’ll care for the excellent fee for the work I did at your house in 2021. I despatched a number of invoices in 2021 however didn’t hear again so I’m attaching the bill once more right here. Thanks prematurely for taking good care of this.” That’s completely skilled, and also you’d be on stable floor in doing it.
It could possibly be price mentioning it to the occasion organizer too, in case the shopper tries to misrepresent the scenario to them. If you wish to do this, you would say, “I wish to be clear with you a few probably awkward scenario round co-hosting with Jane Valentine. Sadly, she by no means paid the invoice for the work I did at her dwelling just a few years in the past regardless of a number of reminders. I’m going to do one closing nudge about fee now in order that hopefully it’s not nonetheless excellent after we’re discussing the work on the occasion. Ideally we will simply care for it with no onerous emotions! Nevertheless it has the potential to be somewhat awkward, so I wished to say it to you in case it comes up when she speaks to you.”
The opposite choice, in fact, is to not say something and simply go to the occasion with a indifferent curiosity to see how they’ll deal with it. Will they really feel awkward? Will they apologize? Do they even bear in mind it? (What I actually wish to know is whether or not that is out of character for them and so they’ve felt ashamed of their actions this entire time — during which case they may even take this chance to apologize — or was it so par for the course for them that it gained’t even register with them as An Concern once they see you?)
It feels like that’s the choice you’re leaning towards, however I hope you’ll take into account the primary one. Both this particular person intentionally and knowingly ripped you off, during which case they don’t deserve the well mannered fiction that they didn’t … or it was an trustworthy oversight on their half, during which case in the event that they’re a good particular person they’ll be glad you instructed them and genuinely wanting to make it proper. Both risk warrants talking up.
I feel I hear in your letter a way that there’s a sure type of dignity and style in selecting to not chase after fee in a scenario like this — a sure energy in writing the particular person and the misplaced fee off. And also you’re not fallacious about that; there may be! However I’d argue there’s additionally a dignity and energy in standing up for what you’re owed to your labor, and in calmly and steadily asserting what you’re due.
