Handling Non-Paying Clients

There is probably nothing worse in the freelance writing industry than dealing with a client who refuses to pay. I am not referring to the clients or companies who refuse to pay for work that fails to meet their guidelines, I am referring to the clients who accept your work and disappear without paying. Before you panic, get depressed, or fly into a rage take a step back and decide how you want to handle the situation. Remember, there are some clients who legitimately experience a setback, to avoid confusing a person handling a serious misfortune with a scammer always do your homework while remaining professional.

The first thing you should always do is check to see if your work is being used. Sites like Copyscape give you the chance to find out if your content is being used by your client. Most scammers will quickly sell or use the content you have created so that they can profit before the writer has had a chance to grow concerned. If your work is not in use chances are it is an honest (but annoying) mistake, if your work is being used its time to move on to the next step.

Send a money request (assuming you are using PayPal) to the clients email address. This is a polite reminder that payment is in fact due. If one or two money requests go unnoticed, it is time to take a more direct approach.

Contact your client explaining that you would like to be paid for your content so that the full rights can be transferred to them. Mention (politely) that they cannot legally use the content until they have paid for the right to do so. Until the content is paid for, it still belongs to you and you may use it as you see fit. This might educate the more inexperienced clients that you, the writer, have legal rights when it comes to the content you have created. Keep in mind, taking this tone with the client may mean you will no longer work with them. Of course, if you have to chase down your payment you probably have no desire to continue writing for them anyway.

If this email does not get a response start doing your research. Use Whois or (if the site is hosted through Godaddy) Godaddy to find out the web host and contact information for the site currently using your content. Send an email to your client, and cc or bcc the email address you found through your research. In the email state the work in question, the date the work was requested, and the date the work was completed. Ask for the payment owed and let the client know that if you do not get paid you will be forced to contact DMCA and the company hosting your content regarding the copyright violation.