i'm in this weird situation with a past client

well in a nut shell..... i built a model for an architecture firm and delivered and didn't get paid...they were avoiding me....so i got a lawyer and they only offered to pay me half and say they would credit the rest to me.... wtf is that.... my lawyer told me if i wanted to litagate then it would take a year... i already waited over 3 months for my money..... they were giving me some b.s. about saying that in order to keep my relationship with their company that i should take what they offer....... that's some b.s. also..... my lawyer just did some talking and now i pay her and then get the rest but i'm still in the sinking boat with money cause of this project...... so how can i collect the rest of my money from them..... i don't really have a reason to do anymore business with them since i had to go throught all this just to get my money.........trick me once, shame on you, trick me twice, shame on me...... so i figure that since i got a lawyer after them, then they prolly won't give me any work anyways.......... do i call a credit bureau or what.........merry f--kin christmas i guess........ i need the rest of my money bad........

thanks
b

www.237am.com

if you want to see the model it's on the model section--last page---naval training center......

 

Since I'm not licensed in MI, I can't really give you advice. However, it sounds to me like either your lawyer didn't do a good job of explaining your rights, or you are not listening to their explaination - and probably a little bit of both.

Did you have a written contract with your customer? What does ti say about payment, remedies for breach of contract etc. Why do they not want to pay? Does the contract allow them to cancel the contract for that reason? Who has possession of the model? If they do - did you retain a security interest on it? If so, why not sue to take back the model - if it's important to them that might casue them to pay up. Doe sthe contract provide for attorneys fees if you have to sue them? If not, then depending on how much money we are talking about you might not be able to recover enough to make it worth while to have a lawyer involved. On the other hand, if the amount is below the threshold for Small Claims Court you might be able to handle it on your own without a lawyer.

You're exactly right about one thing - screw them - you don't need that kind of client - tell them as much. In fact, I'd tell them that a) you don't want thier business anymore, and b) if they don't pay NOW, in full, you'll let other model builder's in the area know that they can't be trusted to pay thier bills. Just be careful here - don't want to open yourself up to libel suit.

Finally, If you are unhappy with your lawyer's advice or performance - find another local lawyer to talk to.

Good luck

 

i hear that...

my screw up was that since it was a client that i had for a few years now, i had this trust with them... i never had any problems with them before... so there was never an official contract..that's were i probably screwed myself but i still provided services and a product for them..... how can they have my work and not pay me.... i don't get it.... ..... it's not like they can return it like a pair of shoes....... i'm really stressed out about this now since i was supposed to move to cali 2 months ago and i had to leave the place i was living at and had to move into my friends basement for the time being and sold off my big tools to lighten up my trip...... so now, i'm in a basement with hardly any money and lost my possiblities in cali....(had a few companies to interview at once i got there...)..........

i had to vent....thanks