Fixed project active milestone client not responding

[fanika]

Hello,

I am new here and I have a recent client which is also new. It was an urgent job for 120$ and I devided it to milestones when I applied. The client changed my milestones because he said he wants all 8 designs first and then we'll make the corrections. I agreed and he paid 60$. I supplied the drafts the next day and he stopped responding me. I see him online, I write messages, but no reply. The problem is that I now have an ACTIVE milestone for 60$ named "revision" assignet to me, but actially he doesn't give me any feedback. Moreover I think he has post another job for the same thing. So from one hand, I will not be paid for the whole task and from another I have not submitted the last milestone. Can you please give some advice?

[petra_r · Accepted solution]

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@Stefanka L wrote:

Hello,

I am new here and I have a recent client which is also new. It was an urgent job for 120$ and I devided it to milestones when I applied. The client changed my milestones because he said he wants all 8 designs first and then we'll make the corrections. I agreed and he paid 60$. I supplied the drafts the next day and he stopped responding me. I see him online, I write messages, but no reply. The problem is that I now have an ACTIVE milestone for 60$ named "revision" assignet to me, but actially he doesn't give me any feedback. Moreover I think he has post another job for the same thing. So from one hand, I will not be paid for the whole task and from another I have not submitted the last milestone. Can you please give some advice?

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 Submit the work through the active (hopefully FUNDED) milestone and see if he has any questions or revisions. Otherwise you'll get paid after the 14 day period is up. If he wants revisions he can tell you, otherwise assume he doesn't.

[fanika]

Thank you, Petra,

But how can I submit a non complete work? He named the milestone "6-revisions" and there are some small texts to be added. So for me this is not really a job done, because I am waiting the revisions from him. Is it safe that I just attach the same files, I send him in the messages 3 days ago?

Yes, the milestone is FUNDED for now, but I think he wants draw the money back

[petra_r]

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@Stefanka L wrote:

Thank you, Petra,

But how can I submit a non complete work? He named the milestone "6-revisions" and there are some small texts to be added. So for me this is not really a job done, because I am waiting the revisions from him. Is it safe that I just attach the same files, I send him in the messages 3 days ago?

Yes, the milestone is FUNDED for now, but I think he wants draw the money back

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 Add the text - if he has no revisions the job is done (I would NEVER have accepted the contract under those conditions. Revisions are not milestone material. It means if the work is perfect first time round you get paid less than if it is not and needs revisions? Sod that!

He can't draw the money back without your permission or a dispute.

[fanika]

So if I just wait 14 days, I will get paid, or I have to submit the milestone and then wait.

[petra_r]

You'd have to submit...

[fanika]

So he keeps messaging he is waiting to give me the corrections, but he doesn't send me any. What happens in that case?

[petra_r]

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@Stefanka L wrote:

So he keeps messaging he is waiting to give me the corrections, but he doesn't send me any. What happens in that case?

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 Unless he actually hits the "Request changes" button (assuming you submitted) inside the 14 days the funds for the milestone are released to you.

[fanika]

Thank you, I was not aware of this button. So I will definetely be notified if he hits it.

[fanika]

So today is the 14th day and I received this message:

Changes to the milestone
2:01 AM EET, 8 Nov 2018
I just receive the information from client. Lets work on this today, so I can release the payment

Maybe he's been notified. So what happens now? Wait another 14 days? I'm pretty sure he will not have any feedback, he just doesn't want to release the money. I also checked his profile. He hasn't pay for at her jobs as well

[prachi163]

Looks like the client has every intention to pay, as of now, subject to revisions, since in his own words, "Lets work on this today, so I can release the payment".

Also, I guess revisions were a part of the agreement between you and the client.

Why not see what revisions the client wants and if they are reasonable requests, do them?

[fanika]

Yes, of course I'm willing to make the revisions, but there are no such in his message. So my question was how long should I wait now? Is there a legal period or he just keeps hitting the button every 14 days?

[fanika]

So I made the corrections on the same they, and he didn't release the payment as promised and stopped responding again. I just saw how his other project ended:

Initially, we agreed that work will be done during the day of application to the job. But it took time to discuss requirements and get all assets. So that I was able to start at the end of my day. Asked if I can do it on my next morning and got approval. On the next day, I completed work quite quickly but client ignored me for 2 days and later said that he made job himself and refused to pay.

And I'm really worried if that's going to happen to me as well. Can anyone please give some advice? Am I losing my $60 dollars?

[petra_r]

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@Stefanka L wrote:

So I made the corrections on the same they, and he didn't release the payment as promised and stopped responding again. I just saw how his other project ended:

......

And I'm really worried if that's going to happen to me as well. Can anyone please give some advice? Am I losing my $60 dollars?

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 Did you submit the corrected work through the "Resubit" button?

Then just wait. If the client tries to pull the same stunt again when the next 14 days are up launch a dispute. The other project was obviously paid (in the end) or there would not have been a visible feedback (unpaid projects do not show.)

[fanika]

Yes, I have submitted, and then we kept making changes for the whole day. Do I need to resubmit the latest versions? If I do this today, the 14 days cycle will restart, right?

[petra_r]

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@Stefanka L wrote:

Yes, I have submitted, and then we kept making changes for the whole day. Do I need to resubmit the latest versions? If I do this today, the 14 days cycle will restart, right?

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 Take a look at what it says. Did the client actually use the "request changes" function before the 14 days were up or just ask you informally to change something.

If it says "You requested approval XX days ago" do not touch it.

If it says "client requested changes" then resubmit.

[fanika]

Yes, he already request changes by hitting the button 3 days ago and then I have resubmited the revisions the same day because he said: "lets do this today and I'll release the payment". And he hasn't released the money yet

[petra_r]

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@Stefanka L wrote:

Yes, he already request changes by hitting the button 3 days ago and then I have resubmited the revisions the same day because he said: "lets do this today and I'll release the payment". And he hasn't released the money yet

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 So 3 days ago you resubmitted? Now leave the client alone and do not contact them.

Hopefully after 14 days it will auto-release.

[fanika]

Now he is asking me for the editable files:

 **Edited for Community Guidelines**

What shall I do?

[fanika]

Am I supposed to provide editable files before getting paid?

[petra_r]

If the editable files are the deliverable then yes, of course.

That is how it works:

The client funds Escrow, you do the work and submit it (all of what is funded) and the client releases Escrow or it auto-releases after 14 days. You have not submitted the final work until the client has the deliverables.

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@Stefanka L wrote:

Am I supposed to provide editable files before getting paid?

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[fanika]

Can I attach them on the milestone and not in the messages then? Just to make sure he will release the payment?

[petra_r]

If you attach them to the milestone you reset the 14 days so I would not do that. Send them via messages, if there is a dispute it makes no difference whether you sent them in messages of the milestone as long as you can show they were sent

[fanika]

OK, but I think he wants to finish them with someone else and then ask for refund based on that. So I told him I will send the work files after he releases the payment. Did I do wrong?

[petra_r]

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@Stefanka L wrote:

OK, but I think he wants to finish them with someone else and then ask for refund based on that. So I told him I will send the work files after he releases the payment. Did I do wrong?

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 Sort of.  He "could" report you for that. At this point the client does not have the deliverables. 

If the client "asks for a refund" you would have to go to dispute anyway and you having refused to hand over the deliverables does not look good because the funds are in Escrow....

Dispute would look a bit like "Did you deliver the work?" "No"

Why would the client want to release the funds without having the work?

[fanika]

I understand. So if he asks for refund, we will automatically go to dispute, is that right?
Also the deliverables are all the files he wants and I have to send them before he takes an action?

[petra_r]

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@Stefanka L wrote:
I understand. So if he asks for refund, we will automatically go to dispute, is that right?
Also the deliverables are all the files he wants and I have to send them before he takes an action?

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 IF (!) he tries to close the contract and get his money back you will be asked to approve or reject the request for the return of Escrow funds. If you reject it a dispute will be created.

The deliverables are the files originally agreed upon for the contract and yes, you need to send them so the client has them to review and approve the milestone.

[tlbp]

If you refuse to deliver the work, you will not be paid. That's it. Choose to deliver the work and maybe get paid or don't deliver and definitely don't get paid. Up to you. 

[fanika]

I think I got it all wrong. I thought I am supposed to deliver final print files, which the client can use, not working files, which he can edit by himself and then plead he completed the work alone. Because he changed tha last milestone to REVISIONS instead of my FINAL PRINT FILES proposal.

[prestonhunter]

re: "Moreover I think he has posted another job for the same thing."

That has nothing to do with you.

I have at times hired between 5 to 15 people to do the same thing.

Your contract with a client is your contract, and if the client hires other people, that is up to him.

[fanika]

Yes, I understand that. I am just afraid he can say that I haven't completed the task.

[kat303]

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@Stefanka L wrote:

Yes, I understand that. I am just afraid he can say that I haven't completed the task.

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 If you don't send this client the files, then he is correct in saying you haven't completed the task. So, JUST SEND THE FILES. That's all there is to it. 

[fanika]

So I sent all the files, print files, working folders...all a week ago and he didn't say anything.  He clicked on the request changes and promised to release the payment last Thursday, I worked on the changes then and sent all files and no news from then. What can I do now?

[petra_r]

Did you click the request payment button again?

[fanika]

Yes. I submitted the changes on the same day Nov 8. I don't see request payment separate button. And then I sent all the wanted

[petra_r]

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@Stefanka L wrote:
Yes. I submitted the changes on the same day Nov 8. I don't see request payment separate button. And then I sent all the wanted

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 And then he did not request changes again, right? Then just wait and hope he doesn't press "Request Changes" again.

Or did he request changes after you resubmitted?

Can you try and be a little clearer what happened when?