What should I do

danielcorona · ‎04-12-2018

Good evening to everyone.

I have a problem with a customer. I signed up for a project where I asked for a sum of money. The amount was way over what he asked for in the job post(He wanted an E-Commerce Luxury Design. I have one designed in my portfolio and he liked it). He contacted me and started to explain to me what he wants without saying anything about the amount I asked for. So nothing has been said about money. He opened the contract, and in the contract was made a milestone of 50 dollars, to which I asked him what was with that milestone. To which he replied that he wants to see if I fit for the job. I did what he asked and I did a nice work(he said), I asked him to open a new milestone and he made a $ 100 milestone. 100 dollars being nothing as what amount I first requested when I signed up for the project. And in this milestone, he asked me to make 3 design pages for his website. Initially, he requested 6 pages in the project description. I did one in the first milestone, and now he asked for 3 pages. He tried to buy me from the first step I think :)) telling me that if everything goes Ok with his business, I'll get to work for him. Still changing the subject of closing the first milestone. We got where we are now, in the 2nd milestone, I made the 3 pages (I did it and did not say anything because I do not want to get any negative feedback) and he asks me also to try to convert the design in HTML , but I answered directly that this it was not the agreement, only design. And now he wants animations too :)) which is not part of our agreement.

Any ideas what to do? I dont't want negative feedback.

Thank you for reading, hope you understand 🙂

Can I attach screenshots with the conversation?

melaniekhenson · ‎04-12-2018

You're not allowed to attach screen shots of the conversaton, no.

I hate to say it, but you're kind of painted into a corner now unless you want to close the contract yourself and let the FB chips fall where they may. Honestly, you may just wish to do that, though it's up to you. This guy really has you over a barrel right now because you did not clarify AHEAD of accepting the contract, what the milestones would be and how much. 😞 I am so sorry about that but think about this for next time. Don't accept the project unless the milestones are clear and the entire job is laid out clearly, and quantifiably - i.e. in numbers: X pages, X words...whatever.

kat303 · ‎04-12-2018

@Daniel Z wrote:
Good evening to everyone.

I have a problem with a customer. I signed up for a project where I asked for a sum of money. The amount was way over what he asked for in the job post(He wanted an E-Commerce Luxury Design. I have one designed in my portfolio and he liked it). He contacted me and started to explain to me what he wants without saying anything about the amount I asked for. So nothing has been said about money. He opened the contract, and in the contract was made a milestone of 50 dollars, to which I asked him what was with that milestone. To which he replied that he wants to see if I fit for the job. I did what he asked and I did a nice work(he said),
This is a scam which as been going around quite a lot lately. A client only deposits a very small portion of the agreed on proposal amount and then conviences the freelancer to complete the entire job.
If only $50 was deposited into escrow, you could have either only done $50 woth of work - or - you could have told him that he needs to FULLY fund escrow BEFORE you would be able to start working on his job.

I asked him to open a new milestone and he made a $ 100 milestone. 100 dollars being nothing as what amount I first requested when I signed up for the project. And in this milestone, he asked me to make 3 design pages for his website.

This is scope creep and an attempt to get free work. You weren't fully paid for the first milestone, and now you're working on something different in a 2nd milestone that ALSO has Not been fully funded.
Initially, he requested 6 pages in the project description. I did one in the first milestone, and now he asked for 3 pages. He tried to buy me from the first step I think :)) telling me that if everything goes Ok with his business, I'll get to work for him.

Promises from strangers on the internet don't mean anything IMO. You shouldn't base your work on a bunch of words that most likely don't amount to anything.

Still changing the subject of closing the first milestone. We got where we are now, in the 2nd milestone, I made the 3 pages (I did it and did not say anything because I do not want to get any negative feedback) and he asks me also to try to convert the design in HTML , but I answered directly that this it was not the agreement, only design. And now he wants animations too :)) which is not part of our agreement.

More scope creep and adding onto that, free work. Close the contract, block him.

Any ideas what to do? I dont't want negative feedback.

Thank you for reading, hope you understand 🙂

Can I attach screenshots with the conversation?