What being ripped off taught me • Hacker News Board

Re: What being ripped off taught me

#41

Post by lnsru » Mon, Apr 06, 2026, 2:03 PM UTC

bob1029 wrote: post #24

I've started operating in really granular units of work. Like less than $1000 per. Cash on delivery. This won't work with all clients and all jobs, but there are places where it does work very well. Advantages include being able to avoid paper contracts altogether. Verbal agreements and a 4 column xlsx that is reviewed monthly are all that seem to be required with some of my clients. If I don't get paid for one day o…

I am also trying to set granular milestones and get paid every 1000€. Not provide 20000€ work and then start looking for my money. I can live with a loss of 1000€, but missing 20000€ will impact negatively my mortgage and investment plan.

Re: What being ripped off taught me

#42

Post by close04 » Mon, Apr 06, 2026, 2:03 PM UTC

InMice wrote: post #17

> I missed the month of May with my 2-year-old kid. My wife cared for a 2-year-old alone. The weirdest part to me, receive a call and just get up and go? Priorities? Did you write this blog post from the doghouse?

Reads to me like the author is trying to elicit some empathy. It just sounds like he was just fine leaving his family for a job. Not getting paid couldn’t have factored into that decision.

Re: What being ripped off taught me

#43

Post by ian_d » Mon, Apr 06, 2026, 2:04 PM UTC

Evergreen advice from the design side: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVkLVRt6c1U (Mike Monteiro: F*ck You, Pay Me)

Re: What being ripped off taught me

#44

Post by 0x3f » Mon, Apr 06, 2026, 2:05 PM UTC

close04 wrote: post #42

InMice wrote: post #17

> I missed the month of May with my 2-year-old kid. My wife cared for a 2-year-old alone. The weirdest part to me, receive a call and just get up and go? Priorities? Did you write this blog post from the doghouse?

Reads to me like the author is trying to elicit some empathy. It just sounds like he was just fine leaving his family for a job. Not getting paid couldn’t have factored into that decision.

> It just sounds like he was just fine leaving his family for a job.

Or... maybe he needs income to exist.

Re: What being ripped off taught me

#45

Post by chrisweekly » Mon, Apr 06, 2026, 2:05 PM UTC

rglover wrote: post #16

Never do anything on faith or as a handshake deal. Always ensure you get paid (hint: escrow is kryptonite for weasels). Trust everyone, just not the devil inside them. Also, mandatory: https://creativemornings.com/talks/mike-monteiro--2/1

> “Starting work without a contract is like putting on a condom after taking a home pregnancy test"

Choice quote from the linked talk (aptly titled "F*ck you, pay me").

Re: What being ripped off taught me

#46

Post by apt-apt-apt-apt » Mon, Apr 06, 2026, 2:08 PM UTC

Actually sort of darkly clever– they turned OP into an unwitting investor.

Project goes well, he gets paid and they're best buds, and he doesn't even realize he was scammed (by intent). If not, well there's no point suing a failed company.

Re: What being ripped off taught me

#47

Post by normie3000 » Mon, Apr 06, 2026, 2:09 PM UTC

ian_d wrote: post #43

Evergreen advice from the design side: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVkLVRt6c1U (Mike Monteiro: F*ck You, Pay Me)

Watched a couple of times, but I don't fully understand the message in this video. Can someone ELI5?

Re: What being ripped off taught me

#48

Post by [deleted] » Mon, Apr 06, 2026, 2:09 PM UTC

eckesicle wrote: post #26

eckesicle wrote: post #21

We’ve also learned this lesson the hard way. These are now the clauses we require in every project we do: - Payment is due X days after receipt of invoice, or immediately after the consultant has addressed any quality issues, whichever is sooner - Late payment shall incur interest at 8% above the BoE base rate and a late fee of 100 GBP as per the UK Late Payment Legislation. Partial payments on invoices shall apply t…

Oh and another lesson! Ensuring that each deliverable invoice is small enough that it falls under the simplified claims procedure (in the UK it’s 10,000 pounds) greatly simplifies collection. It costs something like 80 quid to file for recovery in court and in our experience invoices are immediately paid up when a “Letter before action” is sent. You burn the relationship, but arguably you probably don’t want it anywa…

[deleted]

Re: What being ripped off taught me

#49

Post by DataDaoDe » Mon, Apr 06, 2026, 2:12 PM UTC

wewewedxfgdf wrote: post #11

Be paid or don't work. I am so deadly serious - do not continue working if your invoices are late. You don't have to be a jerk about it, just explain to your primary contact that you need to be paid and you pick up tools again when the money has arrived. BUT it is on YOU to properly negotiate reasonable payment terms. And if you don;t know or don't trust the client then require payment in advance until a stronger com…

Sadly this is true and lesson anyone who has worked freelance has probably learned - either that or I'd wager they no longer do freelance.

Its easy to say don't be afraid to lose business, but when you're starting out, the economy is rough or all you have are the one or two clients, that's a different matter entirely.

One thing I've learned is that you always have to do the leg work, you can't assume someone will do the right thing or keep their word.

Develop a system where even bad clients, can't do too much damage i.e. upfront deposits, milestone-based payments. You have to control cash flow risks, if you are gonna take risks know what risks you're taking and when to get out.

Re: What being ripped off taught me

#50

Post by [deleted] » Mon, Apr 06, 2026, 2:14 PM UTC

rglover wrote: post #16

Never do anything on faith or as a handshake deal. Always ensure you get paid (hint: escrow is kryptonite for weasels). Trust everyone, just not the devil inside them. Also, mandatory: https://creativemornings.com/talks/mike-monteiro--2/1

[deleted]