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A web developer posted a payment shaming message on their client's site

joseph-smith.co.uk

61–70 of 115 posts

Re: A web developer posted a payment shaming message on their client's site

#61
post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> legal repercussions like what? contract says "money for stuff". no money, no stuff.

Maybe. A lot of freelancers and agencies have amateur or no contracts. A neutral service suspended message or no response from the server is more defendable if the client goes after you. If you actively communicate on their website, it could be argued you tried to cause reputational harm etc. Even if you're right, provoking a legal response from a client is more than a lot of creatives and developers can handle, espe…

if the company is big enough to have legal staff, said staff would probably have advised them to pay in the first place.

Re: A web developer posted a payment shaming message on their client's site

#62
post #12

I see such behavior from time to time but feels off-taste IMHO. It's almost as if would be more professional if they worked with the Italian mafia to coerce for payment(not that I approve such thing). If contract broken, sue them. Why throwing a scene?

>If contract broken, sue them. Why throwing a scene? Haha! tell me about it. A client of mine ended his contract in 2010, pretending he did not use my software anymore. He had the source because I had to compile on site for technical reasons. A disgruntled employed called to tell me and my associate he was still using it. It took me 3 years to find a proof, lawsuit started in 2014, the expertise began in 2016 and end…

Shutting down services upon payment issues is much more different than getting into laud public dispute.

Also, there's always some number of problem clients out there, never good idea to stray away from civility. There are problem merchants too, which is much more socially acceptable to shame publicly.

Re: A web developer posted a payment shaming message on their client's site

#63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As a contractor some of this is on you also. Before extending credit to a client you should do some due diligence on their ability to pay.

But how? Make them show me their books? Aside from a downpayment idk what else there is

You could do a credit check.

And in this particular case since they're a UK company, yeah, you can just look at their reported accounts.

2023

CURRENT ASSETS: £571

Creditors: Amounts Falling Due Within One Year: £28,051

----

That's not a client I'd take.

Re: A web developer posted a payment shaming message on their client's site

#64
post #42
post #17

This probably explains why they're not paying: https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/c... > Company status: Dissolved > Dissolved on 16 December 2025 His other company: > Company status: Liquidation People are now attacking the guy on Instagram because I guess the developer or someone, made a Tiktok video about it.

The thing about dissolving a company is that they generally should have done it before getting a bunch of services without paying for them. Like a gambler they think the big win is coming any second and they drag it out too long, leaving a bunch of unpaid bills behind then.

Really no reason to speculate. Could be a life crisis, ill health ect.

Re: A web developer posted a payment shaming message on their client's site

#65
post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The thing about dissolving a company is that they generally should have done it before getting a bunch of services without paying for them. Like a gambler they think the big win is coming any second and they drag it out too long, leaving a bunch of unpaid bills behind then.

As a contractor some of this is on you also. Before extending credit to a client you should do some due diligence on their ability to pay.

I worked at a couple places where the vendors got wise and moved to cash in advance or net30 from net90 for us. We probably deserved it.

Re: A web developer posted a payment shaming message on their client's site

#66
post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The thing about dissolving a company is that they generally should have done it before getting a bunch of services without paying for them. Like a gambler they think the big win is coming any second and they drag it out too long, leaving a bunch of unpaid bills behind then.

Or worse, planned on not paying in the first place and made off with investor cash while maintaining the appearance of moving on their venture.

I want to be a producer!

Re: A web developer posted a payment shaming message on their client's site

#67

As much as I want to side with the developers I think they are exposing themselves to legal repercussions and made their situation worse.

When you don’t pay for your salesforce Licence it disables your integrations, and puts up a banner saying this has been done for non payment so you should contact an administrator. Far be it from me to hold them up as a beacon of moral value, but in business it’s fair to say you have to pay for service. It’s not a humiliation, it’s just factual.

Not the same thing. Salesforce is a service provider, they can stop the service they provide. This developer could too. Salesforce should not be allowed to cite payment reasons though.

Re: A web developer posted a payment shaming message on their client's site

#68
post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But how? Make them show me their books? Aside from a downpayment idk what else there is

You could do a credit check. And in this particular case since they're a UK company, yeah, you can just look at their reported accounts. 2023 CURRENT ASSETS: £571 Creditors: Amounts Falling Due Within One Year: £28,051 ---- That's not a client I'd take.

As a customer or a vendor, being able to see any company's health like this must be wonderful if you're evaluating whether you want to enter a relationship with them. More of the world should do this.

Re: A web developer posted a payment shaming message on their client's site

#70
post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But how? Make them show me their books? Aside from a downpayment idk what else there is

You could do a credit check. And in this particular case since they're a UK company, yeah, you can just look at their reported accounts. 2023 CURRENT ASSETS: £571 Creditors: Amounts Falling Due Within One Year: £28,051 ---- That's not a client I'd take.

Wait, what, Anyone can check the balance of a UK company's chequing account?
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