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Topic: Broke, should know better?
| Author | Message |
| cynthia.mccloud | Posted – 8/14/2008 3:42:16 PM | show profile | email poster I'm seeking consolation so please don't be too hard on me. :) I took a one-time gig for my neighbor to do a story for his trade mag. He works for a major university. He needed the piece within 4 days. He kept forgetting to bring the contract home to me. I turned over my story to him and haven't heard from him since, though I have tried to approach him professionally (not on his front porch) about it and gotten deadends. As I understand it, the school needs a signed service agreement before they'll submit my invoice for payment. Think I just got used? A more pressing problem is that a newspaper I've worked for since March that pays every three weeks hasn't sent a check in 6 weeks but they keep assigning me stories. Last week all the stringers got an e-mail that said "whoopsie! I've been lax in submitting your payroll. Don't worry it's on its way!" But I remain unconvinced. Should I hold the story due Friday to see if my check comes in the mail Saturday? I'm sure that would burn a bridge and accomplish nothing but I feel broke and helpless. I've been freelancing since December with 12 years previous full-time experience. |
| foodlit | Posted – 8/14/2008 4:14:08 PM | show profile I'd call your neighbor at home or stop by...he's taking advantage. Be persistent. On the newspaper, I don't know, that is pretty lame, sounds like there's major money issues there...maybe call and find out before submitting more work? I can sympathize, nothing worse than waiting for payment that is overdue. |
| cynthia.mccloud | Posted – 8/22/2008 12:23:20 PM | show profile A partial update The check from the newspaper came in the mail today. I held that story till Monday and also contacted my assigning editor and the managing editor to say I wouldn't do any more stories till I got paid. The ME was understanding but I thought my assigning editor was chilly. Anyway, she still assigned me something due Sept. 12 so she must not be too upset. At least I'm confident it probably was overlooked paperwork and not that the newspaper is going under. Thanks for the feedback. I haven't resolved the neighbor situation yet. I'll let you know how it turns out. |
| caitlinkelly | Posted – 8/22/2008 12:40:08 PM | show profile You did your neighbor a favor by coming through for him so professionally and so quickly. If he doesn't reply to phone calls or emails, I'd show up at his office, all neighborly and cordial, and remind him you simply can't get paid for the work you provided -- i.e. you ordered it, you own it -- without his *immediate* cooperation. If he gets weird (which seems hard to imagine), you could politely remind him you saved his butt. One professional turn surely deserves another, right? You don't need consolation. You need payment. |
| cynthia.mccloud | Posted – 8/28/2008 2:54:46 PM | show profile Update I called my neighbor's office and personal cell and left messages and sent one more straight-to-the-point e-mail. I said, politely, 1. I want to know if you used it and 2. if not, why and if so, then I want to sign the contract so we can get the ball rolling on payment. Yesterday he replied by e-mail saying he's just forgetful and apologizing. Today I got the contract in the mail -- for $50 MORE than we initially discussed. I'm sorry I doubted him. Thanks everyone for your hand-holding and good advice about persistence. |
