Member-only story
FREELANCER LIFE
I Lost My Cool With a Client Over Non-payment
Because enough is enough.
Patience is not one of my virtues — I’m the first to admit it. And I’m not the most diplomatic person in the world. I own those two facts about myself. But, even setting those aside, I’m so done with this feeling like I’m begging for what is due.
I realize others may disagree with me on the issue, folks with more experience in this freelancer life.
Still, I’m not going to make excuses for my behavior. I take responsibility for my words and actions.
Here’s how it went down.
End of July, I gave my client’s daughter her last Spanish lesson. At the beginning of August, I sent a text with the remaining balance due.
The response was she’d get the funds over to me via a mutual friend. While I waited, said mutual friend had some drama with CashApp (her account got hacked!).
Wanting to give it a bit of time before sending a reminder, I didn’t say anything for close to two weeks. I reached out again. The client apologized, asking for my surname. When I asked her what she needed it for, I got crickets.
Yesterday makes seven weeks — a long time to wait for a client’s payment.
