>Perhaps someone can give me a little advice on how they would handle this. In my 21 years as a programmer this is the first time I have experienced this.
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>Without getting to specific, I did a small project for the client of another UT member (no handshakes or signed contracts). I accepted it as I had a few free hours (it took less than 40 hours). My complaint is not with the UT member, but the client.
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>The client was very happy when I completed the project, and I have his email stating such - and also requesting I work longer term with him. However, when he got the bill he wanted to negotiate a differnt price (or take it up with the UT member and I assume have him pay me). I agreed to a different price with the client just to get it over with. By the way, that different price was 1/2 price. I still haven't received payment, although he has said "it's in the mail."
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>My question is this: if I don't get paid, or if the client attempts to ask for further discounts what my next step is. It's such a small amount of money as far as I am concerned I am thinking of just deleting the project and not shipping him my source code.
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>Any thoughts is appreciated. I am just trying to make sure I am not over-reacting, but I want it to just be over with.

I think Tamar has the right idea but you may not even have to go that far. Just tell him you're *going* to serve him papers. You might even be able to salvage the "relationship" if you blame a fictitious 3rd party e.g. "nothing personal - when my accountant went over my A/R he said that's what I should do". Be sure to set a hard, but reasonable date by which payment must be received - absolutely no excuses accepted.

You have something of an obligation to pursue this. I've encountered a couple of "serial bad clients" like yours. I'll bet you're not the first contractor this guy has treated this way. Because no one has read him the riot act, now he thinks he can act that way with everyone. So, you can let it go, for him to abuse the next contractor, or you can help end it now.