40 hours you say. Not that bad to learn a lesson that will serve you for the rest of your life. Perhaps you should let it go if you feel that this customer won't pay you ever.

Do you really want to go the legal route to settle this?

Like somebody else said perhaps you're not the first one that got this treatment from this client. The worst is that perhaps this guy likes to go in court with agreement over the phone or by e-mail

I can practically hear him say when questioned about it. "That's not what I meant... He did'nt really understand... "

So it's up to you to evaluate how hard you really want to fight for those 40 hours.

The lesson learned over this. By the way the same lesson I learned some time ago <g>

In the future Put EVERYTHING in writing. Have a solid contract made by a lawyer.



>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.
>
>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.
>
>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."
>
>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.
>
>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.
>
>Mel Cummings