>Hi Terry,
>
>>If this had happened to me, in the future I'd put a time-bomb in the code that can only be deactivated by a code you send him, once you get payment.<
>
>Actually, in this situation that would not have worked. The client basically said if I didn't accept a reduced fee, I could just keep the project and forgot the whole thing (in other words, he was going to find someone else to do it all over again and not use the work I had done). At that point I knew I was dealing with something a little on the unreasonable side. Also, even if he didn't use my work I had given him an interface design he was very very happy with so that the next "guy" could base his work on that. So I decided to take 1/2 and move on. Fortunately, I have finally received that payment.

Hi Mel,

I think the above was crap. If you wouldn't have accepted the 50%, he would've kept the program AND your money.

I think it was very wrong that this client stole half of your money. Yep, I think he's a thief. If he was concerned about money he should've let you know up front and if he didn't, it's his responsibility to keep in touch with you so you can tell him how many hours you've worked so far.

I've been in similar situations; once with a client and years later with a friend, for whom I was writing some code, who didn't complete his part of the project. He didn't get paid, so he never paid me (I was hired by him, not by the actual client).

So now I work on a retainer basis if it's for a friend or a new client. They prepay a certain amount of hours and I will bill monthly or as soon as I only have 10 hours left from the retainer.

This preserves my friendship and doesn't allow a good client to go bad.

Good luck in the future!!!

Alex