As a follow up to the “Reputation” post a while back.
I was owed money for design work and the client didn’t want to pay because he didn’t like the design. Although he was given a number of opportunities to stop progress and ask us to start again.
I got paid… (I ate about 25% of the fee to be a good guy) after a number of calls asking to meet with me to “try and work this out” before I took legal action.
So….reputation has been laid out. I will not simply roll over like many architects do. The client has salvaged my initial opinion of being a total cheap skate. All is happy…
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Back in the early 90′s we were hit with a recession which caused me to close down my business. Prior to that sad event I dedicated weeks of valuable production time to collections. After numerous ineffective calls I would show up at the debtor’s business and try to collect in person. I would camp out in their lobby. I would bring a brown bag lunch. I would tell anybody who would ask me the reason why I was there. I was pissed! As a last resort I would file liens against the client’s projects. I still remember one individual stating “This is no way to treat a client!” as he begrudgingly wrote out a check to get my signature on a release of lien form. I took his check put it in my pocket and said; “I’ll sign that release when this check clears. By the way, you’re not a client.”
My old man once advised me “what you charge should never be what you cost, but what you’re worth.” Too many of us in our profession underestimate our worth.
I wish I could post this article on a few other websites right now!
I have found that so many in my industry can not separate professional from personal. Which is truly sad, as business is business. Yes you can be friendly with clients, yes you can even be friends, but when it comes down the professional relationship, there are going to be times when the personal needs to be checked at the door.