[scotty79]

Just move on. If he ever comes back, insist on paying what he owes before doing any further work. Once he pays apologise and refuse to do any work because you are busy with other clients (real or imagined).

If he doesn't come back it's not worth it to chase.

On your next jobs double your rate and ask for half up front. If client is nice offer small discount at the end to keep your clients happy. People you want to work for rarely care about the price but are as happy about discounts as anyone.

[convolvatron]

I actually have had a client come back and try to arrange further work without settling the last bill. Either the work was so bad it didn't deserve to be paid, or they cheated me, but not both. Its amazing that people think they can 'work the system' and extract free labor.

[mooreds]

Wow. Did they just ignore the previous invoice, or how did they explain coming back to you? Did they end up paying?

[convolvatron]

they just kind of admitted we had a disagreement that needed to be resolved, but didn't see why that wouldn't preclude me from taking on new work for them

edit: actually, thinking about it again, I'm pretty sure they implied that completion of the new work might cause them to reconsider their stance on paying for the initial work.

[CyberFonic]

To me that seems like they were playing you.

[gaius]

Just move on. If he ever comes back, insist on paying what he owes before doing any further work

Unscrupulous people could get an awful lot "for free" if every company gave them one chance like that. It'a a service to the community to take them to the cleaners.

[scotty79]

Every human has innate impulse to punish such freeloaders and pleasure coming from punishing. But it comes at material and often psychological cost.

I believe that there's so few freeloaders and so many wanting to punish them that I'm better off suppressing punisher impulse in myself and find my pleasures elsewhere, cheaper.

You could say that I'm freeloading on the backs of freeloader punishers. But same could be said about anyone not working for the police, justice or IRS.

[cylinder]

Quite British advice. I would sue

[CyberFonic]

Suing only makes sense if the cost of legal action is far less than the amounts owing. Engaging in international commercial disputes is typically very expensive. You probably need to retain lawyers in both the USA and the UK.

DIY legal action is doubly expensive. 1) you probably don't know the correct procedures, and 2) while you are lawyering, you are not earning an income from your profession.