[whatl3y]

So

1. I’m glad this is the most upvoted comment in order to provide visibility and

2. I’m glad the founder wants to make it right apparently by having the alleged freelancer send details to rectify

but the the fact that the founder doesn’t immediately refute that this occurred and only wants to now potentially make it right by having the freelancer send his details over to get paid is very troubling for me. I hope this comes out as a false allegation but if not I wouldn’t want to support this at all.

[swirepe]

Imagine if they did immediately refute that this occurred. Wouldn't you be more suspicious of the defensiveness?

A: five years ago you made a pretty bad mistake that hurt me personally.

B: I must have let my priorities slip, and it sounds like in my oversight I hurt you personally. Reach out with more details and we can make this right.

or

A: five years ago you made a pretty bad mistake that hurt me personally.

B: I don't really make mistakes like that.

[whatl3y]

> I must have let priorities slip

saying a metaphorical “fuck you, I can’t pay you for the work you did for my business” by ignoring OPs alleged many emails and correspondence to get compensated is just as bad if not worse than a literal “fuck you, I can’t pay you” imo, but I’m also one that appreciates honesty and not sketchiness or being ghosted even if the outcome is not in my favor.

[sanketsarang]

So, I just checked. We have easily engaged upwards of 500 freelancers over the last 8 years. Not possible to personally keep track. If something has slipped by, would like to know and rectify.

[whatl3y]

The problem is though that it didn’t just “slip by” if OP tried to contact you/your team through various channels (email, whatsapp) for weeks as he says. This was either a complete mistake (ie OP didn’t do work for you) or a purposeful, coordinated effort to prevent paying OP (and I imagine others).

Your character is at stake here and again, a sleezy ghosting for years is almost certainly worse I assume for most people than a phone call, email, whatever to tell someone you unfortunately just can’t afford to pay them right now but will as soon as you can. That’s the biggest issue here.

[sanketsarang]

> Your character is at stake here and again, a sleezy ghosting for years is almost certainly worse I assume for most people that a phone call, email, whatever to tell someone you unfortunately just can’t afford to pay them right now but will as soon as you can. That’s the biggest issue here.

Why would you assume for there to be no proper conclusion? It is not like running away from the truth helps anyone. Is it not obvious that anyone would inform of payment delays, non-payment against dissatisfactory services, etc? What’s there to gain by not informing? It is not like these things don’t happen, because they do happen. Often more times than you did like.

I would like to take this claim at face value and just assume it to be true that a payment was not made. If its a troll, it would be a really sad one. Going forward under this assumption, the freelancer certainly thinks that he/she should have got paid for the services delivered. This is where a communication gap could exist. I highly doubt we have not properly closed an engagement. It is more likely it was closed against the interest of the freelancer, and the freelancer won’t take NO for an answer, and is now making a claim under an incorrect pretex.

What would you advise as the best course of action in such a scenario?

[whatl3y]

> Why would you assume there is no proper conclusion

I wouldn’t and am not. It’s your responsibility to confirm one way or the other.

If this is a case of a disgruntled freelancer who isn’t getting more than what he/she wants even under a contractual and agreed upon arrangement, then I’ll gladly retract from my former concerns and sincerely apologize for my personal issues towards the matter.

But if this is almost literally anything else where the freelancer did work and wasn’t compensated under the terms of a contractual agreement, I will hold up my concern and maintain my disdain towards the matter.

[sanketsarang]

Absolutely agree with you. We are on the same page here.