[patio11]

A company owes you money. The usual way to get it from them is to send them an invoice (or other written formal demand for money). There exist interesting hypothetical questions as to what happens after you send them an invoice if they refuse to pay it. A very highly probable outcome, though, is that two months from now you get a very thin envelope in the mail with a check in it.

Supposing you don't get the check and need to ask interesting hypothetical questions: these questions can be answered by a profession of specialized letter writers, at least one of whom practices in your town. Given copies of your emails they can write all of the letters required to get you a high-four figure check. It will likely run you low three figures to low four figures. Don't think of them like your representatives in a stressful court case, because it is 99.54% likely that there will be no court case -- think of them as highly trained specialists in letter writing, with high tolerances for both stress and tedium, who happily sell letters to almost anyone who asks for one.

Send the invoice. This has been equally true for 48 of the last 48 months.

Separately: the tech industry has an unsavory individual in it. Bad news: the world is lousy with them. This particular one is distinguished in your memory mostly because he had bad dealings with you. If your goal is decreasing the amount of unsavory business dealings in the world, you'll be far more effective by making it a point from now until your dying day to always tell young freelancers "ALWAYS GET A CONTRACT" rather than spending an iota of mental energy on this guy.

[throwaway22mar]

this is good advice, and "a contract" (as opposed to some conversation) can be as brief as an unambiguous 1-sentence email summarizing the agreement and asking for confirmation by reply, and then that reply. this is more practical than legal advice, and I haven't had trouble with it.

do bear in mind that the main reason for this is that your client might have a different memory than you. memories fade - get it in writing ASAP, and ask for a confirmation.

[adtruth]

Thanks for your input. I did send an invoice four years ago, but he ignored it. Another complicating factor is that the project (and company) is long dead.

My next step, as many have suggested as well, is likely to consult a professional of specialized letter writers.

> [make] it a point from now until your dying day to always tell young freelancers "ALWAYS GET A CONTRACT"

Definitely. I have been doing this ever since.

[patio11]

Resend a demand for payment. The possible answers include "A check." and "A universe of other responses, any of which you can get checked by a letter-writer." For example, "X Corp owes you money. I don't." is entirely possible. It is an incredible step forward over where you are today.