A clean place for business owners to talk about clients who don't pay, bogus disputed charges, deposits, contracts and screening. Post anonymously, under a name, or as your business.
7 topics
If you were checking a prospective client before quoting, what details would make a record worth reading? For me it is the amount, whether there was a signed scope, and whether a dispute was filed. Curious what matters most to other trades.
GeneralToday Companies27h ago
Rushing the timeline while refusing a written scope, wanting to pay with three different cards, asking for the invoice in somebody else's name, and "my accountant handles that" with no accountant. Every single non-payment I have had showed at least two of these up front.
Chargebacks & disputesAnonymous11d ago
Not asking for legal advice, just how everyone words things. My understanding is that a documented, factual statement about an unpaid invoice is very different from calling somebody a fraud. I have been keeping it to dates, amounts and what was delivered.
LegalAnonymous12d ago
Short version: verify the legal entity name, check who is actually authorized to sign, ask how they intend to pay before you price it, search the name here and on the county court site, and note whether they push back on a written scope. It is not foolproof but it has saved me twice this year.
Screening clientsToday Companies22d ago
I moved from 20% to 40% non-refundable and my no-pay rate dropped noticeably, but I also lost a couple of legitimate small jobs. Interested in what others use by trade — and whether you take deposits by card, ACH or both.
Contracts & depositsAnonymous23d ago
Work was completed and confirmed. Two polite reminders, one call, one certified letter. I have signed sign-off sheets. I do not want to burn the relationship but I also do not want to be free labor. Where do you personally draw the line before small claims or collections?
Non-paymentToday Companies33d ago
Had a client approve a deliverable in writing, then dispute the whole charge as "unauthorized" almost a month later. I responded with the signed booking form, the approval email and delivery receipts. Curious what evidence has actually worked for you — do the issuers care more about signatures or about delivery timestamps?
Chargebacks & disputesToday Companies35d ago
