Client has ran with my artwork

Hey, so first post on here, sorry if it is in the wrong category.

I designed a number of issues for a magazine where the last issue was underpaid by £100 of the invoice/ amount agreed on.

I have made several attempts across multiple platforms to contact the client since August 2016 but have not heard from him.

The money isn't the issue. The problem is that he has taken the packaged files and PDFs of he final copies and removed them from our shared folder (big mistake not keeping my own backup) and I no longer have access to the work that I created!

**Funnily enough as I typed this, he actually has responded stating that we did not agree on that amount and "The reason you have not heard anything back from me via those channels are two fold, I have been ill for a prolonged period and during that time all of our channels were hacked, anything that was attached to my personal details ( passwords/usernames) were corrupted. To the point where it littlerally crippled the business"

I've replied with proof of agreement of payment. There was no contract so I don't think I legally have a leg to stand on to retrieve my art files, do I?

An email might be enough proof, but it'll probably be more hassle than it is worth for 100 quid. You could pass it on to a debt collection agency as at least it won't cost you anything unless he pays. The other option is small claims court, but there is a fee to make a claim.

I'd chalk it up to experience, and be diligent with contracts and backups in the future.

Not worth chasing for £100 to be honest. Some people are just unscrupulous bastards. Learn from it and in future only hand over files when they've paid. Some people won't like it, but they're the ones most likely to run off without paying so sod 'em.

Welcome to the world of getting fucked over. You've earned a Designer Stripe to proudly display on your shoulder pad!

I once had a client not return any of my emails in relation to artwork created, I was cunning enough to put Draft over them, rasterise the proof and supply it as A4 size.

I then walked by his cafe a few months later and discovered had them all printed A1 size, which were now pixelated to the heavens, and still had Draft across them.

I never did get paid for that work.

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As far as a contract goes, when you buy something in shop you engage in a contract, you bring the goods to the till, they scan it, report what you owe, and you pay for the item and leave, that contract of actions basically says that you agreed to the sum, paid and exchanged money for the goods.

Same thing with an email that says, hey I'll do it for 100 quid, and when the response is, sure when can you start! That's a contract too.

And if you're passing on proofs and they're providing feedback, the contract is in effect.

They wouldn't have a leg to stand on.

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However, take them to the small claims court if you're that bothered by the non-payment.

hankscorpio said:

Welcome to the world of getting fucked over. You've earned a Designer Stripe to proudly display on your shoulder pad!

I once had a client not return any of my emails in relation to artwork created, I was cunning enough to put Draft over them, rasterise the proof and supply it as A4 size.

I then walked by his cafe a few months later and discovered had them all printed A1 size, which were now pixelated to the heavens, and still had Draft across them.

I never did get paid for that work.

Click to expand...

Oh, if I got a £1 for every time I have read that story from you... It still cracks me up to this day!
At this point, you must have this story saved somewhere so you can just copy and paste it in the forums right? Haha

I have other stories, I should break them out.

hankscorpio said:

I have other stories, I should break them out.

Click to expand...

Me too.

This is me:

It's always sad to hear cases like this. Despite all the hard work you put into the work, you weren't paid. To prevent similar situations in the future, you should either take the payment upfront or take half of the payment as a deposit. The worst case scenario if you choose one of these options is that you only get half of the payment. But hey what, that's better than nothing.

Sadly not all clients are good ones and it's really not easy to tell them apart. Try to forget about it and channel your energy into the next project as you'll waste time beating yourself up about the details otherwise.

Karma will get them in the end.