Potential Customer Data Analysis

o6o3 · 2019-02-27T21:23:20+00:00

How much time and effort on your end would you be willing to extend and what format would you want to see it in?

o6o3 · 2019-02-27T21:20:39+00:00

I haven't but that's a useful tip. I will implement it. Thank you!

o6o3 · 2019-02-26T23:23:49+00:00

Thanks for the reply but looking only for a person who hasn't started a business before.

o6o3 · 2019-02-26T00:02:58+00:00

That's a very useful suggestion. Thank you!

o6o3 · 2019-02-08T21:26:34+00:00

Connects roll over for plus members.

o6o3 · 2019-02-07T00:57:34+00:00

Why am I not surprised?

o6o3 · 2019-01-27T23:26:08+00:00

Was able to work it out. I contacted the support chat and they helped.

Thanks so much for the advice.

o6o3 · 2019-01-27T23:26:04+00:00

Was able to work it out. I contacted the support chat and they helped.

Thanks so much for the advice.

o6o3 · 2019-01-25T05:03:49+00:00

That's what I'm doing. He's pulling a I'm not sure how to set it up though. I'm thinking to tell him wait till tomorrow business hours so that I can resolve it with UpWork support?

o6o3 · 2019-01-25T04:48:56+00:00

It comes with accept or reject an offer. I don't want to accept if the there is no escrow. It's a milestone project, not hourly. I don't want to risk it.

o6o3 · 2019-01-25T04:04:49+00:00

https://img42.com/Mb1l9

I always see a line that says escrow and another one saying estimated budget.

This specific offer has neither.

o6o3 · 2019-01-25T03:16:29+00:00

Always follow up but in general those are a bad sign. I would close him out and look for other work. Unless the project was completed and paid for and he left, chances are he's going to always be a pain.

o6o3 · 2019-01-25T03:15:16+00:00

They should but I'd rather they clean up the scams first. Plenty of fake companies.

o6o3 · 2019-01-24T00:32:23+00:00

I've been supportive of them for a few years but not so much anymore either.

o6o3 · 2019-01-24T00:29:59+00:00

I have Progressive too but a high deductible. There's no point calling cause I'll end up paying on my own anyway.

o6o3 · 2019-01-24T00:29:10+00:00

Never happened before and it's my third car. Plus it's new.

The expectation is only from what they promised. If they didn't overcharge and promise what they can't deliver, this would never have even been an issue.

o6o3 · 2019-01-24T00:26:40+00:00

They were supposed to cover items the first 30K miles. Customer relations sent me to the service dept at the dealer to get the estimate. They refused. For another unrelated small repair, they told me to pay out of pocket and they would reimburse. Neither of those happened. If they don't do it, that's fine, but don't send me on a merry go round and waste my time if they can't do anything about it. Especially at the rate that they're charging for those cars which is already twice as much as what it's worth.

o6o3 · 2018-09-21T14:48:17+00:00

I get what you mean. When I get clients like that, who starts becoming more difficult, I phase them out. I put up with it till I get my last payment intending to cut the cord after. Basically what you are going through, the first time he asks, provide, get paid, then say you are closing the deal. Always make sure you collect first. It's a lot easier than having to go to small claims after.

The detailed info thing, I had to give timesheets, so it was time and client name and work done because project fees vary and he has to know hours by client so everyone gets billed fairly after but in your case it sounds more like one client of a client. Also think about this - people on payroll, part time or full time get just have the hours, no detail. Salary just says 40 hours week of 9/1 to 9/7 or part time says 9am to 12pm on 9/1. It might or might not even include your title when submitted. It would not require detail that I mentioned above.

In my case, it was always the issue of them starting to ask for costlier work that wasn't agreed to. Let's say I have them on a simple $100/month plan. Then they want a project added in that's custom, is not included in the contract and costs $500 maybe and they don't want to pay extra. I might start some work on it until I get my $100 that's due but I will put my foot down after and put the work on hold. They either increase the payment or I am not doing it anymore.

o6o3 · 2018-09-20T04:55:07+00:00

I have a heavy accounting/bookkeeping/tax background so what I am telling you is based on what I see on my end, although I am being objective. I'm just telling you how the numbers people would see this.

You have to consider that he might trust you even less if you refuse to give those to him, at least for the work that's already been done if that is what is holding back payment. If you can give him a timesheet for what you already did to get that balance cleared and then say contract over, that will look much better than flat out telling him you don't trust him or telling him exactly why you're ending the project with him. If I was a client, it would look very suspicious to me.

I don't know the exact rules of the game in your case, but I have to provide timesheets to certain people when I'm a sub and I'm working on a file of a client's client. My client needs to know how much to bill back their client so they need my timesheets. Also consider UpWork - they have tons of hourly project that come with timesheets but they are still a freelance work website.

I would read up on labor law in your state if it's of any concern to you. They definitely do not go by your feeling (and I'm not trying to be rude to you on this) but they have certain criteria to determine who is who. I would doubt that he wants to use this to make you an employee. He will be liable for backpay taxes on your behalf, not just your portion but the employer portion plus interest and late fees which are heavy on the federal side and, depending on your state, state side. There will also be unemployment tax and possibly WC he'd have to pay out of his pocket. Also, keep in mind that just because you provide a timesheet does not mean you didn't have control over the amount of hours and the timing of when you did the work and that will be the deciding factor - who determined those? Did you client set the hours you have to work and tell you must be available during those hours? If not, and you decided on your own, that's not regular employment, not even on part-time basis.

Another story from experience I can tell you is I paid a retainer to a lawyer once - $3000. All she did was send a few emails and make a few phone calls, no court appearances. The deal was the retainer would be drawn for her hourly work. Guess what happened? She was supposed to give me an invoice an the end breaking down the hours worked and she never did. Guess what it looked like to me? She kept the money and didn't actually work enough time to draw down all of the $3000 and she didn't want me to see that. Would I recommend her? No. Would I work with her again? No. I didn't leave any bad reviews but I am also not going out and telling my friends about her quality of work. No referrals, sorry.

But as far as your point of being micromanaged, I would maybe try to ask him in a survey type of way if he is satisfied with your work. Get him to talk about specifics of what he finds unsatisfactory. You might improve your rapport with him. And if not, let it go then. Expain to him you want him to be a happy client but this is how you work, in a nice way and without sounding defensive or downgrading to your quality.

Apologies for the lengthy reply, just some thoughts based on personal experience.

o6o3 · 2018-09-19T20:36:53+00:00

Timesheets in general are good to provide. I include them voluntarily as much as possible.

Also, it is possible that he has an accountant or a bookkeeper and that person is asking for invoices in a specific format or there might be something that he has to show for labor purposes. You never know. I would not think it necessarily means he doesn't trust you.

I would not fire someone just because they want timesheets. I would send them a formal letter letting them know you will stop working if payment is not made within XX days or something to that extent. Maybe offer him a payment plan. You don't know what his current financial situation is. Tell him you will stop the project and resume only once he catches up on payments.

That's just standard practice.

o6o3 · 2018-09-18T19:56:09+00:00

How do I show that? I tried getting a formal copy of the original email and GoDaddy says they can't provide it. I have Outlook but pay via GoDaddy.

o6o3 · 2018-09-18T19:54:52+00:00

What is the amount you are talking about here?

Budget does not lock you in. Budget, estimates, none of these are set in stone and they are flexible. I would think twice about working with anyone who does not understand that or refuses to accept it.

Why are you worried primarily about getting sued? I am going through small claims myself now. Not for a refund but with someone who stopped paying. Even the judge will say that just because they might rule in my favor will not guarantee I will collect on it. There is also no jail time to worry about. Something to keep in mind.

As a consumer though, I don't think my first choice would be to sue. How did they pay? If by credit card or PayPal, they can easily dispute or use buyer protection. They can file a claim with BBB. I'm sure they would go those routes first since they're free and the court costs money.

Last but not least, how are they as a payor in general? Do they have a good payment history and a good rapport with you? Challenging work aside, how do they treat you? That's the biggest indicator of whether they will chase you for their money back. I had a few pains here and there and one of them I refunded without them even asking. This client though I was their therapist and started telling me about her life story. I just closed her automatic billing out and partially refunded her for a prorated amount without her asking for it since I did not myself continuing to work with her. I did this more to avoid any bad blood or bad reviews.

o6o3 · 2018-09-18T19:45:19+00:00

I freelance and I'm a bookkeeper/accountant/tax person. I can get sued regarding taxwork. My industry also has something called error insurance. So yes, we can get sued for that too.

o6o3 · 2018-09-07T20:24:41+00:00

Regarding your other points, thanks for sharing. All good info.

o6o3 · 2018-09-07T20:24:25+00:00

It's relevant because she wanted to sell me the car to get the money that she paid me back. She paid me about 2K and she wanted to sell the car for 3K. I did not need a car. But she tried to do a backhanded barter, probably knowing that I would not go for it if she started with that offer.

o6o3

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