When a client dont pay

Well, if she waited over a year to deliver content, I'm not sure she will really care about a note. I would politely send her an email saying her account has been deactivated until the remainder of the payment is sent. Take the site offline.

You killed any chance of her paying you, by letting it go on for a year. Learn to badger the client until they give you what you need, or..... get paid up front.

If you get paid up front, she can take as long as she likes.

Getting paid up front solves almost every problem with clients.

Call her and make nice. Be understanding - ask her if you messed up somewhere or if you misunderstood what she wants. Ask her if you met her design expectations - I'm assuming you did a great job already and you already know she likes it.

Then, instead of telling her it is her fault for not delivering the content (she already knows this), and making her feel like a procrastinating fool who can't write simple text (she already feels this way) - tell her that lots of people get stuck on the content (because they do) and that it's normal (because it is).

Then, upsell her on the content creation (solve her problem) - don't make it about closing the job or getting final payment, make it about her. "I really want to finish this job for you so your site is complete." Accept payment upfront for the content creation.

You both want the same thing. If she is a good person she knows she hasn't paid you and will want to make it right. She knows she has unfinished business on the site and will want to finish it.

If that doesn't work, do what iAmNameLess said above.

She is doing what line 2 of my sig says. If you call her and confirm the negative feelings she probably has about this, you lose her forever. If you save it, she will think you are the nicest, most honest, and awesome provider ever. Don't burn bridges, build them. Then start pumping for referrals.

Is the domain something this client has advertised? do her friends and customers know it exists?

And most importantly, do you control it?

If so, a simple message that says "Account Suspended" should provoke some level of action on her part. I would steer clear of trying the personal humiliation route... that could easily backfire in unpleasant ways.

If she has no attachment to the domain, you are probably out of luck.

Did you have a contract, or was this verbal?

Hey Naets!

The above advise is spot on. All I can really add here is this:

Along with what Dan said, you just never know what someone is going through. Often times people avoid contacting people (that they know want money), because they simply don't have it. Perhaps they had good intentions initially, but now other things have come up. It doesn't mean she doesn't want to pay you.

If you are having trouble making contact with her, (you didn't mention that), I have tried this, with a lot of success. I will have someone I know call their number. All they say is "sorry, I must have the wrong number", and they hang up. Then I know that they actually do answer their phone.

Try one last email. An understanding email and reach out. If that gets you no where, then I would suspend the site if that is an option. If she's gone this long with ignoring you, your chances of success are sort of slim. Last resort, if available, a face to face.

Good luck!

~ Theresa

Thanks guys, great advice.

When I don't pay my host bill my websites go offline. They're just funny like that.

Are you hosting the site? If so, you hold all the cards. But I always remember what someone once told me - 'Remember, everybody is hurting in some way that you'll never know', so I don't see getting heavy handed. She might have spent money she didn't have on a business that didn't go, etc. Write her a nice note with some do-able payment arrangement, (including a discount), and if she doesn't pay forget about it. We've all had to bite the bullet somewhere along the way.

The only thing that doesn't work is a hustler who has blatantly scammed you. We sent a cashier's check to a telemarketing company in Canada. When they didn't deliver and told us to 'pound sand', we found a 'representative' on Craigslist to stop by and see them. I don't know what this mug (and his pal) musta looked like, but we got a wire transfer the next day.