My client cancelled...
...and they want their money back. Of course, I did a ton of work for them already. Should I just pay them back?
The contract says that the payment I already have is nonrefundable.
$ 8.95 = Domain Registration willing to refund
$47.40 = Hosting, $3.95 x 12 willing to refund
$50.00 = Way more than ten hours of work unwilling to refund
In dispute is their dissatisfaction with "the completeness" of the site. Getting them to describe a level of completeness they would be satisfied with was, in the end, impossible.
openmind posted this at 16:18 — 4th December 2004.
He has: 945 posts
Joined: Aug 2001
If the contract states that the payment is non-refundable then you don't have to give them a penny back.
The fact that you are refunding the domain reg fee and hosting is good enough imho
Chris Choi posted this at 21:28 — 20th December 2004.
They have: 15 posts
Joined: Nov 2004
My advice to you would be to get rid of all the headache
clients. Your time would be better spend getting rid of them
and trying to find better new ones (unless you are starving
of course). If they knew about your refund policy then
you don't have to give them a cent back. I can't believe
they'd want it back after 10 hours of work either.
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howthey're doing itdvduval posted this at 22:19 — 3rd January 2005.
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Remember the saying about the squeaky wheel. Most wheels do exactly what they are supposed to do, and you never even give them much thought. Then occasionally there is the squeaky wheel that makes a lot of noise.
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timjpriebe posted this at 23:18 — 3rd January 2005.
He has: 2,664 posts
Joined: Dec 2004
That's definitely a hard call. If you already have a good customer base built up where any disparaging remarks they make won't make a difference, then keep the money.
However, if you don't have a whole lot of clients, just refund their money so you won't get a bad rap.
Just my opinion, of course. In my own situation, I would just refund them the money, more likely than not.
Tim
http://www.tandswebdesign.com
Renegade posted this at 00:38 — 4th January 2005.
He has: 3,022 posts
Joined: Oct 2002
They signed the contract saying that the money is non refundable. That is what counts. If they signed it, they agreed to it. End of story.
TaylorAtCTS posted this at 23:14 — 7th January 2005.
He has: 153 posts
Joined: Nov 2004
It is always cheaper to keep the clients you have and get good referals from them than get new clients.
However.. in this situation I probably would very nicely tell them that they agreed to pay what they already have according to the contract. Explain the amount of work you have already done and if you can try to get them to stick with it..
If they wont.. I wouldnt give them a penny. If you get a letter from a lawyer.. I'd consider forgetting the hassle and kindly giving them their money back.
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ridcully posted this at 15:03 — 22nd January 2005.
They have: 23 posts
Joined: Dec 2004
I agree. First rule of marketing.
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dbanners posted this at 08:28 — 9th January 2005.
He has: 13 posts
Joined: Jan 2005
wow, you actually took the effort to get ready a contract document for a $50 job?
anyway, imho, i'd do just what you're thinking, return the hosting and domain fee to them but keep the $50. i'd do it really politely and try to minimize ill feelings.
however, if they're really nasty about it, i'd just return them the $50 too - not worth the hassle, i guess. better that than them going around spreading falsehoods about ya...
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Renegade posted this at 08:55 — 9th January 2005.
He has: 3,022 posts
Joined: Oct 2002
No matter how small, it usually pays to have a contract. You never know, it may save your *** someday
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andy206uk posted this at 16:59 — 10th January 2005.
He has: 1,757 posts
Joined: Jul 2002
Why not establish where you've gone wrong and fix the problem? That way you get a happy client and the money!
truelysam posted this at 17:31 — 10th January 2005.
They have: 10 posts
Joined: Nov 2004
just follow the rule of the contract
otherwise why you sign it?
Dirty_Dawg posted this at 20:55 — 12th January 2005.
He has: 64 posts
Joined: Aug 2004
I see this as a cheap lesson learned about this client. Just give their money back and move on to more productive use of yoru time than agruing over less than $100.
I know it could be the principal.. which you may have and they don't.. a waste of time to agrue over a few dollars.
Good Luck
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