Today, I'd like to share something that I finally feel like making public: My experience with being taken advantage of as a freelancer, and what I learned.
It was the summer before my senior year of college, and a friend (let's call her Susan) approached me about designing, building, and publishing a portfolio website for her. At the time, I was very new to freelance, and still becoming familiar with what I should charge for my work, but I hoped to help Susan out, so I gave her a low estimate of $300 for the entire job. (By contrast, I'd charge about $2500 for a similar job now.) Susan, who was just out of college, negotiated me down to $200, because I could sympathize that school was severely detrimental to one's savings account.
Anyway, the work began soon after with some preliminary layout drawings. I didn't bother with a contract because Susan was my friend. I could surely trust my friend, right? Things went relatively smoothly until the school year began, when my schoolwork began to take priority over Susan's site. I apologized numerous times for how long things were taking, and Susan assured me that she understood, and that school comes first. I kept working on the site as frequently as I was able, and Susan kept intermittently supplying me with the necessary content as she was able to collect it. She ended up moving out of state to pursue a job, but we were still able to get everything finished up.
Eventually, when the time came for me to be paid, Susan had ended up having issues with her out of state job, and was "unable to pay me until further notice." I use quotes here, because I cannot verify the validity of her inability to pay me at this point. I can speculate that she had the funds, but that paying me was not a priority, but that's merely speculation. But again, I was lenient with her because she was my friend. I would expect the same from a friend of mine if the situation was reversed.
The rest of the story involves a lot of back-and-forth communication, numerous promises that a check was in the mail, and an eventual confrontation that effectively ended our friendship. We remain civil acquaintances because we have mutual friends, but that's all that remains.
To date, I have not received payment for work that was completed almost two years ago, and I gave up on ever receiving it long ago. Despite leniency with pricing, schedule, payment schedule, and even going above and beyond the scope of the project by helping Susan navigate her web hosting plan, I was ripped off.
I hold no personal resentment toward Susan, because it is a waste of time. The only lingering feeling I have from this whole experience is surprise. Surprise that my "friend" would have so little respect for me, for my time, and for my profession, that she would do this.
They say everything happens for a reason, and I can chalk this experience up to a big fat life lesson. To all freelancers/business owners out there: Use a contract. Regardless of with whom you are working; your friend, a family member, anyone who you think you can trust. I hate to be cynical, but I've learned that nobody is above screwing you over. The people you think you should be able to trust can end up being trustworthy. If you're doing business with a friend or family member, and they're offended by your asking them to sign a contract, don't do business with them.
While my issues could've possible been solved by using a contract, to this day, I maintain a firm stance that I will never work for or with a friend or family member again. There's too much at stake, and too many variables that simply don't exist in a more professional working relationship.
I may always have the burn from this experience. It's a hard blow to the self-esteem when someone blatantly disrespects you and your work like this. However, I hope that by sharing my experience, I can wash my hands completely of this situation, and simultaneously help some other freelancers avoid a similar issue.
blakekathryn
theartofmadeline
s-u-f-j-a-n-s-t-e-v-e-n-s
