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Just as everything was going so well, it had to come to an end. I've finally been able to talk to someone I've been trying to contact for a while. The news wasn't good.....
To cut a long story short, I have been doing some programming work for a certain company for the last six months. The company decided that they wanted to end the project early when it was roughly 98% complete. I was happy to do this as I was almost finished and to be honest, with my full-time job getting in the way, I was finding it hard to find the time to complete the task. Anyway, the understanding was that I would recieve a four-figure sum for this work so I duely, upon request, supplied the company with all the source code and a lengthy document detailing the substantial improvements I had made.
This was two weeks ago. Finally, after numerous emails and phone calls, I have been able to speak with someone involved in the assignment this afternoon. I was told in no un-certain terms that instead of the four-figure sum I was expecting, I was going to recieve absolutely nothing.
I am surprised at this and extremely angry. As a trusting type of person, I gladly supplied the code I had written and sent it away thinking a nice cheque would arrive. If I'd have been a little smarter I would've withheld the code until the money arrived but I guess that sometimes, honesty isn't the best policy.
So, now I am still looking forward to moving into a new flat but I will have to skimp and save to decorate it and buy applicances. And while I'm doing this, a certain company out there is using MY software free of charge through deceit.
I've been mugged before but this is MUCH worse. To be robbed of that amount of money is a disgrace. Worst of all is that there is nothing I can do but sit here and worry about the debts I've incurred whilst I was doing this project, thinking I could pay them all off when it was finished.
I COULD tell you which company this is but then I'd be just as bad as them.
What can I do? Any ideas anyone?
To cut a long story short, I have been doing some programming work for a certain company for the last six months. The company decided that they wanted to end the project early when it was roughly 98% complete. I was happy to do this as I was almost finished and to be honest, with my full-time job getting in the way, I was finding it hard to find the time to complete the task. Anyway, the understanding was that I would recieve a four-figure sum for this work so I duely, upon request, supplied the company with all the source code and a lengthy document detailing the substantial improvements I had made.
This was two weeks ago. Finally, after numerous emails and phone calls, I have been able to speak with someone involved in the assignment this afternoon. I was told in no un-certain terms that instead of the four-figure sum I was expecting, I was going to recieve absolutely nothing.
I am surprised at this and extremely angry. As a trusting type of person, I gladly supplied the code I had written and sent it away thinking a nice cheque would arrive. If I'd have been a little smarter I would've withheld the code until the money arrived but I guess that sometimes, honesty isn't the best policy.
So, now I am still looking forward to moving into a new flat but I will have to skimp and save to decorate it and buy applicances. And while I'm doing this, a certain company out there is using MY software free of charge through deceit.
I've been mugged before but this is MUCH worse. To be robbed of that amount of money is a disgrace. Worst of all is that there is nothing I can do but sit here and worry about the debts I've incurred whilst I was doing this project, thinking I could pay them all off when it was finished.
I COULD tell you which company this is but then I'd be just as bad as them.
What can I do? Any ideas anyone?
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I feel sorry for you Primal, I could mention something about Northerners here but bet half of you are from up North
Miserableman wrote:
> If you're not going to fight the company, at least tell us who it was
I shouldn't really. If you ever are invited to do some programming for a company in Bolton then mention who it is and I will tell you if it's them or not.....
> If you're not going to fight the company, at least tell us who it was
I shouldn't really. If you ever are invited to do some programming for a company in Bolton then mention who it is and I will tell you if it's them or not.....
Primal wrote:
> Cheers everyone for you advice.
>
> I've decided to just leave it now and learn my lesson for next time.
> I've learnt a lot about myself from this, including a great deal of
> anger management!
If you're not going to fight the company, at least tell us who it was
> Cheers everyone for you advice.
>
> I've decided to just leave it now and learn my lesson for next time.
> I've learnt a lot about myself from this, including a great deal of
> anger management!
If you're not going to fight the company, at least tell us who it was
Cheers everyone for you advice.
I've decided to just leave it now and learn my lesson for next time. I've learnt a lot about myself from this, including a great deal of anger management!
I've decided to just leave it now and learn my lesson for next time. I've learnt a lot about myself from this, including a great deal of anger management!
Primal wrote:
> I do, however, have a copy of their database containing details of ALL
> their contacts, clients, transactions and profits for the last two
> years.
>
> If I was a petty person then it could easily go on the web :)
Dont do anything to comprimise your situation. They're in the wrong, and you have to stay completely clean. Although you have had some good posts here, ignore all of the advice given so far about giving this firm greif, seeing a solicitor, or about you having copyright...
As I mentioned before... the moment you gave them the code you lost all copyright and itellectual rights to it. And unless you had some form of contract, you don't have a leg to stand on and seeing a solicitor will only cost you £150+ ph to be told the same thing!
> I do, however, have a copy of their database containing details of ALL
> their contacts, clients, transactions and profits for the last two
> years.
>
> If I was a petty person then it could easily go on the web :)
Dont do anything to comprimise your situation. They're in the wrong, and you have to stay completely clean. Although you have had some good posts here, ignore all of the advice given so far about giving this firm greif, seeing a solicitor, or about you having copyright...
As I mentioned before... the moment you gave them the code you lost all copyright and itellectual rights to it. And unless you had some form of contract, you don't have a leg to stand on and seeing a solicitor will only cost you £150+ ph to be told the same thing!
From what I understand from your post, you have just completed a load of work for a client, and after delivering the end product, they have refused to pay you...
Question ... Do you have anything in writing, contract detailing an hourly rate, fee, work brief, anything at all which confirms your acceptance of this work from either them or you. It has to be signed or approved by the company you did the work for?
This happened to me not so long ago with an online games firm, luckily for me, i had a contractual agreement with them in writing agreeing the fee they would pay on completeion of the project. With this and the aid of £10 for court costs, I was able to take them to a small claims court and recover the money owing, but this is only possible if there is some for of contractual agreement.
Other wise, you haven't got a leg to stand on. That's the way it goes with freelancing, unless you have something in writing, email etc, they don't have to pay you at the end of the day.
As for ownership of the code, the moment you handed this to the firm, you gave up all rights to the ownership.
Your only way around this is to slate them, if they host externally or use your code some where else, write and inform their ISP, clients etc.
At the end of the day, no contract, no money. I learn't the hard way, i don't do anything freelance now unless it's confirmed in some way or another so if things go wrong, I have something to fall back on.
If you want to discuss this further, drop a post here and I'll leave you my email.
Question ... Do you have anything in writing, contract detailing an hourly rate, fee, work brief, anything at all which confirms your acceptance of this work from either them or you. It has to be signed or approved by the company you did the work for?
This happened to me not so long ago with an online games firm, luckily for me, i had a contractual agreement with them in writing agreeing the fee they would pay on completeion of the project. With this and the aid of £10 for court costs, I was able to take them to a small claims court and recover the money owing, but this is only possible if there is some for of contractual agreement.
Other wise, you haven't got a leg to stand on. That's the way it goes with freelancing, unless you have something in writing, email etc, they don't have to pay you at the end of the day.
As for ownership of the code, the moment you handed this to the firm, you gave up all rights to the ownership.
Your only way around this is to slate them, if they host externally or use your code some where else, write and inform their ISP, clients etc.
At the end of the day, no contract, no money. I learn't the hard way, i don't do anything freelance now unless it's confirmed in some way or another so if things go wrong, I have something to fall back on.
If you want to discuss this further, drop a post here and I'll leave you my email.
No, definatly don't post the clients online, i'm very sorry to hear this happened to you though but if someone sees something for free as I doubt you made a contract :( they are bound to try and get it for free, obviously certain morals and laws are against this, which is good.
I hope this ends well for you.
Would be nice to know the company's name though, then we could send some hate mail through watchdog or something :p
I hope this ends well for you.
Would be nice to know the company's name though, then we could send some hate mail through watchdog or something :p
unknown kernel wrote:
> In the meantime - name and shame! :P
I should do shouldn't I?
Then again, like I said before, this company may be unprofessional but I am not.
I'll let them remain anonymous.
I do, however, have a copy of their database containing details of ALL their contacts, clients, transactions and profits for the last two years.
If I was a petty person then it could easily go on the web :)
Better not though......
> In the meantime - name and shame! :P
I should do shouldn't I?
Then again, like I said before, this company may be unprofessional but I am not.
I'll let them remain anonymous.
I do, however, have a copy of their database containing details of ALL their contacts, clients, transactions and profits for the last two years.
If I was a petty person then it could easily go on the web :)
Better not though......
I'm not a lawyer or anything, but I think I'm right in saying that you retain copywrite over your work unless you expressly give it away. I would definitely get a solicitor.
In the meantime - name and shame! :P
In the meantime - name and shame! :P
Sorry to hear your plight, a friend of mine had a similar problem with a Thrid Division Football club he had written a player fitness/management/statistic etc program for. 4 months of work for 1500 quid. It took him a further three months and two solicitors letters to get the money. It is worth persuing.
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