What should I do next, regarding an incommunicative employer who owes me agreed-upon money?
I wrote 4 articles for a hyperlocal NYC-based publication. I had a very nice working relationship with my boss, whom lived nearby. He told me that I could bill him whenever I like, either after the articles were published or as they accumulate.
In recent months I had graduated and moved out of the area, but still was planning to write for the publication, which he acknowledged and was all about. During that time I still wrote him (my boss) pitches, and even attended a launch party for the print version release of their publication. I also sent him a bio to add to the website as an official contributing writer, which he never posted.
The second paragraph details aside—he owes me money. I’ve sent emails with correspondence and an invoice. I called him phone today and I believe I was sent to voicemail.
I don’t know what to do. I am trying not to take this personally, and chalking it up to the fact that he is busy. But he is incommunicato, and I am pissed off. They money isn’t overwhelming, but it’s money nonetheless.
I have another email for his wife, who he runs the publications with, but with whom I have little relationship.
What do you think I should do? Email his wife/business partner too? Track him down somehow?
Observing members:
0
Composing members:
0
15 Answers
Do you have any physical proof that he owes you money or is it all verbal? If it’s all verbal, I would do whatever I could to get documentation in writing that states he owes you money.
I worked freelance editing and proofreading for many years and had this trouble a couple of times. When it occurred I spared no lengths to get the money owed me when it came to communicating with the business.
If I were in your situation now, I would email a polite note to the boss and copy his wife/business partner. I would attach the invoice again, saying that you understand it may have been overlooked. I would also clearly mark the invoice as due upon receipt.
As to what steps to follow after that, I can only imagine. We say you’ve moved, so taking them to small claims court may not be feasible, but it might be something to consider.
Best of luck to you.
Who pays the bills for the publication? That is the person that you should invoice with Second Notice (or how ever many there have been to date) written on it.
@gorillapaws I do believe I have an email talking about invoices…but I also have sheets where i took notes during out meetings that outlines our agreed upon rate.
@Hawaii_Jake I moved to another borough, not x the country :)
I had planned to write for them this summer. And, btw, I left him a VM today, so…
Get it in writing, put it in writing.
@JonnyCeltics: Please post an update as to how things turn out. Best of luck to you. Keep us posted. Thanks.
JCA
The Update Lady
I would want my money. It almost seems like you wanting to keep an option open to work for him again this summer is the driving force in how to handle this though. If you aren’t getting your money, you shouldn’t want to work for him. Right? I’d offer one more attempt and then contact the Labor Relations Board.
Have you ever received payment from this person/business for prior work? I hope it works out for you. Please, let us know how it turns out.
I went to a workshop a few weeks ago where a very established writer was talking about this issue and some publishers take a long time to pay (and from what he was saying, some just don’t pay). I think the advice to try to get something in writing from them saying they owe you money is the way to go. Then you can at least go to the small claims court or something.
Is it a large sum of money? I know it’s the principle but the publishing world is small so while you have every right to be paid, you don’t want to end up blacklisted.
Learn from this. Get agreements about money in writing and follow up quickly.
@Bellatrix @bkcunningham great answers, and thank you. I want my money. And yes, I had wanted to write a story a week for him, that was my goal. Now I just want my dough, or an f**king wonderful excuse. It’s $200.
If you live in the states, @JonnyCeltics, telephone your state’s Labor Relations Board and speak to them about what happened. They will help you get your money.
Response moderated (Spam)
hey ya’ll. my apologies in not updating. thanks for all the help. i ended up writing another email to both persons in charge there—a married couple—and received a response saying that check was on the way. as fate would have it, i ended up pitching another article to them, to write about a friend’s business, and it was accepted. it was published yesterday. i suppose the lesson is patience, building rapport, and forgiveness but not forgetfulness(?). Or something else?
Answer this question 
This question is in the General Section. Responses must be helpful and on-topic.
Composing members:
0
