Last week I was hired by Robert (the owner of Civilizzation) to create 5,10' by 30' Billboards for his company.
I completed the job on Tuesday May 8 and uploaded the files to the sign printing company.
I created the 2 CD copies of the artwork that was requested by Robert, and printed out an invoice.
The invoice was for $1365.00 for all the artwork, time scanning and editing images, corrections... Etc.
I then email a copy of the PDF files and the invoice to Robert at [email protected]
Upon delivering the copies of the CD's and the invoice to Robert today (May10) I was told by Robert that he was not going to pay me the invoice. I asked him what he meant, and he replied, "That is not what you agreed to do them for." At no time was the price of the Billboards discussed. He claims that I agreed to do them for $75. All 5 Billboards for $75. Why in the world would I do that when I charge $60 per hour as a Freelance Graphic Artist. Most Graphic Artists charge around $85-100 per hour. I felt he wanted me to do them, as I was less expensive than other designers and design firms.
After much discussion that escalated into a shouting match, he told me he would give me $150.00, because that's what he paid the other guy that used to do the Billboards for him. I told him that is was not acceptable.
He turned and walked away and said quote, "Then take me to court." I could not believe what I was hearing from this man who I thought was a good businessman. He kept on insisting that I agreed to do them for $75, which I never agreed to. After about an hour of arguing with Robert I finally got him to agree to write me a check for the $150.00. However, he would not release the check to me until I agreed to sign off on the invoice that I had given him for the $1365.00 Stating that we both agreed to the reduced amount, as there was a confusion on the pricing. I do not and did not agree to that, but I did sign it as I feared I would get nothing from this man for all my time and work. When he finally came out with what I thought was the check he proceeded to show me a photocopy of a check that had been made out to me, however it was not signed. He also brought along with the photocopied check a non disclosure form and he told me to sign it. I told him there was no way I was signing it, and to just go get the check, sign it and bring it out to me. He proceed back inside and came out with the actual check. I then wrote on my invoice what he had asked and he gave me the check.
As he walked away, I stated, "I wonder what Gephardt might think of this whole situation." He turned around and came back to my car and appeared to be very nervous. He stated, "What are you threatening me?" I said "No, I just made a statement about how Gephardt might feel about this situation" He then turned and walked away.
I closed my car door and drove away. I got half way to my home and realized that he did not signed the check. I immediately called him to tell him that I was coming back to the store to have him sign the check. He would not answer, and I left him a voice mail. I called maybe 6 more times and he would not answer his phone. I got back to the store and he was still there.
As I was walking up to the store he came out and said. "What did I forget to sign the check? See you really should be nice to me."
I replied "Yeah you did" and handed it to him. As he was signing it he said "So, are we going to be civil about this? You are not going to call Gephardt are you?" I grabbed the check back and said 'As a matter of fact, I think I am!" I got in my car and left.
So needless to say, Robert treated me very unprofessionally, and I feel that he manipulated the situation to get quality Graphic Design work for almost nothing and basically ripped me off. At no time did he have in writing what he expected the pricing to be for the work to be done. At the same time, I did not have a bid done on the job either.
Robert contacted me to do the Billboards. He and I had talked last year about me doing them for him. He told me that he would like me to do them and I agreed.
I have attached a copy of the invoice that I sent to him. I hope that there is something that can be done, as I feel this man did not treat me in a professional manner, manipulated the situation to his own benefit and refuse to pay the amount that was charged for the services rendered.
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