Complaint Review: Produce Marketing

I began working for Produce Marketing in January of 2009. My usual rate for research and content development is very reasonable, however at the request of Matt Hashem, Business Cultivator, I agreed to a cheaper rate for my top-quality, original writing.

From the outset Produce Marketing behaved unprofessionally by continuously trying to get me to reduce my rates, although they did have the highest compliments for my work.  In many instances I had to waive my deposit requirement, since they always pressured me with unrealistic and unnecessary deadlines. 

Additionally, after the completed work was submitted, received and approved, Matt would tell me my check was on the way.  Several times I had to wait over a month for payment, and when the payment finally arrived it was dated weeks after I was told it had been sent out. 

In the meantime, emails to Matt regarding my payment would either be ignored, or he would say things were hectic and he would look into it, or he would try to have me accept a smaller payment. I do not see how complicated it could be for him to "look into it" when the operation consists of himself and his friend Scott, however, I always remained polite, patient and professional.

Finally in the spring of 2009, after months of business dealings with them, Matt had me - once again, urgently- write copy that was needed immediately. I had to put my other work on hold to satisfy his request, as well as once again waiving my deposit requirement. As usual, he provided me with no input or detail about what his client wanted.  After submitting the work and my invoice, he approved it, thanked me, complimented my work, and told me the check was on its way.

After a couple of weeks went by, I contacted Matt about the status of my check, and he then advised me that on second thought, he needed a re-write. Based on my previous experience with Produce Marketing, I knew he was stalling for time. I reminded him that as stated on my invoice, I offer a policy of free rewrites, but payment for the completed project must first be received before the rewrite is submitted. He told me he could not do that, so I offered to begin the rewrite in good faith, and requested a partial payment in the meantime, especially in light of the fact that he had not paid any deposit on the piece.

Suddenly Matt decided that none of the work could be used, which I know for certain is just one of his excuses, and he wanted me to do the rewrite first and stated payment would be sent afterward. I told Matt that as far as I was concerned, they owed me for the time and work already invested, and no re-write could be done until I got paid.

Several months later I still have not received payment for that project. I lost not only valuable time working on their lengthy projects with unrealistic deadlines, but also on just trying to get paid and constantly fielding requests for lesser fees than originally agreed upon. 

Many times I reserved space for upcoming projects on my job calendar at Matt's request, only to have him send me no work after all, which costs me money in the end, since other clients had to be either delayed or refused in order to accomodate Matt. Then he would later suddenly send several projects at once with a demand for absurdly quick turn-around.

I've been doing freelance research and content development for the past four years, and  have never been treated as unfairly, disrespectfully and unprofessionally by any other client, large or small.