Telling Signs of Problematic Clients
Watch Out For Clients Who Can Potentially Do More Harm than Good
Sep 25, 2009
Freelancers often cross paths with difficult clients. These clients are those that cause more problems than benefits to freelancers. Even though these clients and their projects hold promise of new opportunities and payments, these clients should be avoided as they are proponents of cost and stress.
Here are some tell-tale signs of clients who are detrimental to freelancing businesses.
Clients Who are Indefinite about a Contract
A glaring sign of a difficult client is one who is wishy-washy about terms and conditions of a contract. A contract binds a deal, no matter how small. If there is nothing in writing, freelancers should never submit a piece of work, unless they wish to run the risk of non-payment, counterfeit or intellectual property theft.
Clients who are indefinite about a contract- especially when it comes to the issue of payments- are probably uncertain of their own ability to pay for a service; feel that a freelancer is not a "serious" service provider; or are just looking for an easy ride to bump off tasks that they themselves are unable to accomplish.
Freelancers should know that if there is a task that easy, the client can do it him or herself, thus signing a contract indicates that the freelancer has an expertise of his or her own and should be renumerated for his or her service.
Clients who do not discuss a project without even an inkling of a contract are probably hiding something and it is important that freelancers highlight this issue before taking further steps in embarking on such a project. Transparency is one of the main keys for a fair business deal.
Clients Who are Looking for an Employee
There are clients who treat freelancers as employees. Just because they have entered into a contract with a freelancer, they feel that it is their right to summon that freelancer at their beck and call. They expect the freelancer to serve their needs as and when they arise, even if they are not explicitly stated within their contract.
Clients who are looking for employees instead of a freelancer can often impose extra tasks upon freelancers, even as mundane as making phone calls for them; running simple office-related errands; coming in for meetings without notice; or "waiting" by the instant messenger during the office's working hours, even if the freelancer works from home.
Clients who are looking for an employee fail to understand that a freelancer is a person who is contracted to work on a specific project within specific timelines and has no further obligation towards the company. This is very much unlike an employee. These clients also need to understand that freelancers may also be dealing with multiple clients at one time and are not obligated to service a single client for what ever reason.
Job and tasks descriptions have to be laid out clearly in a contract to avoid ambiguity and to protect the rights and roles of freelancer service providers.
Clients Who Delay Payments
Whether on purpose or not, clients who remit payments at a delayed rate are problematic clients. These clients come with additional cost. Freelancers dealing with them continuously face administrative backlog.
Chasing up on invoices is time-consuming and stressful causing freelancers to incur cost through phone calls, text messages and face to face meetings. Some freelancers are forced to the extent of seeking litigation- which causes them to fork out even more of their own expenses even if the final arbitration ends in their favour.
Freelancers need to be honoured as service providers who need to be paid as stipulated clearly in a contract. In some cases, clients genuinely overlook late payments but if this is a habit or trend for a particular client, then freelancers should avoid contracting with the said party in the future, even if the payment itself is a promising figure.
Watch Out for Problematic Clients
Difficult clients are those that cause more harm than good to freelance service providers. Some clients look for an easy ride and prey upon freelancers to accomplish the tasks that they perceive as "easy," yet are unable to complete them through their own realm of expertise. Some clients tend to treat freelancers as their employees, this is also wrong as the two hold completely different contracts. Dealing with late payments is costly and stressful.
When freelancers spot these trends within their clients, it is time for them to evaluate as to whether a relationship with the client would be fruitful and would be able to fulfill their ideals. Freelancers need to remember that they have the right to be treated as service providers and should be respected and honoured as the same through transparent contracts that are signed by themselves before embarking on any project.
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