Thread: Looking for advice regarding a job not paid

Hi all Malaysian webmasters

I'm a european programmer and I'm looking for advice from you, since I'm sure someone here probably knows a thing or two about things like this.

I worked for a malaysian company on a website project. I completed the task, uploaded the files etc. so all was fine in that; The employer was happy. The problem is, however, that he never paid me.

He now owes me 400 USD. Is there any way to collect my money? Should I sue him? I know his name, his phone number and his postal address. I do not know about Malaysian laws and such, so I don't know if it's worth the trouble. I hope someone here can help me.

Thanks in advance

Peter

you should let the whole world know this kind of bad buy... i also have a similar case before at http://www.webmastermalaysia.com/mam...light=bad+shop
but i guest the administrator take off the shop name. any one would like know this shop may PM me, don be the victim

by the way, you may post ur case at consumer.com.my, this website for people to complaint any case in malaysia

Som you are freelancer? No company? As I know, you cant do nothing to them. I also experienced before. Really, nothing we can do. Me is small case, my fren sumore, ask me to design a packaging. After submit, she said her boss dun wana market the product 1st. So, no need to pay. But I say I did what they asked already and I should get paid. How I know they use o not? They export the goods oversea. How I track? Finally, they pay me RM100....like I am a bagger...

My company also owe a freelancer RM800 for a few months. This is Malaysia, Malaysia always boleh wan.

I guess the method 'handover your work and then ask for the payment' is not going to work here in malaysia. ppl will always looking for opportunity to jump over you and there is nothing much you could do about it.
alway try to get atleast 50% of the payment before handing over the task.
just got to save your own self rather become a victim
this could also happen in other country too

Yup, now, I issue invoice to my customer to pay me 50% down payment as I accept the job. the other 50% will pay (or maybe not pay) after 1 month of job submission.

probably u may done stage by stage... Don give them softcopy 1st.

upon comfirmation paid 25%, after done the website, upload to your own hosting 1st, show it do them, collect some payment, may be 50% after that only give them softcopy.

After finish all the thing, only collect balance

too many stages will make my cost higher as i have to meet them some where which i need to drive there. 50% 50% is the best i think.

yeah, too many stages would make the client feel fussy too, unless it was a big project where you need to make some sort of prototype to show them before getting another payment.
if it was just some normal web project, just ask for a downpayment like 50%

Originally Posted by yokam

Hi all Malaysian webmasters

I'm a european programmer and I'm looking for advice from you, since I'm sure someone here probably knows a thing or two about things like this.

I worked for a malaysian company on a website project. I completed the task, uploaded the files etc. so all was fine in that; The employer was happy. The problem is, however, that he never paid me.

He now owes me 400 USD. Is there any way to collect my money? Should I sue him? I know his name, his phone number and his postal address. I do not know about Malaysian laws and such, so I don't know if it's worth the trouble. I hope someone here can help me.

Thanks in advance

Peter

sadly..
our law in internet not reach that high level yet.

Even myself has been cheated/ con / whatever for few bunch of freelance job.
maybe 2,3,4 or 10 client didn't pay me. even worst.. an established college in Pahang not even pay me a single cent!!! (but that maybe caused by my 'proxy' those i think he swap all my payment into his pocket.).

OK.. let me give to you the way.. LIKE THIS.
Maybe this is the only way..

You still got the original file right? ie, .psd, .fla, or custom code you've coded by yourself.

Now.. whois the domain name, find the server / hosting company that's host the site. Contact them.. told the hosting company that you've conned by the company... not paying you even a single cent after the task complete. Show the evidence.. indeed.
Make their site suspend. Push thier hosting company to shutdown the site..

Most of the hosting provider will take action on this kind of matter.. Even there's not enough law implement, they still had an ethic .. perhaps..

yeah, thats one of the best way to penalise those cheater
shut down their website !

Originally Posted by robot

yeah, thats one of the best way to penalise those cheater
shut down their website !

that wat i usually do... other than collecting the initial deposit for any internet jobs, i will only release the ftp and control panel password to them after they fully paid all the balances. If they don't paid me, i still can remove all the scripts and pages from the hosting.

i guess tat this case happens not just in malaysia but its all around the globe.. there too many sweet talker around that usually don't walk the talk... so we must be smart to protect ourself...

I guess that one of the risk of being a freelancer

the total of what my previous clients, about 4 of them, owe me is at least rm10k. but what can i do about them? nothing. its been years, but they still not paying. some even asked me to do some major changes to the system if i wnna get paid, but they dont wnna pay for the changes. plus, now dat their managements changed, i cant do anything bout it anymore. too bad im not a bad person

actually if you do your freelance biz in a proper business manner... then you still have chance to get back your payment.

1. register a sole prop biz with ROC (but you need to file income tax if you do this)

2. Before doing anything, get the customer to issue a PO or a sign on your quotation/proposal for confirmation of order.

3. Issue an invoice and ask for deposit.

4. If large project, do a system spec and get them to acknowledge and approve it. With this they can't say your job is not what they wanted.

5. Start doing your work based on the spec. If they change it in between, sign another spec modification letter.

6. upon finish task.. get the customer to sign on a letter of acceptance final deliverable/completion of jobs. this will be the proof you completed the job and have the right to ask for whatever outstanding.

7. with no.6 in-place ask for the balance....

with all hardcopy documents in hand, even they changed management, you still can ask for the payment coz in business we recognize company and the director or the person who approve the order.

if they default the payment, you still can take legal actions if you wanted coz you got solid proof ... you can even blacklist their company if you have the proof.

but sadly... most of the time freelancer don't want to go through the steps above coz they don't want to subject the income to tax. In the end they didn't realize that these bugger will take advantage on it to default the payment...

without any signed black and white hardcopy as proof.. you just can't do anything to those d@mm bugger...

in the early days of freelancing... i also go through the problems like you guys.. its just the sweet and sour taste of growing up....

happy freelancing to all of u....

Hey

Thanks for all the replies. Sounds it's pretty much how I expected.

It was my mistake for trusting them, their business seemed legit. Oh, their website is webzworks dot com

Apparently they also have an account on this forum, which is how I found this. Just googling their name revealed a lot... I think I even know the university the owner attended.

Thanks for the suggestion mysticmind, I actually don't have the files anymore, but the source code on the server has my name, my email and things like that listed, so perhaps I will try to get in touch with the hosting provider or the owners of the site. Funny thing is, the site I worked on is a consumer rights site... :P