What can be done to ensure that the customer pays for the project?
I am urgently seeking advice from all of you. I am a frontend developer who has created a project for a customer, but they have not paid for three weeks. Despite my reminders, the payment still hasn't been made. The issue is complicated by the fact that this same customer has paid for a previous project without any issues. The customer owes me $400, and there are no formal agreements in place as we are based in different countries (I am from Ukraine and they are from France). The project was completed simultaneously with a backender and the deadline had already passed. The completed project is currently hosted with the customer.

What options are available to exert pressure on the customer in this situation?

Employ fit relatives who can extract the required sum using a soldering iron, iron, and hammer. Although this is an overused question, if there are no subtleties indicating that you are not performing every task during production, place the work on your server. In case of partial delivery, request an advance payment of 30-40% for each completed portion of the project.

Another option could be to write reviews, not only on freelancing websites but generally, about individuals or companies who are deceitful. If these entities value their reputation, then they will pay up. I have had a similar experience where we were paid after writing a negative review, but it is not guaranteed that every customer will react similarly.

If the customer's deadlines are causing issues, it is not your responsibility to solve them. Focus on delivering quality work and let the customer handle their own issues. However, if meeting these deadlines is essential for the customer, consider demanding prepayment or working on a secure transaction before transferring the code. Failure to do so may indicate that the customer is not genuine in their concerns and is simply pressuring you to complete work as soon as possible. It is important to note that this does not apply to regular customers, as they have built a history of trust and reliability. Remember, prioritizing your own work and boundaries will ultimately benefit both you and your clients.

Adding communication channels such as email or video meetings may also help manage expectations and avoid misunderstandings regarding deadlines and payment. Building a solid relationship with your clients can lead to long-term collaborations and a stable income stream. Always prioritize clear communication, high-quality work, and boundaries that work best for you.

If you are trying to take down a website, either the current or the old one, the authorities like the police and the court are unlikely to provide assistance without a contract. However, you can convince the customer by highlighting examples such as illegal weapons, "substances," and fake dietary supplements, which are also sold without a contract. Keep in mind that it is still considered a sale, and if reported, the seller will be caught and punished.

To threaten the customer, you can also use the option of damaging their reputation or offering to meet them in person. The weight of these threats is directly linked to the amount of personal data that is obtained.

Finally, the most crucial aspect is morality. Explain how the customer has wronged you, as they may think that their actions were justified, and you are nothing but a bandit trying to intiмidate them. It's important to remember that such actions are illegal and can have severe consequences.

Collecting overdue payments from clients can be quite challenging. Here are a few steps that may help to resolve your situation:

Communication: Keep reminding the client about the payment. Reach out via email, text, or calls to remind them politely but firmly about the payment they owe you. In your communications, include all the relevant information - sum owed, work done, and previous reminders sent.

Official Demand Letter: You could consider sending an official demand letter to your client. This is a formal communication stating what is owed and stipulating a deadline by which payment needs to be made.

Invoicing and Late Fees: If it's not a practice you already use, send formal invoices for your work. If there are no formal contracts outlining payment terms, consider implementing them in the future. This contract could include provisions for late fees.

Small Claims Court: If the client still refuses to pay, you may need to research the legal options available in France. If the amount is small enough, you might be able to take the case to a small claims court. However, this could be both logistically challenging and costly given the international nature of the exchange.

Encourage Payment Methods: Encourage them to use a payment method that's convenient for them, offering them multiple options if possible.

Mediation/Arbitration: If all your efforts fail and the amount owed is substantial, you could look into mediation or arbitration. This involves bringing in a third party to help resolve the dispute.

Online Mediation Services: There are online services designed to mediate in these situations between web developers/designers and their clients. They usually work by reviewing the work done and the communication between both parties. Some of them will even contact the client on your behalf.

Web Hosting Power: This will strongly depend on the specifics of your situation, but if you directly control anything related to the client's project hosting and it's within your legal rights, you could potentially leverage this - withholding services until the payment is made. However, this should be a last resort and has the potential to severely damage your relationship with the client. Legal and ethical implications should be carefully considered.

In the future, consider entering into a formal contract before commencing work. This contract should clearly outline the scope of the project, timelines, payment expectations, and repercussions of late or non-payment. As unpleasant as these situations can be, they often provide valuable experience for freelancers in refining their business practices.

Escrow Services: In the future, consider using an escrow service for taking payment for project-based work like this. Escrow services allow a third party to securely hold funds until work is completed, at which point the funds are released to you. This can help to prevent non-payment situations.

Payment Plan: If the client is facing financial difficulties at the moment, you can propose a payment plan to make it easier for them. Break down the $400 into smaller, more manageable payments spread out over a timeframe.

Legal Advice: You might want to consult a lawyer who is familiar with cases of this nature especially in cases involving international clients. They will be able to provide you with the best course of action given your specific situation.

Collection Agency: As a last resort, consider hiring a collection agency to get your money. It's not an ideal solution, because they'll take a percentage of the money recovered, but at least you might get some of the money you're owed.

Public Pressure: Very delicately and as a last resort, you can bring attention to the situation on social media platforms. Businesses value their reputations and a client might be more likely to pay if their reputation is at stake. Just be sure to maintain a calm and professional tone, and be careful not to defame or make false accusations.

Business Networks: If you know of other businesses or freelancers who work with this client, reaching out to them to inquire (politely and professionally) about the payment culture could apply more pressure on the client. However, it's important to keep this professional and not defamatory, as sharing such information is a sensitive issue.

Direct Contact: If you've been dealing with intermediaries or different departments, try getting in touch with the person who hired you. There might be a disconnect in communication or bureaucracy causing the delay.

Reviews and Testimonials: If your client is another business, they might respond to a request to leave a review or testimonial about your work on your website or other relevant sites, especially if they had a positive experience. This would indirectly remind them about the payment needed for the services they appreciated.

Non-Confrontational Approach: Present the situation as a problem you both can solve together to maintain a long term business relationship. Example: "I've noticed that the invoice due three weeks ago still hasn't been paid. Can we find a solution for this together as I value our working relationship?"

Linking Payments with Phases: For future projects, break larger tasks into smaller phases and invoice your clients when each phase is completed. If they don't pay the invoice, don't proceed to the next phase until they do. Online project management tools could facilitate this.

Remember, keeping calm and professional in your communications is crucial. No matter how frustrating the situation might be, lashing out or making threats may only sour the relationship further and reduce your chances of being paid. Every exchange you have may either bring you closer to resolving this issue or potentially add to the challenges.

Lastly, consider this an experience to learn from. Irrespective of whether you're able to collect your overdue payment, it's important moving forward to set proper payment terms and have them agreed upon in a contract. Consider legal support to put this in place, if necessary.