How to deal with a customer who does not pay?

Question

Work organization

Hello, I got a job in one studio, remotely, the conditions were - the first month, salary 2/3, i.e. 30 thousand rubles, And then 45, they were ready to sign an agreement, but since I was from another country, they decided that it’s better not to do this, they immediately took the project and started, after 10 days the manager disappeared, did not answer questions, did not get in touch, I stopped working, somewhere after 3-4 days he returned, explained everything, I believed and we continued, worked for another week, probably finished ~50% of the project and the manager disappeared again. All the code was on their server, every day my local version was deployed there, but now, another manager writes to me and says that they have something with the server, there is no backup left, the previous manager left, you need to restore the site, after that "you partially get paid for your work." What do you advise to do? How to proceed? You can just return the site and hope for their decency and honesty in spite of everything, you can just score and not communicate anymore (by the way, I already work for another company, so the option to “complete the project” is no longer available), how did you do in such cases?

Answer 1

Demand payment for the work done, then send them the code.

Answer 2

50% is an abstract figure. You need to show the manager the work. But not code. Those. deploy the code on an accessible server, post a link, check against the pool of tasks / TK, what points have been made. If not a single one is fully - what payment requirements can there be at all? If there really are 40 percent of completed tasks, then we can discuss the terms of payment and provision of the code. But with such performances, I personally would not work further in this project. If only the guys agree to raise the payment and pay immediately 50% of the new amount, and not an advance from the old one. And it's not that it's good or bad. It's just that the developer and the customer assume mutual obligations. Looking for a new programmer to complete 60% of the project is a guaranteed increase in the budget and a waste of time. If people are really willing to pay and not cheat,
I summarize:
1. Raise the project on your side.
2. Run a demo.
3. Mark the closed items of the order.
4. Put the customer in front of the fact: "he receives the source code subject to the payment of the promised advance, but with such an attitude, after transferring the code, you leave the project." Reason: you haven't received a penny yet. There is no contract. On the part of the customer, the verbal agreement was not respected and there are no guarantees that it will be respected. If the customer insists on the performance of duties, say that you will give the code after signing the contract. Legally, if there is no contract, the fact of payment confirms the deal. Those. contract or payment. Preferably pay.
5. If you agree on payment, and the customer asks to reconsider your departure from the project, refuse until the customer raises the price tag. Look for another project yourself. Not the fact that the customer will make concessions. If there is no second project, and the customer agrees to raise the price, let him pay right away so that the total amount is 50% of the total amount. We complete the project, we rejoice.

Answer 3

Good day to you, Valentine.
The situation is fantastic. Someone who throws is completely incomprehensible.
If you are from ANY country - sign the contract. Even on the knee. Through the scan Even working on fl.ru or upwork - you SIGN an agreement, when registering on a toaster - you SIGN an agreement.
It is absolutely incomprehensible what the agreement was about: to work on a turnkey project or in some other way. if you've only done half of the work, there's probably nothing to pay for. If you have never paid, it might be worth considering.
In my opinion, honesty is better. Take and talk to a sane, better senior manager or director, and simply explain the situation, without blaming each other. Say what did not suit you at this job, why did you leave for another, what is ready from the project, how much this work is estimated. In extreme cases, everyone will remain "with their own." If there is no trust, then it is better to sign a piece of paper.

Answer 4

and says that they have something with the server, there is no backup left, the previous manager left, the site needs to be restored,

Here is the key phrase!
You do not have confidence and evidence that there is not someone from the street who came and asks for a duplicate code, and the manager - "left".
Tell the manager you worked with to contact you and let him explain the situation in his voice. Then everything will become more or less clear.

Answer 5

In no case do not send them a code and demand at least part of the payment. You can show it in action, i.e. deploy somewhere remotely and give a link. If they don't have backups, managers disappear, etc. - 99% that the office is not serious and you will most likely not be paid. They'll all disappear again. Don't fall into this cognitive trap: "I've already done half, I'm sorry to quit." It is better to quit on time than to waste time again in nowhere.