Bizzare situation with client

Y

Yow

New member
I have a bit of a problem- it might seem funny to someone outside of the situation, but please don't mock, it's not funny to me.

So I'm a freelancer and I work a lot of smaller jobs but have recently had one client (production company) who had me working for two months and has other projects for me. It would be great, except I'm not sure these guys are for real. There is the CEO- who name drops constantly. If he worked with half the people he's said he's worked with then he'd be a great person to know. However, I find it hard to believe. I'm pretty good at reading people and I don't sense he's lying, but he could just be a great liar.

Then- I have yet to be paid by these people. They say that they bill the client first (I hate it when they do that) and that they'll settle up with me this week. It has been a while and normally I'd have chased them down for payment by now, but I really want a good relationship if they can keep work coming steadily (and pay for it). They had some serious gear at the shoots (I'm an editor but I went to a shoot to meet with them) so I know they have some cash, I just don't know when they'll be forking it over.

Finally, they have been, when it comes down to it, sexually harassing me. I'm a dude, for reference, and their all dudes. Back in December I was work with their producer at my office and when we finish up with the work, he asks me if I want to masturbate before he heads out- as clean as you'd ask someone if they want a cup of coffee. I was surprised, but politely declined. I like to think I'm laid back, so I tried to forget about it. It was completely inappropriate, but no harm, no foul. A few weeks go by and I'm relaxed again. The CEO sends me a conversational e-mail, mentions in passing that he should dig up these nude pictures of the line producer (who used to be a male model). I tell him not to worry about it, I'm not really interested in seeing them.

This is when the phone calls started. The CEO starts telling me that I'm repressed and that it's only natural to want to stare at another dude's package. I tell him that this makes me uncomfortable, but he insists that in the entertainment industry I need to be more open. We start having long conversations (in which he does all the talking and I try to find an excuse to hang up) about things I would rather not talk about. All the while he continues to remind me that I'm closed off and if I want to make it in the industry that I'll have to open up (apparently this means I have to be cool sitting next to Matt LeBlanc while he is masturbating). He also "dares" me to do things like take out my package while we're on the phone (he'll take out his, too!) or masturbate and tell him about it. I, of course, take none of the dares. Honestly if I was a little more paranoid I would be checking for cameras because this could only happen on some candid camera type set up.

The crowning jewel in this little adventure: I was again working with the line producer in my office and the CEO calls. He tells me to dare the line producer to whip it out, that it will help me open up. I say that I think he'll take the dare so I don't want to ask him. He tells me to give the phone to the line producer and they have a loud, staged sounding, dare escalation until the producer pulls it out and start playing with it. The CEO talks to me for a while- the whole time I'm insisting that we need to get back to work while averting my eyes from the masturbating producer behind me. Finally I get the CEO off the phone and the producer to put his dong back in his pants.

So finally, the CEO calls me today with the usual stuff- he can introduce me to people, I'm closed off, yatta yatta, if he bet me $500 would I diddle my doodle with the producer when we meet on sunday. OK the last one is new. I had another call in the middle of this conversation so he sent me this follow up e-mail (with dirty pictures!):

"I hope this email gets a reply - really pushing you to communicate.

Love that you are critical about projects. You have a good eye for editing and like photography, that
is a talent you either have or you don't.

So wish I could get you to keep opening up and experiencing life beyond NC and DC offers. Such a
like able guy who should be running in bigger circles with your work. I rarely extend an offer to help
guys like you - sort of take it or leave it mentality I guess. Hope you see the benefit in me pushing
you a little.

Email your thoughts about Sunday and the deal."


Anyway, freelancers aren't protected from sexual harassment. Like at all. I can't even be sure it would be considered sexual harassment. The CEO seems to be playing some power game he gets sexual gratification from, but no one has tried to touch me.
So...
A) How do I tell him tactfully that I'm not doing stuff like this and to stop asking me?
B) How can I tell if this guy is for real? If he knows the people he says he knows? He's in finance so IMDB is no help.
C) I really want to keep working for them. In addition to the relatively steady work, one of the projects I did for them was a pilot that is getting picked up for 6 episodes (they claim). Any help?

This s**t could only happen to me. And like 70,000 women.
 
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Yow your very firs post on DVXuser, and I am compelled to tell you this:

1/ Send ur invoice.
2/ Never speak to them again except through a lawyer.

This is sexual harassment. And I think you'de find in a civil case you'd have legs. Though I am not from the US and dont understand common law there, so dont quote me on that.

I agree with those above, this will get worse.
 
Thanks for the advice. Despite my need for a big, steady client, I'm compelled to listen, I've had enough of this.

And I've looked it up- unfortunately I have no grounds for a criminal complaint because I haven't been assaulted and no grounds for a civil complain because in the US, freelancers are not protected under sexual harassment legislation. (http://www.theatlantic.com/national...assment-and-the-independent-contractor/61976/ This lady is so cavalier about it that it makes me want to punch her)

Again, thanks for all of your advice. When you're always scrounging for work, like me, it's unthinkable to fire clients- I probably should have known to do this on my own.
 
WOW!! That is some crazy stuff! Pack you Diddle and Doodles and get the hell out of there!!! Hold any edits until you get paid.
 
Yow said:
I have yet to be paid by these people.
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Stop right there. If they're late in paying, you shouldn't continue to work. Offer to come back after they've paid up in full. (Note: You're always going to be busy with other bookings after they've finally paid up)

Yow said:
They say that they bill the client first
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Not your problem. I doubt that they tell that to the landlord, the phone company or the electric company, and they shouldn't' be telling it to you, either.

Yow said:
They had some serious gear at the shoots (I'm an editor but I went to a shoot to meet with them) so I know they have some cash, I just don't know when they'll be forking it over.
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That doesn't mean anything. And if it did, then it would only mean that there's no excuse for not paying you in a timely manner. The gear could be stolen. It could be rented (and maybe they're not paying the rental house, either). They could have inherited it.

Yow said:
I really want a good relationship if they can keep work coming steadily (and pay for it). They had some serious gear at the shoots (I'm an editor but I went to a shoot to meet with them) so I know they have some cash, I just don't know when they'll be forking it over.
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"Good relationship" is a 2-way street. That means that they have to treat you so well that you actually enjoy working with them. This would include their paying you a decent rate and on time. But it would absolutely not include sexual harassment or stalking.

Yow said:
Finally, they have been, when it comes down to it, sexually harassing me.
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I'm not a lawyer or a cop, but I think that's probably a crime. At the very least, you should be able to sue. Call a lawyer and call the sex crimes unit at your nearest police station.

Yow said:
This is when the phone calls started.
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Which is harassment, or maybe stalkin. I'm still not a lawyer or cop, but I'm really certain that's a crime. Call a lawyer and call the sex crimes unit at your nearest police station.

Yow said:
he can introduce me to people
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I doubt that he really can. Most of the people that I've met who can recite all of the big player's they've worked for in the past have no connections. If they did, they'd still be working with all of these big players.

Yow said:
he sent me this follow up e-mail (with dirty pictures!):
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Save this email, along with the picture. It is evidence. You will give it to your lawyer and to the police.

Yow said:
I really want to keep working for them.
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Why? They don't pay you and they harass you. Are you a masochist? Do you suffer from some sort of battering syndrome? They will always apologize and promise that it will never happen again, and it will keep happening.

Yow said:
one of the projects I did for them was a pilot that is getting picked up for 6 episodes (they claim).
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You can believe that when you see it on TV. And even if it does get picked up, that doesn't necessarily meant that you (or them) would work on it.
 
You should have ran when you didnt get paid. Its always the guys who drive Mercedes, who seem to "know everyone", and throw massive amount of work on you in a quick time who pay the slowest. Additionally, you'll note that they are packing in a ton of work in a short time.... Before your first invoice is due net 30 you've already worked two additional weeks- ones that you'll have to fight them for payment on also.

As the rest said, yikes on the rest....
 
Feel Your Pain

Feel Your Pain

We've never had anything quite that bizarre, but after running aground a few times with wacko clients, we started doing background checks on most new prospective customers. We don't do anything invasive or major, just a basic search of civil and criminal court records, all freely available on your country website. We've saved ourselves some grief.....
 
Call a lawyer first thing tomorrow and start proceedings to get what is owed to you. No discussion, no deals, just pay what you owe. A good client is worth his weight in gold, the others are worth their weight in something else. If you are good at your work, you will find success. If you hang with scum you will be tainted as well.
 
Chances are pretty high that your not going to get paid, they obviously don't respect you or care what you think about them.
 
Imaginate said:
Chances are pretty high that your not going to get paid, they obviously don't respect you or care what you think about them.
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As long as he can document what they owe, it's usually pretty straight forward. You just have to have the courage of your convictions to go ahead and collect. They will use every trick in the book, starting with delaying tactics. They've done this before, you can be assured of that. That's why you need a lawyer. Usually, they work for a percentage of what they collect. (They always collect). The lawyer's percentage is your lesson fee. Next time don't be awed by the guy hiring you. You know what you can do. Make him show what makes it worth your while to work for him, besides the money.
 
always go with your gut man, if it smells like ****, it's most likely ****

a deposit up front is never a bad idea, and never give any product until final payment clears, any desire by a client to not do that is an immediate red flag unless they are a big well known company.

if they don't pay, go online and serve them in small claims court, chances are when they get the notice they'll pay up, or won't show up to court which then you win by default and can pay another company a percentage to forcefully go after their bank accounts. if they do show up you just need to state everything that's happened. send them a dated invoice with a due date, when that passes, it's court time baby.

if only there were a union for freelancers.... like, the freelancers union, only, an actual union that helps you with these things :)
 
If the guy is as crazy as he sounds, he probably has a left a trail of 'something' behind him -- learning more about that might be helpful. Check the limits on small claims in your county, like imdjay said, you might get relief there if your invoice is under their cap. Winning in small claims is no guarantee of payment, though -- if he's hocked out and 'judgement proof' you may have to stand in line. You can be successful, however -- I actually sued a law firm in small claims many years ago -- I won & got paid within the month.
I would avoid collection agencies if you can -- they don't always pay what they collect. Talk about tough, try collecting from a collection agency.....if you have to use an agency, ask around and find out who is legit.
You can always revoke usage rights, see if that gets his attention. You can also (as a very last resort) try theft of services -- that can be really difficult to prove, since you have to show intent.
We feel your pain -- our biz seems to draw the crazies, sometimes.
 
This really is like some weird twisted sex comedy only I agree it isn't funny at all. I find it really odd that you can't do anything about the sexual harassment, not as a freelancer but just as a civilian being harassed by another civilian. In the least I agree, stick to lawyer for all future communications. You haven't been shown any of their "connections" and haven't gotten anything out of them yet. Look at where you are. What did they pay you? What did they do for you? Where's the money lebowski? It might all be a big sham. And in the event that it isn't, it doesn't seem like working with these people will be productive anyway. So you land a series. They continue to harass you possibly even worse...
 
I would think indecent exposure as well if the line producer did what you wrote. I agree with the others, get yourself out of this situation before it escalates. They aren't respecting you, criminal or not, and do you want to really be associated with people who are probably crossing law boundaries other than just you as well. You don't want your reputation to get soiled with theirs in a community (film) that can be quite small at times.
 
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