Abusive Client

Hi There

I have just dealt with a client who was challenging and rude from the get-go. 

In summary, the client advertised a Website Writing Job, however they did not have a clear Scope of Work, upon closer inspection. 

After establishing a general Scope of Work and winning the Bid, I requested the Style and Tone of the Website, requesting samples, examples or ideas. The client was unhelpful and didn't offer any samples, examples or ideas.  

The client referred me to their service review page on a third party website for beauty (much like peopleperhour for writers, designers etc). She told me to base the Style and Tone of her Website on that. However this is illogical as it's not a planned and considered structure - it's Reviews only.

Without any resources and after being blasted for enquiring, I based her Website About Page on her Industry, 3rd Party Reviews and our interactions. Immediately - she said she wanted a refund as it was clear I wasn't the writer for her. 

To re-cap, this is:

• With no clear structure.
• No Style or Tone Guide.
• Non-responsiveness to particulars for job build.
• No co-operation from the Clients side re Scope, Structure, Tone & Style.

This - is unacceptable. To then be penalised for a clients lack of planning and consideration with a refund. Especially when I had only been patient, polite, diligent. 

She insulted me and made unnecessarily reductive comments about the work supplied demanding a refund. I reminded her that she accepted the terms of engagement therefore must at least factor a re-write and it would be critical to receive direction as to what she wants - she agreed to a rewrite finally after some days but with NO resources.

Despite their foul attitude I again requested the Style and Tone plus any Key Features. Once again the client would not supply. I had no choice but to write in the style of her short 3rd Party Bio which was very simplistic and fact based. I completed the whole page in a very rudimentary simple way, hoping this would hit the mark. To my shock she said it sounded like her and was 'excellent'. She paid for the page and left a 5 star review. 

Onto another page which was very convulated, long, complex and far removed from her Home Page content - she provided original copy which she wanted me to write again. Further to which - no Style or Content guide. After writing over 700 Words she wanted edits. Major edits. I asked for her to simply outline the whole job in detail to avoid re-writes - she refused, insulted me and said again i'm not the writer for her. 

Finally after extensive edits, her last minute additions and major delays due to her 'being too busy ' or 'too stressed to handle this now', she agreed the page was done. I raised the invoice. No payment. Days later still no payment. Finally i enquired as to the next stage of the job and page, she said 'she has too much on her mind'. 

Weeks later still unpaid invoice. I asked for payment she said her father died. I said my condolences and said 'take your time' .

PPH release auto payment on invoice.

3 weeks later i must inform her i have personal leave coming up (Sister visiting). So given time lapsed can offer her a fast 3 day turnaround for full website completion if she can get back to me about the balance of the job. She responded later that day saying she is  very unhappy with the last page and i need to call her so she can explain everything because its very complicated and must be by phone. I message her professionally and enquire why this finalised work now needs further editing, it's final and she clearly requested edits to which i (line by line) addressed and implemented. 

She says its not the same and needs changing she wants it all changed shes unhappy.  I say its clear there's a theme of disatisfaction from the get-go therefore it seems to be in the best interest of her happiness to refund the balance and wish her the best sourcing the appropriate writer. 

She then spurs off abuses calling me indignant, pig headed etc. Leaves a 1 star review (mind you, under her 5 star review with 'excellent!!!" on it) and a completely reductive comment which is ridiculous. 

All this and for what? The amount of time energy and effort that's been wasted on this job, person and whole topic is just too much. 

Really really unbelievable. No direction from the get-go, no resources except a review page, no style ideas, no tone ideas, no context except industry, non-payment, dismissive and rude, insulting - just a waste of time. 

The workstream needs to be reviewed - simple as that. 

That review needs to be removed and the rating too. I did absolutely nothing to deserve this and maintained professionalism in the face of disgusting treatment.  

I hope pph does the right thing. I am a 99% Reviewed Writer. This Buyer should be banned - dread to think of who she targets next.