In January of 2010, feeling a little frustrated with a non-paying client, I wrote a blog entry questioning whether or not social media should be used to chastise those who don’t pay.
It looks like somebody has finally snapped and used their knowledge of the Internet to ridicule a client for nonpayment.
In the February 14th edition of Adweek you can read about an internet company that replaced a former client’s website with a nasty letter after not getting paid. It’s an interesting story and one that is still evolving.
Now I don’t condone this type of behavior and my attorney has told me over-and-over to resist the temptation to use the web as a personal soapbox. But some days you just get pushed to the edge.
It will be fun to watch this saga unfold – especially when it doesn’t pertain to me. In the meantime, read the original post below from three years ago. It’s fun to reflect on how things change, yet stay the same.
Original blog post by Paul Weber January 11, 2010
@Deadbeat. Please pay your bills that are now 6 months past due. You were certainly eager for us to finish the project but not so eager to pay for it.
@Former_customer. I say former customer because, in case you forgot, you haven’t paid for the work we’ve already completed. And you want more work done?
@Checks_in_the_mail. Liar, Liar. Pants on fire.
@Changed_my_mind. Could you have changed your mind before we paid all of the expenses associated with your project? You must be a gem at restaurants.
@Avoidance. I’m pretty sure you’re getting my phone messages and emails. Unless they cut off your phone and internet service for not paying your bills on time.
@Times_are_tough. Would you like to come over and tell our employees why they are not getting paid this week? Perhaps you can explain cash-flow better than me.
Should we use social media to help collect past-due accounts?
It’s tempting but I’m not convinced it’s socially acceptable, yet. Perhaps the day will come that the public exposure created by social media might be used for just that purpose.
We’ve been very fortunate in our six years in business to have clients that respect the importance of timely payment. While it might be tempting to identify deadbeats so all can see, I’m not sure I’m ready to take the lead. I also doubt that those very few people who can really be called deadbeats will care.
Time will tell.