Today, marks the third month that I have not received payment for work I did on web pages for a hospital chain. They owe me over $1,000. It will cost twice that to get a lawyer to force them to pay me what I'm owed. FML
Collection
Fall
Dead leaves, the first cold of the season and an umbrella flipped inside out: fall, the season of grace.
Today, my work informed me that they didn't process my pay in time, so I won't get paid until the end of next month. I have less than £10 to last me until then. FML
Today, I pointed out to my manager that I haven’t been paid for my first month's work. They told me my paperwork had been misplaced, so I hadn’t actually been hired yet. So I just worked a full month for free. Oh, and apparently they’re not legally obligated to pay me, so I’m not getting paid. FML
Today, I woke up feeling out of step with life. Work owes me money for 6 months-worth of projects I did. I collected loans to take care of my sick dad and manage myself, and now my bosses are refusing to pay what they owe, so my account balance is blank. FML
Today, I found out that my employers apparently haven't been taking enough money out of my paychecks, and now I owe thousands of dollars in taxes. I already live paycheck to paycheck despite doing nothing but work. FML
Today, my ex-boss still owes me almost 900€. I just paid another 150€ to have a lawyer tell me that, yes, the law is clearly on my side but no, I will most likely not win in court because I don't have hard proof. I just paid money to be told I won't be getting the money I'm owed. FML
Today, I'm working in China and I had to explain to my boss that no, it's not okay to not pay me for 3 months. FML
Today, my boss told me I was fired 3 weeks ago because there's no money to pay me, meaning that I worked the last three weeks for free. FML
Today, I received an almost $400 bill for Internet services I don't even have. When I called and talk to them they told me I still owe them $77 because I didn't catch it within 3 months. FML
Today, my lawyer threatened to sue me because I can't afford his bill, which he sent to me after getting me out of a lawsuit. FML
Today, and for the third time this week, my bank manager called me to tell me that my account is still overdrawn. He doesn't seem to understand that my wages always get paid at the end of the month. FML
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Top comments
Druu 53
That's a bit of an exaggeration. You can probably get an attorney to knock out a demand letter for a lot cheaper than that. (I'll keep thinking on it, but I don't think I know anyone barred in PA.) Alternatively, you write a demand letter yourself based on online templates, then take the case to small claims court where you will not need an attorney to represent you. Google "Pennsylvania small claims court" without the quotation marks and go to the top result.
Charlie Coffman 14
if you take them to small claims court and you win, then the hospital has to pay your attorneys fees
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Comments (25)
Druu 53
That's a bit of an exaggeration. You can probably get an attorney to knock out a demand letter for a lot cheaper than that. (I'll keep thinking on it, but I don't think I know anyone barred in PA.) Alternatively, you write a demand letter yourself based on online templates, then take the case to small claims court where you will not need an attorney to represent you. Google "Pennsylvania small claims court" without the quotation marks and go to the top result.
LivingNightmares 3
You should have used Upwork, it guarantees that everyone is honest!
Charlie Coffman 14
if you take them to small claims court and you win, then the hospital has to pay your attorneys fees
hitmanoo 16
Small claims courts don't allow attorneys.
Druu 53
Down voted both comments in this chain because they're both partially correct -- and by extension, partially incorrect. This varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Some states allow you to be represented by an attorney in small claims court, while others forbid you from being represented by an attorney in small claims court.
Inkoseh 33
Small Claims as another said! You could also look at other written request for payments and copy/stylize them to fit your situation (To make it look professional) And it doesn't hurt to do as someone else said, hire an attorney to send out that initial letter requesting the amount or be hit with legal action. Good Luck! Don't back down!
Craig Lurtz 6
can you still access the page? a few redirects to a message about how they do business may change their minds.
Sandi Šegota 1
Wouldn't advise it. YMMV depending on the state/country but at least where I'm from, while you have copyright over your work, servers still belong to the other party and you could get in trouble for changing data on them without permission. Best course of action is small claims court if you have a contract. If you don't, you should have had one. Source: Been in the same position as OP.
ohsnapword 21
Take the site down until they pay up.
dino-rex 16
1. Take their sites down if you can 2. Go to social media, nobody likes bad PR. I've had most problems solved with a few tweets and Facebook posts 3. Take it to court
RichardPencil 32
Tell the local paper or tv news station that the big corporate hospital is stiffing the little guy.
pitdaddy1991 3
Which hospital it might be the one closing
KitKat20_fml 20
Take the website down immediately and don't put it back up till they have paid you. I hope you got your contract in writing too, you may need it.