This story takes place sometime around 2007, after I had graduated college, but before being a full-time designer. This interaction soured me on working with clients so badly that I have not returned to freelance work.

Just after college graduation I was working as a security guard and picking up freelance graphic design contracts. One of my fellow co-workers asked me for my services in designing a logo, letterhead, and business card designs for his start-up company.

Being fresh out of college I only quoted a $300 fee. After a week of design ideas and lots of back and forth we agreed on five design concepts that he would show to his business partners. I fleshed these designs out a bit more and packaged everything into a very nice, very professional, very expensive, acrylic portfolio folder that I was given as a gift from a family member for graduating college.

The following day, when I arrived at my security job, my fellow co-worker called in sick. And the day after. And the day after that... and for the remainder of the week. He then quit. Taking my portfolio folder and all of my design work with him.

After not being able to contact my now former co-worker for well over a month I was resigned to the idea that I was not going to see my work, and my portfolio, again. So, I moved on, using online forums to search for clients.

One of those online clients was looking for a designer to take some of their sketches and convert them into vector designs for use online and for printing. I reached out thinking it would be an easy gig and got an email back containing what they were looking for and images of all of my sketches that I made for my former co-worker.

I had watermarked all of my images when I presented them to said former co-worker; even pencilling in a watermark on my original sketch work. They were looking to have someone remove the watermarks and digitize the work. I emailed from my freelancer account and set up a meeting.

We agreed to meet at a local coffee shop. I made sure to sit in my car until my former co-worker went inside first. I followed behind and sat down at his table right as he was pulling out his chair. He was not happy to see me. Nor I him.

Long story short, after some choice words in a public space, I was able to get my portfolio back. I was never paid. I am so happy that we now live in a more integrated digital age where I don't have to give out physical portfolios.

What's the most absurd length a client has gone to not pay you?

I'm a food photographer for restaurants. I have a contract for all my clients to sign.  Starting work with a new client, I gave it to them:

Client: I'm never going to read it. Just summarize it for me.

I did. He signed it.

A couple of weeks later, I saw my photos on their Instagram account - butchered with Instagram filters. My contract states photos may be used in social media but must remain "unedited and unaltered." I messaged the client politely to ask them to remove the post and remove the edits if they'd still like to use the image. 

Client: You told me I didn't need to credit you for the photos, so I own them - I can do whatever I want with them. I don't like to work with people who give me trouble."

Me: That's not what I said, and the contract you signed is much more clear on the matter.

Client: I regret hiring you. I did you a favor by giving you business plus complimentary food. Don't forget, you asked me for business - I didn't ask you.

But I also asked you to not infringe on my copyright? 

Client: For this newsletter, I want Elsa and Olaf telling our customers not to "let go" these deals.

Me: I can't do that in good faith. Those are copyrighted characters, and if it gets to Disney they could sue both you and me.

Client: But why not? People use those characters all the time!  

Me: My advice is to Let It Go. 

I have this client who asked me to do him a website exactly like someone else's, even suggesting that I copy their text verbatim "to be changed at a later date." I fought back, but he would eventually insist.

This has been going on for months. I sent him an email: 

Me: Look, I don't think I can continue with this anymore. I suggest you find another web designer whose professional ethics don't prevent them from plagiarizing a site, because I won't do it. I still think you shouldn't, but if that's what you demand than at least it won't be with me. 

Several weeks later was my birthday. The client sent me a voice message:

Client: Happy birthday! Hey, thanks for being so patient with me. I haven't been able to read the last few emails you sent me but I'll get to that later.

I think he's in for a surprise. I don't feel bad, though. Who communicates via voice message and not email? 

Me: Do you already have photos or will you need me to purchase some stock images on your behalf?

Client: I was just going to grab them from Google.

Me: Those aren't free to use, those belong to someone.

Client: (whispering) Well we won't tell if you won't. 

Client: I found this image in a magazine, I’ve scanned it and sent it to you. I would like to use this as a banner on our website.

Me: Sir, but this is an image of Kylo Ren from Star Wars. It’s copyrighted material. How about we use a stock image instead?

Client: Nah, I got this from a magazine so it should be fine. I really like this image, plus it will appeal to the teens.

It was a website that sells printers. 

A client asked me to replicate (plagiarize) a website. I worked hard to create a site that had the key features of his example but which wouldn't violate copyright and sent him an email letting him know it was finished. He left me a voicemail in response.

Client: Thank you for your work, but it's not finished. I really need it to look like [other site]. Please make it look more like that site in a professional manner you would be comfortable with.

Um, I did. 

I am a frequent copywriting subcontractor to a small marketing agency run by a really nice man. His client, however, was more than a bit of a tool; he thought he was the smartest man in any room, and his business and his ethics left a lot to be desired.

I was hired to write 3 web pages. Every draft of his less-than-original business concept went through multiple drafts as he had to run them by his fellow “experts” in the field.

He criticized word choices that were not used in the drafts, asked for content already covered, and suggested I used "strong" words like “comprehensive” and “all-encompassing.” [wtf]

Once I sent the final drafts, I happily sent my invoice to the nice guy and put this client in my “never again” file. He contacted me weeks later, explaining he needed a brochure in a matter of days, and basically asked me to plagiarize a brochure he sent me.

Trying to blow him off in a professional manner, I (honestly) explained that I had other projects on my plate and did not have the bandwidth to take on his project in his timeframe. To which he responded:

Client: What do you mean by no bandwidth? No internet access? And why is this an issue.

SMH. Dodged a bullet there.

A client asked me to use another site as a template for theirs. I built a site using that cue, replicating the look and feel but not making it exactly the same.

Client: The font is different than the example! Change the font.

I changed the font to the exact same.

Client: The menu looks a little different.

I copied the menu exactly, clenching for what I knew would come next. Little by little, the client kept asking for incremental changes to make the site EXACTLY like this other one, asking me to basically steal the design by degrees.

 I'm thinking of shifting to daily billing for revisions. 

In college my first internship was at a small start-up ad agency working as an unpaid designer. On my first day, the president told me that they had to fire the previous intern because she wasn't doing a good job (thanks, no pressure).

Two weeks later, the president tells me they are bringing on a senior designer.

Client: The new designer doesn't have an Adobe Suite license. Can you give us your student ID so we can get it for them?.

Me: Uhhh...

Client: The previous intern did it for us. 

I quit the next day. Why would I want to work for free at an agency committing fraud??