VO-BB - 19 YEARS OLD!

captain54 · Lucky 700 Joined: 30 Jan 2006 Posts: 744 Location: chicago

I have never had this happen, and I'm in unchartered territory here..

A V123 job just kicked back, one that was done before Christmas.. the client hired me from the audition, gave me a script, and a voice link to match with some general direction.

I sent three takes, got a PO and sent off and invoice. now I am informed, three weeks later, they wont be paying the invoice because the read was off.. mind you, this was NOT done via phone patch..

After further digging, I found out this job has been posted a number of times on the site..

I contacted V123 and they claimed it is a clear violation of policy on their part.. Has this happened to anything else?

PS.. PM me if you need more specific info on the client...
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Lee Kanne
www.leekanne.com

Drew · Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2015 11:06 am Post subject:

Good God. That absolutely sucks. It's been years since I've bathed in the V123 cesspool. Are they now using some system where payment comes via V123? In the old days, the site had no hand in how payment was executed between client and talent.
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captain54 · Lucky 700 Joined: 30 Jan 2006 Posts: 744 Location: chicago

I blew in a call to V123 and they did intervene, saying would notify the client that if the invoice isn't paid they would terminate his usage of V123.. the client called back and said he would "try" to get the producer to pay up, or use me after all for the project. He apologized and claimed it was last minute, rush, project over the holidays, blah, blah, blah...

If the client flat out refuses to pay, V123 will intervene.. However, if you've chased down the client repeatedly for your money and still nothing, V123 says their policy is "it's between you and the client, in the future get the money upfront"..

So no, V123 does not intermediate your payments..

in the meantime, I've got another V123 client I've been chasing down for a month and havent' heard hide nor hair from.. My percentage of getting paid on V123 has been pretty high overall, but when this crap surfaces, it throws you off your game..
_________________
Lee Kanne
www.leekanne.com

Lee Gordon · Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2015 5:10 pm Post subject:

Since you have a PO, that should at least give you some documentation to use to (threaten to) take them to court.
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Lee Gordon, O.A.V.
Voice President of the United States
www.leegordonproductions.com
Twitter: @LeeGordonVoice

captain54 · Lucky 700 Joined: 30 Jan 2006 Posts: 744 Location: chicago

Gregory Best · Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2015 7:20 pm Post subject:

That is the question. Even with small claims there is a filing fee, serving the papers (may be harder than you think), showing up to court. Even if you get a judgment you may then need to try and collect. It could easily exceed $300 plus your time.

A strongly worded letter emphasizing that you have a contract. If that doesn't work you may want to consider it a learning experience.

Good luck.

Eddie Eagle · M&M Joined: 23 Apr 2008 Posts: 2393

Collection agencies are better than small claims court.

Gregory Best · Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2015 4:09 pm Post subject:

Collection agencies charge for services too. It is all about how much of your valuable time and money you want to spend to try to collect? Neither court nor collections will net you $300.

I would try a demand letter first.
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Gregory Best

greg@gregorybest.com

Lee Gordon · Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2015 4:21 pm Post subject:

The threat of small claims court or a collection agency (and a note to Dun & Bradstreet) may be sufficient to pry the payment out of them without actually having to follow through on any of them.

It could be as simple as explaining your position in terms they should be able to understand. For instance, if they went to a restaurant and ordered a meal, but when the waiter arrived with the food they told him, "We changed our minds and we're going to McDonalds instead," they couldn't just leave without paying. Most people should be able to grasp that concept.

And if all of the above fail, you still have the satisfaction of proceeding with a small claims action or collection, just to make things deservedly unpleasant for them.
_________________
Lee Gordon, O.A.V.
Voice President of the United States
www.leegordonproductions.com
Twitter: @LeeGordonVoice

Gregory Best · Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2015 4:36 pm Post subject:

That was my point Lee. Postage is cheaper.
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Gregory Best

greg@gregorybest.com

Ed Fisher · Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2015 3:56 pm Post subject:

captain54 · Lucky 700 Joined: 30 Jan 2006 Posts: 744 Location: chicago

Any client, regardless of the time constraints, will ALWAYS try to set up a patch-in session with critical and complicated projects.. To throw a sample vo and a few directions via email at the talent and expect a !00% perfect, finished product..in 1 take.. very unrealistic and ..total BS

Its like going to get a custom paint job on your vintage Corvette, and telling the body shop guy to look out the window.. "see, that car that just passed by, THAT's the color I want!"
_________________
Lee Kanne
www.leekanne.com

bobbinbeamo · Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2015 7:04 pm Post subject:

Big hassle. Sorry to hear about this.
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Bobbin Beam
www.bobbinbeam.com
blog.bobbinbeam.com

captain54 · Lucky 700 Joined: 30 Jan 2006 Posts: 744 Location: chicago

UPDATE; V123 intervened and convinced the client that paying me was in his best interest. Check arrived yesterday.. Remarkable..
_________________
Lee Kanne
www.leekanne.com

Foog · Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2015 1:45 am Post subject:

Yay for a happy ending! I for one am pleasantly surprised that V123 stepped up and contacted the client. Good on 'em!
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Andrew Fogarasi