I don’t know anything except what you’ve said here – and I don’t know any of the parties personally.
Here is my take :
If it is “just business” then there should be a written contract – outlining the services and the fees.
Usually if I am hiring someone I’ll specify a job to be done – and a fixed price.
It’s unusual to see an “hourly rate” – as I don’t care whether you use 1,2 or 10 people – as long as the task we agreed is done to satisfaction.
I wouldn’t be working on a “verbal agreement” because they frequently get forgotten or at least mis-remembered.
– What exactly was required?
– By when?
– What was the agreed fee
(etc)
As for ignoring your emails – well if we’d already talked and discussed this at length then I might resort to that too – thinking … just shut up you f.. c.. – that’s not what we agreed.
:angry:
Now as I say – I don’t know the ins and outs of the deal – but if your services or final bill were outside the bounds of what the client expected then …. No – I would not pay.
Potentially it’s like taking your car in for a minor repair and finding a charge for the car being cleaned and valeted at the same time. Thus doubling the bill.
It’s very nice and helpful – but not what I wanted – or what I’d be prepared to pay for.
IF IT’S “JUST BUSINESS” – THEN GET A WRITTEN CONTRACT – OR AN AGREED EMAIL AT LEAST – BEFORE DOING ANY WORK