Part of the job of a freelance writer is being your own accountant and debt collector. You complete the job, get the invoice out, but there are times where the paycheck gets delayed and in some worst case scenarios, it never comes.
Freelancer writers have to take caution with who they accept assignments from. Any lack of clarity before an assignment begins, such as details written into a contract or some other form of writing can lead to a lot of headache later on should any issues arise with payment.
Also, before accepting a job, always research and review the person or company you are working with. Make sure contact details are public, especially for a company. The reason why this is so important is because it can tell you how safe and legitimate it may be to work with them. It’s also less likely for them to go MIA if they are already publicly sharing their contact information.
You have to know how to get in contact should there be any issues down the road. An email address and phone number is not enough. Also retrieve the official physical address.
As a freelance writer myself, I’ve fortunately not had to deal with any paychecks not arriving until one recent occasion. Fortunately, after 3 months of follow up in this one instance, I have finally been paid what’s due.
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