Got screwed by a client

I was working with a client for a few months - generating leads for his company.

His marketing is quite poor with no company logo, no USP, no website. He came to me about 6 months ago for help.

The lead generation campaign is working quite well especially these last 2 months, getting tens of thousands of new sales from my leads.

He pays me on time -- but it is based on % of sales basis.

The lead generating website is my own as he had no $$ to pay me that time.

Today I found out he is doing a PPC campaign to push leads to his brand new website.

To make matters worse, this new website has exactly the same sales copy I created with the same USP.

I am so angry because he used a competiting SEO company to build the website.

He has $$ now thanks to leads I generate him....

Tell me what should I do?

I am thinking of getting my lawyer to send him a letter to bring down his website. (he violated our agreement not to build a similar competing website).

But beyond that, how can I avoid getting screwed by this bastard?

I have immediately stopped sending leads to him, effective today.

What does your contract say, who owns the work product?

If he is stealing your IP, sue him - otherwise ask him for a glowing recommendation and move on.

-aReJay

The first thing I would do is to start looking for someone else to buy/use your leads so you don't lose that source of revenue... or convert the leads yourself and make even more revenue.

Don't lose your revenue stream because this guy hosed you.

BassTrackerBoats said:

The first thing I would do is to start looking for someone else to buy/use your leads so you don't lose that source of revenue... or convert the leads yourself and make even more revenue.

Don't lose your revenue stream because this guy hosed you.

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Agreed... You should also be able to contact his competitors and take them on as clients. He hit below the belt, it's time to do the same. Well, I guess I am a strong believer in "An eye for an eye".

-- aReJay - LOL. ask him for glowing recommendation? never thought about that.

I think the contract has a point where all intellectual property belongs to my company.

--BTB - i actually used yr linkpushing service to push this website to sky high rankings. anyway yes looking for new provider as we speak.

But it was a good $3K per month revenue stream these past few months...It was a nice win-win situation for both of us.

My biggest bugbear is working with people with no integrity....

How do you avoid working with these type of people?

bring him to court if he has violated a written contract - make the max profit you can

... hit him legally as hard as you can!

dydxash said:

-- aReJay - LOL. ask him for glowing recommendation? never thought about that.

I think the contract has a point where all intellectual property belongs to my company.

--BTB - i actually used yr linkpushing service to push this website to sky high rankings. anyway yes looking for new provider as we speak.

But it was a good $3K per month revenue stream these past few months...It was a nice win-win situation for both of us.

My biggest bugbear is working with people with no integrity....

How do you avoid working with these type of people?

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Unfortunately you run across them in the business world at times; What kind of leads are you generating?

PM me the info and maybe we can work something out with you as I have some pretty good contacts.

If he's using the copy off of the website you own, send a DMCA to him, his developer, and his host. That will get his attention and it will cost you nothing. I would then attempt to settle with him.

If he was making $3k/mo with you, why would he take his business elsewhere? For what reason did he not trust you?

dydxash said:

How do you avoid working with these type of people?

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In my opinion, you cant avoid these type of people in business. People will kiss your ass and stab you in the back at the same time over a dollar. Not all are bad, but it is the bad ones that make it so you really cant trust anyone.

The only thing you can do is have a rock solid working agreement and have your customer sign it and do no work until you get at least a retainer of 25% - 50% of the agreed upon price.

To get rid of the sting, you need to do like BTB said and move these leads to another customer or start cashing in on them yourself.

-- JenniFranks: For each sale he closed from my lead - he has to pay me 20%.

I guess he figured since he can bypass me by copying my lead generating website - why not? Save the 20% and keep the $$ for himself.

BTW, What's a DMCA?

-- BTB: not sure if i got enough posts to PM you...

dydxash said:

-- JenniFranks: For each sale he closed from my lead - he has to pay me 20%.

I guess he figured since he can bypass me by copying my lead generating website - why not? Save the 20% and keep the $$ for himself.

BTW, What's a DMCA?

-- BTB: not sure if i got enough posts to PM you...

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DMCA is essentially the internet copyright law.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Millennium_Copyright_Act

email is [email protected]

digital millennium copyright act

here is another link on how to use the dmca. http://www.nppa.org/member_services/advocacy/dmca_takedown_procedure/

JenniFranks said:

If he's using the copy off of the website you own, send a DMCA to him, his developer, and his host. That will get his attention and it will cost you nothing. I would then attempt to settle with him.

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Damn straight do what this guy is saying. Before you send the complaints, make sure you get a screen capture of his website as a proof that it is similar to yours. Once you send complain, the hosting site will ask that he change or remove his website. That will slow him down.

This guy is greedy. Keeping 80% profit is really good IMO.

What does this guy say about the situation?

Sorry to hear about your situation. The legal system will take forever. Challenge him to a street fight and settle things the old fashioned way.