NewAndImprov wrote:More than 2 years ago, a woman bought a day of recording at my studio as a gift for her singer/songwriter husband, she paid my day rate, I gave her an invoice and just said to have him book with me. I felt like it was a kind of wierd situation, but she seemed nice, and I know people who know her husband, so I figured it'd be OK.
So he calls me a number of times, I probably have spent several hours on the phone with him total. He kind of picks my brain about how I'm recording, what software/hardware I use, and just seems really like he needs to know every detail of the process. Several times, he books time with me, only to cancel eventually, always for good reasons, he had surgery once, etc. Contact drops off, and I didn't hear from him for probably a year.
So, last week, I finally do hear from him, and now he wants a refund. He just bought a new mac laptop and Logic, and some more stuff, and wants to do it all himself. The problem is, money is really, really tight for me right now (like everybody else, I know) and I really can't afford it. I've told him I'd be glad to help him with his project or even hooking up his gear, whatever, but he says he just wants the money. He even made a rather snide comment about how I should be glad he's not asking for interest.
It's really not that much money, I am very cheap, but right now I am barely getting by and I have to plan out any expenses way in advance now. Plus, I feel kind of steamed that he used the advice I gave him (for free) to decide on what software to get (I use Logic too). I didn't log my phone time with him, but it was substantial, I remember several 30-45 minute conversations. I don't usually charge for phone consulting, and generally believe in sharing what I know, but this situation just has me kind of bummed.
What should I do?
Never again give gift certificates. "Cash and Carry" is better.
Meet with him in person, and explain that you cannot refund his wife's money.
Explain to him that you already gave him a LOT of consultation time, in the understanding that he was going to use this gift certificate with you.
He still wants "his" money... tell him to sue you.
Cheers
Howling at the neighbors. Hoping they have more mic cables.