Sari - 1:06 pm on Apr 2, 2005 (gmt 0)

Definately a client from hell! I can relate to your situation.

I would go into the meeting being polite and professional, but be prepared to back up your position with copies of the emails (or at least the dates) where you asked for content and dates you received a response. So that this guy cannot say "I was never told what was needed". I would also hand each of them a hard copy of exactly what you require from them to complete the site.

I would also go in with a pre-drafted change order for them to sign outlining that as the project is already 4 months over the deadline, that you will give them 2 weeks to provide the content for the website. If no content is provided by that date, then a further payment of $x (as determined by you) is due for work already completed. I would also state that if the content is provided after the 2 weeks you make no guarantees of when work will be completed and the new completion date will be solely at your discretion based on your workload at the time of submission. Then, get them to sign (if they are the signing authority) at the meeting.

Your other option would be to give them the two weeks to submit the content, then change the last bit to read that if content is not recieved by the deadline that you will no longer work on the project and once they pay a fee of $x for the design you will remit the work you have completed to them as is.

I would suggest that you think about what you want to happen. Can you continue to work with these people and keep your sanity? Is this why you started designing websites? Why are you concerned about being decisive? Is it the money or preserving your reputation or something else? Once you answer these questions for yourself, I think that the way to approach this meeting will become clear for you.

Then you can clearly outline what you want in the change order. It's professional, yet it is very clearly setting out the guidelines of what the expectations and responsibilties are on both sides.

Good Luck!
S.

PS--More info on the change order here: [webmasterworld.com ]