Client is Blackmailing Me

[positiveenergy]

Anyone know how to protect yourself from a chargeback when the service has already been given and the client keeps threatening to contact his barclaycard to do a chargeback to get you to do what they want - ie give them priority over all your other work?

 

[Newchodge]

Stop taking card payments and insist on bank transfers.

 

[tony84]

A lot of the time this sort of thing needs nipping in the bud.
Without knowing more it is difficult to say, but you should get some proper advice and then go to the customer with some confidence and basically say if you do a chargeback, you will have 7 days to repay otherwise your solicitor will be instructed to take them to court at which point bailiffs will be instructed.

But it sounds like you may have been a bit soft at the outset and the person is unlikely to believe you will follow through.

 

[paulears]

Surely chargebacks done for any reason other than those in the cardholder agreement cannot be legal? You have documentation showing the threats - why not contact the card company for advice and present your facts in advance and ask for assistance - remember, they work for you, technically - they are partly your customer too?

 

[positiveenergy]

Soft I am not. This is the first time this has happened to me. I have told the client I don't take kindly to threats and now he is going to get dumped. I have spoken to the card company and there is a process that consumers have to follow. We are an online company and bank transfers is an option but most people would rather pay by card which is fair enough.There is a term in my business contract that he would be liable to pay more if he gets dumped so now I've spoken to the card company I'm happy to play that game if he wants to.

 

[japancool]

Is the customer a business or a consumer? The law may very well treat them differently.

 

[antropy]

the service has already been given

What service is it, just out of interest?

 

[UKcentric]

They might not be legal but they are certainly tolerated by the payment processors. The chargeback processes are always tilted in favour of the buyer. Good luck with fighting the chargeback but I think you may need to resort to legal action.

 

[quikshop]

Don't rely on your card company or bank to follow their own process. The moment you get written notification of a charge-back get on to them to register your objection straight away. It serves to get your initial reaction on file, then provide the supporting evidence to the bank to fight the charge-back.

Having been on both sides of that battle, it's important to frequently engage with the bank to keep your account at the top of their to-do list.

 

[TotalWebSolutions]

As above, you will receive notification in writing from the processor in the event of a charge-back being raised and you will be given the opportunity to respond with evidence. Do you have any terms relating to turnaround of work from payment? Did the client pay online or over the phone (if online did it go through 3D Secure) ? Any communication from the client might be submit-table as part of the evidence so if there is anything blatantly threatening then hopefully they will find in your favour.