• From: Tulsa, OK, USA
  • Registered: 2006-10-16
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Re: [PHP] Tracking script help needed

So, I made this bespoke website for a customer who are Realtor partners. It seems they are splitting as partners and going their own way with new ones. They still haven't paid me for the full amount, 2 months after project completion, but that's not the issue here. They both want a copy of the website and in my contract I firmly state that this website is "leased for one domain name only" and any further usage would require them to buy the copyright of the whole site from me for a further 75% of the initial development cost. So far, this has worked great for me, but this time I believe they might get a friend to change the graphics around and put it up as 2 separate websites.

I'm wondering if there is an existing script, or if someone could point me in the right direction to write my own, that would let me know the site has been deployed. A call home feature, so to speak, as then it would tell me each time they deployed it.

I don't think they have the technical knowledge to find it in the midst of php includes, so was hoping to do it this way. Whaddaya think?

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  • Todd
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Re: [PHP] Tracking script help needed

I've never heard of such a script.

The beatings will continue until morale improves -- The Management

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  • From: Tulsa, OK, USA
  • Registered: 2006-10-16
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Re: [PHP] Tracking script help needed

Hmm, well that sucks as I'm set to be ripped off for thousands then I guess, not good at this time-works dried up significantly, I'm living off my savings, which aren't substantial.

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  • Todd
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Re: [PHP] Tracking script help needed

Do you have access to the server? Have you handed the assets over yet? If not, I'd yank the site offline and hold the assets hostage until payment is made in full.

If they have, just take out a key component of the website and maybe that will twist a few arms. I have done so (needing to) in the past and boy, you ought to see how payments are rushed immediately then.

The beatings will continue until morale improves -- The Management

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  • From: Tulsa, OK, USA
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Re: [PHP] Tracking script help needed

The issue I have is that the two partners split, but paid even halves on the development of it. Both asked for it on CD-ROM, neither have it. I am not sure who to hand it over to, can't keep it myself without refunding them and if I do give it to either, am concerned that they'll pass it on via CD-ROM as they're not the most scrupulous folk around, with one of the reasons for not paying me a 60k backlog in federal taxes!

I won't have access to their server either as I kicked them off mine for not paying the hosting bill....talk about the worst..

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  • Todd
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Re: [PHP] Tracking script help needed

Goddamn, that is a tight spot you're in. I recently stumbled upon this gem: http://maxvoltar.com/articles/protecting-yourself-from-shitty-clients

Very helpful tidbit from a guy that, like most of us, has dealt with this shit before. Let us know, especially me, how this turns out.

The beatings will continue until morale improves -- The Management

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  • From: Tulsa, OK, USA
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Re: [PHP] Tracking script help needed

Todd, the scary thing is, I adhere to ALL that guy blogged about, except for a minimum time limit. I'm in a tight financial state, as a lot of us are right now, so work is work. I don't care if it's a 7 hour job or a 70 hour job, if it's within my expertise and within my moral and style limits I'll do it. Like I recently about got hired to optimize a gay celeb icon blog. I didn't care one bit, even though I'm heterosexual. but I won't do things that involve religion, race, that sort of thing. Anything that might get me called out as "on one side of a fence". It's a scary world and I don't need any harassment or drama in my life. But I've got a full contract under UK law, which is where my major issue is right now. It doesn't stand in the US of A.

But I'm thinking of adding a simple trackback link, like wordpress does on blogs, which might overload there server, but I don't give a shit right now. I'm trying to recover goods worth thousands to me.

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  • marthig
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  • From: Buenos Aires, Argentina, S.A.
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Re: [PHP] Tracking script help needed

Aww Sorry Paul ! :hug: :love:

Hi all there ! -  Happy to be back to SL
Visit me at my dA site

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  • Todd
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Re: [PHP] Tracking script help needed

Todd, the scary thing is, I adhere to ALL that guy blogged about, except for a minimum time limit. I'm in a tight financial state, as a lot of us are right now, so work is work. I don't care if it's a 7 hour job or a 70 hour job, if it's within my expertise and within my moral and style limits I'll do it. Like I recently about got hired to optimize a gay celeb icon blog. I didn't care one bit, even though I'm heterosexual. but I won't do things that involve religion, race, that sort of thing. Anything that might get me called out as "on one side of a fence". It's a scary world and I don't need any harassment or drama in my life. But I've got a full contract under UK law, which is where my major issue is right now. It doesn't stand in the US of A.

But I'm thinking of adding a simple trackback link, like wordpress does on blogs, which might overload there server, but I don't give a shit right now. I'm trying to recover goods worth thousands to me.

I fully understand the position you're in Paul, believe me, I've been there more times than I care to, having to track down fees owed and having pulled more than one web site before.

Go with the trackback link and see what happens. Hope for the best and I hope you get paid.

The beatings will continue until morale improves -- The Management

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  • From: Tulsa, OK, USA
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Re: [PHP] Tracking script help needed

Me too, or I won't be eating in May...

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  • From: Gloucester, England, UK
  • Registered: 2006-10-25
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Re: [PHP] Tracking script help needed

So how did it turn out in the end?
Hope everything is OK?

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  • From: Tulsa, OK, USA
  • Registered: 2006-10-16
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Re: [PHP] Tracking script help needed

Well, the one person wants it for just them, but they still owe me 800 bucks for it, so I refuse to give it to them until they pay me....which is a catch 22, because I need the money...they advised me to re-logo it with a default logo and sell it again so they can get their cash back and I can get paid...but that is despicable as I've already worked for the money and if I re-sold it, it'd mean more work for no extra money, so I'm not sure what to do still...

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  • From: Gloucester, England, UK
  • Registered: 2006-10-25
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Re: [PHP] Tracking script help needed

It's pretty low.

I would personally get them to sign a new contract. Get them to agree to pay you the amount outstanding by a certain date, in instalments, and also to agree that you have inalienable rights to the software and can resell it for your own purposes.

I don't see why your contract doesn't hold up in American law. UK and US law are similar enough for the contract to work properly. Besides which if they signed your contract, and one of the terms stipulates that the law of England and Wales applies, take it to Carter Ruck and drag them to the UK for a hearing. Carter-Ruck might be a bit expensive but you could try getting a CFA.

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  • Todd
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Re: [PHP] Tracking script help needed

I almost got screwed over for a couple jobs of late. Which is why I love this bit from Andy Clarke: http://24ways.org/2008/contract-killer

Sorry to hear the BS is still going on Paul.

The beatings will continue until morale improves -- The Management

Todd's Website

  • From: Tulsa, OK, USA
  • Registered: 2006-10-16
  • Posts: 1,019
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Re: [PHP] Tracking script help needed

Yeah...I haven't been paid and they haven't received their site. Now they/I have an out-of-date wordpress-based custom listing system Realtor site. I could update it to Wordpress 2.8 and market it again, but I'm sick to death of the sight of it man.

I do have a good contract, but unfortunately I was running out of England at the time of trading, so nothing could affect my American clients really and they knew it. Now I know better and I'm trying to get into something full-time, so I can freelance on the side again as I just can't make ends meet like this, it's ridiculous times.

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  • Todd
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Re: [PHP] Tracking script help needed

shagura wrote:

Yeah...I haven't been paid and they haven't received their site. Now they/I have an out-of-date wordpress-based custom listing system Realtor site. I could update it to Wordpress 2.8 and market it again, but I'm sick to death of the sight of it man.

I do have a good contract, but unfortunately I was running out of England at the time of trading, so nothing could affect my American clients really and they knew it. Now I know better and I'm trying to get into something full-time, so I can freelance on the side again as I just can't make ends meet like this, it's ridiculous times.

I know a ton of realtors in my area. let me see if any of them are in the market for what you've done and maybe you & I can make some $. I'll ask around.

The beatings will continue until morale improves -- The Management

Todd's Website

  • From: Tulsa, OK, USA
  • Registered: 2006-10-16
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Re: [PHP] Tracking script help needed

Cool, it's easily rebrandable as it uses a customized payware theme, although my clients found it hard to use, so I had to create videos for them and they still couldn't get it. So go for the more tech-savvy ones, I'd say.

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