Same Shit, Different Day

Question: If you're hired by a company to do a job, and the client does not pay their invoice, should the contracted person who did all the work be paid by the company? Or does the company wait until the client pays for work done?

I would really like to know the answer to this question. Particularly since an unnamed company that I do business with never asks for a deposit (which I think is bad business.).

I've got two outstanding jobs that I've not been paid for because the client fell on hard times and the owners are "cutting them a break."

Peeps, we're on food stamps. Last month our rent was paid for by a federal agency that helps people find work, as was our gas/electric bill. Both of those are one-time shots, no repeats. My husband's un-employment insurance amount was cut to $53- a week, from the maximum, with no warning, just before Christmas. It has to do with federal extensions, and tiers, it's so complicated, that the judge who listened to his appeal a few weeks ago (by phone) isn't sure what the correct answer is, and needs to "research it." Really.

We're struggling here. I get it. But at the time the people hired the company I'm contracted with for services, they had or thought they had the money, so why not ask for a deposit up front? I could really use $176- (for one project), and I-don't-know-how-much for the second because no one can tell me how much I should be getting paid for what I did (we have a spread sheet for payments, but this particular project is not listed on the spreadsheet). I've asked several times and never gotten an answer other than "don't worry, you'll be paid." Except, that I haven't. *ahem*

I really enjoy what I do. I love working from home. I work with nice people. They're making a name for themselves in the industry. But. Their business model is shit. I wish I could just walk away--"call me when you get the business side of your business figured out. K. Thanks." I really do.

Honestly, tell me the truth--have you ever heard of a business model like that? If the client doesn't pay, fuck you to the person who did all the work? I understand that can happen when you freelance, but when I'm contracted through a second party corporation? I don't get it.

My husband's un-employment insurance payments are "supposed"--I say "supposed" with my fingers, toes, and eyes all crossed, because if there is any government agency that knows how to fuck up, it's this one--to go back up, next week. Back to the maximum. If it does, hallelujah, huzzah, we are saved! If not? Well, we'll be living in our van. With our pets. And frankly, it's so packed in here, now--we took our stuff out of storage and put it all over the house because we didn't have the $50- to pay for it--and I feel like I live at the dump. I'd like to do a Thelma and Louise and just take off (not over the edge, but, somewhere, anywhere but here. KnowhatImsayin'?

And the family member who was arrested, all they do is mope around, whine, clutch their chest, and rend their garments like the second coming of Hitler was upon us, and is not functioning that well just on a day-to-day basis. And yeah, suicide threats. (Enough, already, Jeesuz.) I only have so much patience, I'm a human being, I don't have all the answers. And the professionals? Not helping him, either. And he wouldn't listen or take my advice anyway so just STFU.

OK, end of rant. I think I could probably go to bed, now. *sigh*

I need a new life.