To never do them a favour again?

I’d also state that paying clients take priority over freebies which will be attended to at that point.
Any further requests for work will need to be paid for at the same rates.
I wouldn’t bother with saying you are unwell as a justification. I’d treat them just as you would with your other clients

I’m a freelancer and did some work gratis for BIL once which he complained about. Never again. He doesn’t work for free; neither do I. The whole crew know not to ask now. You can lend some folk a tenner and they’ll ask you to iron it. Tell him plans have changed because you’ve been ill and now have to catch up on your paid work because of that. It’s not like he can threaten to withhold his non-existent payment, is it?

If it's a professional service, you shouldn't have offered it for free. There should have been the usual contract and terms of service.

She WHAT now?! OMFG. That'd be the end of the friendship for me. I don't give art pieces away all that often (not because they're crap before some smart arse says that, normally I sell them!)... but no good friend of mine would DREAM of it.

I only think you were unreasonable for agreeing to work for free

This. I 100% wouldn’t be doing it at all now.

Just confirming what others have said. You weren't told it was urgent/important. You didn't offer in the first place. You're paying clients take priority. And actually MIL has assumed you have time to do this, whether you were ill or not.

I have quiet periods and others of high demand. Say you'd assumed it could wait until you had time IF you had agreed to do it. They are of course welcome to pay someone if they need it done more urgently than you can offer...

If anything does wash back on you I would make it abundantly clear that whilst you were willing to do them a favour, there was no mention of deadlines and your paying clients take priority. I would also make it very clear to MIL that she is not to offer your services to anyone under any circumstances. What does your partner think?

This, with bells on!!!

Never, ever give your work away for free. In the circumstances I'd do the work but make it plain when you return it, that you won't be able to help again. I doubt he'll ask why but if he does, I'd say I didn't appreciate being harrassed. I'm an artist and once gave a very close friend a painting as a birthday gift. I was astounded a while later to find that she'd cut it in half. I learned my lesson that day.

If he didn’t tell you the deadline at the start they can’t all be chasing you now.

there’s either no imminent deadline or there is. YANBU

also they should be sounding very very apologetic and grateful in all of their interactions with you - sorry to push but we need it in two weeks - I really really appreciate it.

i wouldn’t do anymore free family favours. This is why!!

He's not paying.
He gave no deadline.
The OP has been ill and paying clients take priority.
The OP did not accept the job in the first place but was told she was doing it by her mother in law.

In what world do you get to blame the OP, @Mooselander?

as others have said more eloquently than I can, I would tell them to stuff it. You weren't told a deadline, have been unwell, and never wanted to do it in the first place. Tell them you cannot meet their newly imposed deadline, that they can collect the paperwork, and they can pay someone else to do it in future.

No good deed goes unpunished!

If this was my actual sister and her partner, I’d tell her straight this would normally be a £xxxx job and he’s getting it for free. Therefore, he’s bottom of the queue and its in very bad taste to chase when he knows ive been ill - there will be no freebies in future!

As it is in-laws and MIL is sticking her oar in, I’d get DH to do the above!

I also wouldnt acknowledge any further correspondence from SIL, BIL or MIL on the topic.

Feel better soon

And tell your mil not to ever forward your services again without asking and seeing if you have time or even want to do it ... fecking cheek of families honest to god .

Tell them put them in their place.
Say there is the required paperwork dont ask me again to help you I did this free of charge and you had the cheek to be this pushy get the whole family putting the pressure on when you knew I wasn't well I didnt appreciate that.
Tell them.

So MIL led him to believe it was a doddle for you to fit in ££££’s worth of work alongside your paid work… he didn’t instigate this.

She now seems to think recommending you makes her your manager.

I would send a polite but assertive, factual , direct reply to both.

Hi both

1. you are aware that I have been ill
2. I was not informed that there was a deadline
3. Please appreciate that I am undertaking this in addition to my paid work
4. Now that I know of the deadline I will be sure to get it over the line
5. This is work that for a commercial client would incur an invoice of £xK
6. I was disappointed to find that having offered this as a favour (and happy to do so) I am the subject of family talking about my delivery,

Ditto this (retired solicitor).

So he gave you it a week ago and you only started it yesterday?

I can see why he’s annoyed.

Just say, "sorry it seems like our expectations of what represents a favour don't align, I've been ill and now I'll have to pass on your project so I can focus on my paid work." Seriously, what an attitude!

OP didn't actually offer, she was forced into it by her MIL.

'I was volunteered by said MIL! He was struggling with this particular thing and she said “oh Pip will do it for you for free, she did FILs” and that was kind of that.'

He also didn't give OP any timescales for delivery and it turns out that he hasn't given her all the information/paperwork that she needs to complete the task.

@Pipiscoming2023 as your MIL interfered make sure you relay that information back to her. Don't allow your SIL and her husband to hide their incompetence and have another moan about you.
They don't value your time, effort, experience or expertise. Draw a line and your mantra should be, never again.
Very disrespectful of them. Has your husband commented? He should have your back and speak to his family, especially his mother. CFs.

I think you’ve handled it really well. That message was well worded. You’re helpful yet prioritising paying clients and you’ve been ill. If he wants you for free that’s what he has to accept. He could always pay you or someone else if he isn’t happy! If anyone moans about it that’s what you can tell them! Free work does not pay the bills!

She didn't offer to do them a favour, it was forced on her by MIL.

And it's 💯the responsibility of the favour-asker to check with the favour-giver if they can complete it within a certain time frame.