Mother told her friend she doesnt have to pay me?

[Imacelebritygotit]

I do translating/admin e.g appointments, filling out forms. Work stuff on the side

My mums friend heard i do this and hired me. We agreed on sum etc

I did 3.5 hours work

She then tells me she will give the money when she sees my mum the next day, i agree

My mother then goes "omg guess how much she paid you!!!" "I said no, no, no, no! You are a friend!!!! Absolutely no need to pay that much!!! Wtf!!! 10 pound is fine!!! But she insisted she pays you the agreed amount!!!!! Said treat it as a gift then. But then i insisted and said 10 pound is fine!!!! Trust me!

Explaining to her is useless she just keeps going She is a friend!!! You cant charge her like other people!!!/anyone else!! How can you be so money hungry and greedy!!!

Am i right to be angry about this! I mean this woman is not my friend, i barely know her. And it was like 4 hours work!!!

Edit: oh and now im getting texts from this woman saying she was very happy with such a good price, what a nice person i am and how others she hired "take advantage and over charge". And she wants to hire me again for same price!

Your mother is completely out of order and I'd ask her to tell the friend she was mistaken and get her to transfer the rest of the money.

And the woman won’t want to ask again now because she will feel like she’s taking advantage. Tell your mum she’s just potentially lost you work.

Yes you bloody can! And she isn't your friend, she's your mums friend. I'd insist on the full sum and your mum can pay for her if she's such a good friend. Why is she paying through your mum anyway, instead of bacs?

Well it seems your mum now owes you the difference 🤷‍♀️

The mistake was including your mum at all.

Why is she giving your mum the money? You should’ve sent her an invoice.

Don't agree to work for anyone else your mom sends your way. She wants social credit with her acquaintances on your back. Your mom is a user.

Bill her the full sum.

I've hired friends for certain work they do and I pay for it. Their time and expertise is valuable and I'm not entitled to someone else's work for less.

This really. You need to cut your mum out of this , even if you get clients through her. Once you do, you do all the communication, payments etc. I would also make this clear to your mum. Once they become clients , to you they are clients , not her friends.

I’d message this lady, apologise about your mum getting involved and ask for the rest of the money.

The money was in envelope too which mother opened and looked how much it was

Tell your mum that she needs to make up the shortfall. She had no right to do this so she actually owes you the rest of the money. The woman is your mum's friend not yours. Your mum can provide her friend with a service for no payment if she wants but it isn't her place to make you do that.

Well your mum is wrong, but why is she even involved?
Just as you would for any other client, you make out an invoice it and email it to the customer (your mum's friend). Your invoice includes your bank account details so that the client can pay by BACS transfer, within a specified time period.
You can, of course, offer a discount if you wish, but that would be specified on the invoice.
This is your business, OP, and thus you must run it in a professional manner.

OP, tell your DM that you will NEVER do any work for anyone she even knows, let alone one of her friends. It would take me a while to get over the fact that she had opened an envelope addressed to me. As for doing more work for the friend - absolutely no way.

She said

"im bad with bank/tech stuff (shes much older and doesnt really know how to use computer etc). Im seeing your mom tomorrow for coffee can i just give her the cash tomorrow. It would be much easier for me"

I didnt think my mom would do this

Didnt think it would be big deal

Then she can post you a cheque.

Having your mum as a go between is bad business.

Does your mum have form for overstepping/lack of boundaries?

So did she just pay £10 or the amount you agreed?

It’s muddled because you see it as a professional arrangement but your mum sees it as helping out a friend for a bit of extra cash.

Neither of you are wrong but, as PPs have said, don’t use your mum as your intermediary in professional arrangements in future.

I would just text and say “apologies there seems to have been a misunderstanding and the price is as agreed between us so can I pop round to pick up the balance? My mum shouldn’t have said it was cheaper.”

Yep obviously now i see that

I did suggest that but she started insisting.

"Cmon ll be seeing your mom tomorrow anyway! Ill just give it to her"

At the time i thought it wouldnt be a problem

Can you message and say that there has been a mistake in communication and you still require the amount originally owed. I would be fuming at your mum and ask her to pay the difference.

10

Your mum had no right.

I’ve done things at mates rates and mates have done things for me in return on same basis.

Sometimes we do quid pro quo.

But you want a service you pay for what you are charged. Sounds like this lady was more than happy for that is is probably embarrassed by your mums attitude - hence why she’s sending more work your way.

make sure you bill directly next time.

This

I would message her back and say you were surprised by the turn of events and that the hourly rate you originally quoted was correct and regretfully you cant afford to work for less, despite what your mum may think. Request that she pays the balance due direct to you and then you can discuss future work.

Going forward, refuse to allow anyone to pay via your mum!

I would just tell her “apologises but my mother shouldn’t of got involved and she misunderstood, we agreed on the price piror so that is what is owed. I could come and collect the remaining balance now?” As for working for her again don’t let your mother get involved again.

“Dear Betty, There has been a misunderstanding. My charge was £x not £10. It took me 3.5 hours to do your work. I cannot possibly even cover my costs for £10. I’d appreciate it if you could transfer me the rest of the outstanding amount to….”