The “wild wild west” of client behavior is here. Attorney Kunbi Odubogun (Legally Set) and RPC co-founder Elizabeth Sheils joined us to break down how to stop being “paid, then played” by skyrocketing disputes and sketchy refund trends to protect your business.
Why It Matters: Understanding these strategies ensures you maximize protection, win disputes, and stop losing profit to “buyer’s remorse,” setting your business up for a more secure and resilient year.
Key Takeaways:
- Receipts Over Reviews: Social media is teaching clients to “nitpick” services for refunds. Combat this by saving every approval, milestone, and glowing mid-process DM as evidence.
- Specifics Win Disputes: Vague “No Refund” phrases fail in court. Instead, use specific language for non-refundable retainers and add a chargeback clause to prohibit fraudulent disputes.
- Master Your Leverage: Never show up to an event without 100% of your final payment. Once the work is done, your power to collect or negotiate disappears.
- Utilize Tech Data: Platforms like RPC track IP addresses and login times. This proof that a client reviewed your contract before paying is your best defense against “unauthorized” charge claims.
- The “Vulnerable Party” Rule: Banks and courts naturally favor the consumer. You must prove you were reasonable by documenting attempts to resolve issues before they escalate.
The Bottom Line: Protection isn’t a one-time task. Conduct quarterly contract audits, trust your gut on red-flag clients, and ensure your digital paper trail is airtight to make your business a harder target.
Catch the full replay to hear Kunbi’s expert legal advice, and keep an eye out for the next MoneyTalks!
