Been workin in the games industry and freelance for about 20 years and considering 90% of jobs are based on a verbal contract I've never actually been stiffed, A remarkable testament to the Moral fortitude and honesty of most people, that record is unblemished,,,,, untill now.
A kid from deviant art asked me to do a tattoo design for him based on his idea, I charged him a paltry fee, a quarter of what I usually ask cos he's just a teenager, he loved it, loved it so much he's had it etched permanently on his skin, cost him $500 at the tattooists, I however am apparently beneath paying, yes! somebody can respect you're work yet disrespect the person who did that work.
He has had the decency to tell me excuses, ridiculous excuses, my grandfather had a heart attack, my identities been stolen and my accounts shut down, my dog ate my homework ( the last ones an embellishment for comedy effect), childlike but at least he had the shame to make them up.
Never work with children and animals!.
grksinner.deviantart.com/