So, do you have a rate card for taking abuse? Like $100 for an abusive email, $150 to yell at you over the phone and $200 in person?

Thanks for the comment.

In the right circumstance, “Overcharge”, is perfectly acceptable, just maybe not 4X (at first). Why? Because no-one’s going to abuse me for free. They will have to pay for that privilege. As the abuse increases so will my fees until the abuse stops (usually by the client going away, presumably to abuse someone else). Meanwhile, at least I’m getting paid for taking it on the chin.

Someone once told me, “You have to determine how much the job is worth to YOU, then charge accordingly.” In other words, if you really don’t want the job in the first place, cost it out to the point where you couldn’t resist taking it. At least then, if you wind up with the job anyway, what you do get paid would make it worth doing. And any job well done has the potential to lead to another one, or another client.

I agree that being up-front and honest is best. I’d only resort to the last two when the client is so over-the-top abusive that a face-to-face confrontation would only make things worse, like when you feel that the client could manipulate you into changing your mind.

Thanks for your comment.

But I feel the last two options are very unethical. What goes around comes around. I’d stick with “honesty is the best policy” combined with a dose of good manners and tact instead.