u/Fluid-Midnight-860

A few years ago, Daniel contacted me and said he knew a business owner who needed someone to design a recurring publication.

He introduced us, and from that point onward, I dealt directly with the client.

I handled everything:

• concept design
• layout
• revisions
• communication
• deadlines
• final files

Basically, 100% of the actual work.

The agreed payment for each issue was $850.

When the first payment came in, Daniel told me he’d send me $400 and keep $450. I pushed back and said if we were going to split it, it should at least be fair, so we agreed to $425 each.

At the time, I thought that made sense because he brought the client.

But then this arrangement continued for six issues.

Same split.

Same situation.

The problem? Daniel wasn’t doing anything.

No design.
No revisions.
No client management.
No communication.
No production work.
Nothing.

I was doing all the actual work, often staying up late to hit deadlines, while he kept collecting 50% because he had made the introduction.

Then a separate one-off design project came through him worth $600.

The client paid.

Daniel didn't pay me and that made me realize I couldn’t trust how he managed money.

That was my first major red flag.

Then months later, on the recurring publication, the client had already paid him for the latest issue.

When I followed up about my payment, Daniel told me he needed to first use the money for his child’s school fees and would pay me afterward.

That really bothered me because at that point it felt like money I had earned through completed work was being treated like his emergency fund.

I contacted the client, not to cut him out, but because I needed clarity around delayed payment.

I explained the situation.

The client told me to resolve it directly with Daniel, but said they were willing to start paying me directly going forward if Daniel confirmed that arrangement.

So I confronted him.

We talked it through.

I told him the 50/50 arrangement made no sense when I was doing all the work.

We renegotiated, and instead of half, he started receiving a fixed $100 referral amount per issue.

That’s where things stand now.

But honestly?

I’m questioning even that.

He still does absolutely nothing.

No communication.
No management.
No creative input.
Nothing.

So Reddit:

Am I being unfair for wanting to stop paying him entirely at this point?

If someone introduces you to a client but contributes nothing afterward, how long is it reasonable for them to keep getting paid?

Was involving the client about the payment delay crossing a line, or was that justified?

A few years ago, Daniel contacted me and said he knew a business owner who needed someone to design a recurring publication.

He introduced us, and from that point onward, I dealt directly with the client.

I handled everything:

• concept design
• layout
• revisions
• communication
• deadlines
• final files

Basically, 100% of the actual work.

The agreed payment for each issue was $850.

When the first payment came in, Daniel told me he’d send me $400 and keep $450. I pushed back and said if we were going to split it, it should at least be fair, so we agreed to $425 each.

At the time, I thought that made sense because he brought the client.

But then this arrangement continued for six issues.

Same split.

Same situation.

The problem? Daniel wasn’t doing anything.

No design.
No revisions.
No client management.
No communication.
No production work.
Nothing.

I was doing all the actual work, often staying up late to hit deadlines, while he kept collecting 50% because he had made the introduction.

Then a separate one-off design project came through him worth $600.

The client paid.

Daniel didn't pay me and that made me realize I couldn’t trust how he managed money.

That was my first major red flag.

Then months later, on the recurring publication, the client had already paid him for the latest issue.

When I followed up about my payment, Daniel told me he needed to first use the money for his child’s school fees and would pay me afterward.

That really bothered me because at that point it felt like money I had earned through completed work was being treated like his emergency fund.

I contacted the client, not to cut him out, but because I needed clarity around delayed payment.

I explained the situation.

The client told me to resolve it directly with Daniel, but said they were willing to start paying me directly going forward if Daniel confirmed that arrangement.

So I confronted him.

We talked it through.

I told him the 50/50 arrangement made no sense when I was doing all the work.

We renegotiated, and instead of half, he started receiving a fixed $100 referral amount per issue.

That’s where things stand now.

But honestly?

I’m questioning even that.

He still does absolutely nothing.

No communication.
No management.
No creative input.
Nothing.

So Reddit:

Am I being unfair for wanting to stop paying him entirely at this point?

If someone introduces you to a client but contributes nothing afterward, how long is it reasonable for them to keep getting paid?

Was involving the client about the payment delay crossing a line, or was that justified?