Ferraro Vega Employment Lawyers helps workers in Tacoma when their employers aren’t paying them correctly. Unpaid wages can happen to anyone, but it’s far more common with freelancers. Our team can guide you through the process of getting your pay back. Set up a free consultation today.
Do I Need a Lawyer?
Working as a freelancer comes with a lot of independence. You’re used to managing projects, deadlines, and clients on your own. But one thing you shouldn’t have to deal with is not getting paid for the work you did.
As a freelancer, this hurts your bottom line even more than a full-time employee. That alone can be a good reason to talk with a lawyer. Our team can:
- Look at your situation and help you understand your options
- Review your contracts, invoices, and communication with clients
- Figure out whether you were properly classified as a contractor or actually treated like an employee
- Guide you through negotiations, payment demands, or a formal claim if necessary
As a freelancer, you already juggle enough—deadlines, client expectations, and finding the next project. You shouldn’t also have to chase down payment for work you’ve already done. That’s
What Documentation Do I Need If a Tacoma Client Doesn’t Pay a Freelancer?
One of the biggest challenges freelancers like you face when dealing with unpaid work is pulling together the records that show what actually happened. Unlike traditional employees, you probably don’t have formal pay stubs or payroll records. But that doesn’t leave you stuck. There’s plenty of ways to show what you were and weren’t paid:
- Invoices showing what you billed and when payment was due
- Contracts or service agreements explaining payment terms
- Emails, texts, or project messages discussing scope, revisions, or payment timelines
- Proof of completed work, such as delivered files, drafts, or published content
- Payment records showing partial payments or missed invoices
- Project management logs or time tracking records
If you don’t have every document right now, that’s okay. Start with what you have—your invoices, emails, and project records. From there, we can help piece everything together. And as that picture becomes clearer, it answers a pivotal question.
How Do I Know If I’m a Freelancer or a Misclassified Employee?
Probably the biggest issue with unpaid wages as a freelancer depends on a key question: am I an independent contractor or a full-time employee? Full-time employees have the ability to file unpaid wage claims, while independent contractors do not (generally speaking.) To that end, lawmakers have put together a framework to answer the question. You are legally considered an independent contractor if:
- Your employer controls how and when their work is done
- You work with multiple clients
- You set your own schedule and rates
- You use your own equipment and tools
That all sounds straightforward, but the reality looks very different in this kind of situation. Most of the time, you’re going to be told when to work, required to follow strict company policies, or otherwise expected to act like a full-time worker. When that happens, you may actually be a misclassified employee. If that’s the case, you could potentially recover:
- Unpaid wages
- Overtime pay
The problem is that many of the jobs that you land as a freelancer in Tacoma are going to fall in a gray area. But the ways that you lose out on pay are going to be the same as full-time employees.
How Do Freelancers Face Unpaid Wages in Tacoma?
Even if you know unpaid wages can happen, it’s not always obvious where the problem starts. That’s why documentation matters—it helps reveal patterns. As a freelancer, you can expect to face unpaid wages in the following ways:
- Unpaid invoices. The most obvious problem is when a client simply doesn’t pay an invoice after the work is finished.
- Endless revisions or scope changes. Sometimes clients keep requesting additional work without adjusting the original payment agreement. This is a way to get free work out of you, and you should be paid for that work.
- Delayed payments. A client may repeatedly push payment deadlines further out, leaving freelancers waiting months for money they already earned.
- Disputes over project completion. A client may claim the work wasn’t finished correctly—even after they accepted or used the work.
- Misclassification as a contractor. Some companies hire “freelancers” who effectively work as employees. This can allow businesses to avoid wage protections, overtime, and payroll taxes.
Many freelancers only realize there’s a serious issue after multiple projects go unpaid or payments keep getting delayed. By then, a significant amount of money may already be missing. But you have options for getting that pay back.
What Options Do I Have If a Client Won’t Pay Me?
When you’re a freelancer and you have a client that either isn’t paying you or keeps dragging their feet on your payment, it’s incredibly frustrating. And as a freelancer, you have the added stress of not having the same safety nets that full-time employees have. But again, you’re not stuck. If you want to try to get your unpaid wages back, you can:
- Talk to your client directly. Sometimes the situation improves once a client realizes you understand your rights. You can raise the issue with them yourself, or our team can help draft a demand letter outlining the work you completed and the amount of money you’re owed.
- File a claim if you were misclassified. If the situation shows you were treated like an employee rather than a contractor, you may be able to file a claim through the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I). The agency will investigate your claim and if they rule in your favor, they can order the client to pay unpaid wages.
- File a lawsuit. If payment still doesn’t happen—or if a company owes money to multiple freelancers—you can move forward with a lawsuit. This can allow you to recover damages like:
- The unpaid money you’re owed
- Additional damages allowed under Washington wage laws
- Attorney’s fees and court costs
In Washington, many unpaid wage or contract claims must be filed within three years, and gathering records is usually easier the sooner you start.
Tacoma Freelancers Can Turn to Ferraro Vega Employment Lawyers
Freelancing in Tacoma means a daily grind across a variety of different jobs and industries. Unfortunately, freelancing also lends itself to situations where you face unpaid wages. At Ferraro Vega Employment Lawyers, our team will be there to help you. We’ll look into the details of your situation, track down the unpaid wages, and help you take steps to get those unpaid wages back.
If you’re a freelancer in Tacoma dealing with unpaid invoices or possible misclassification, we can walk through your options and help you decide what to do next. Set up a free consultation today.
