Client Won’t Pay After Work Completion

You finished the project. The client used your work, signed off on deliverables, or moved into the completed space. Then the invoice goes unpaid. Emails get ignored. Excuses pile up. This situation frustrates contractors, consultants, and service providers across California every day. The good news is you have options. The bad news is that waiting too long can limit those options significantly.

Why Clients Refuse Payment After Accepting Work

Some clients face genuine cash flow problems. Others regret the price after seeing the final bill. A few deliberately exploit contractors by accepting work they never intended to pay for. The reason matters less than your response. Payment refusal often follows a pattern. First come delays. Then vague complaints about quality that were never mentioned during the project. Finally, complete silence. Recognizing this pattern early helps you act before your leverage disappears.

Immediate Steps To Protect Your Rights

Time works against you in payment disputes. Take these actions within the first week of non-payment:

• Send a formal written demand letter via certified mail stating the amount owed and the deadline for payment
• Stop all additional work immediately, even if the client requests more services
• Gather every contract, email, text message, photo, and document related to the project
• Review your contract for dispute resolution clauses, payment terms, and attorney fee provisions
• Check deadlines for filing mechanics’ liens if the work involves real property

The demand letter serves two purposes. It creates a paper trail showing you attempted a resolution. It also signals that you take the matter seriously and understand your legal options.

Document Everything From This Point Forward

Your case depends on proof. Start a dedicated file with all project communications arranged chronologically. If the client accepted work through email, save those messages. If they signed a completion certificate, make copies. Photographs of the finished work matter, especially in construction or renovation projects. Write down your timeline while details stay fresh. When did you complete the work? When did the client start using it? When was payment due? What excuses did they give? These facts become valuable evidence if the dispute escalates.

Legal Options For Recovering Payment

California law provides several paths to collect unpaid invoices. The right approach depends on your contract terms, project type, and amount owed. For construction projects on real property, mechanics liens create powerful leverage. You have limited time to file, though. Miss the deadline, and you lose this option permanently. A Laguna Niguel commercial litigation lawyer can evaluate whether a lien makes sense for your situation.

Breach of contract claims work when you have clear written agreements showing the client owes money for accepted work. Courts generally favor contractors who fulfilled their obligations but never received payment. The client cannot accept your work, benefit from it, and then refuse to pay without facing legal consequences. Small claims court handles disputes under $10,000 without requiring an attorney. Cases move faster than regular court, but you cannot recover attorney fees even if your contract allows them.

When To Seek Legal Help

Some contractors hesitate to involve lawyers, worried about costs or damaging client relationships. That thinking often backfires. Clients who refuse payment after accepting work already damaged the relationship. Protecting your business comes first. Consider legal representation when:

The amount owed exceeds $5,000. Small claims court caps claims at $10,000, but larger amounts require the superior court, where procedure matters. The client raises bogus quality complaints. Clients sometimes claim defective work to avoid payment despite previously accepting the project without complaint.

Your contract includes attorney fee provisions. These clauses let the winning party collect legal costs, making it more affordable to fight for what you earned. You face deadline pressure for mechanics’ liens. Filing requirements are strict, and missing a deadline by even one day can destroy your rights.

Ghassemian Law Group has handled payment disputes across California’s construction and business sectors for decades. Our team understands the frustration of unpaid invoices and works to resolve disputes efficiently while protecting your financial interests.

Moving Forward

Payment refusal after work acceptance is not just frustrating, it threatens your business’s sustainability. Contractors and service providers deserve compensation for work performed and accepted. California law recognizes this principle and provides remedies. The key is acting quickly with a clear strategy. Document everything. Send formal demands. Know your deadlines. If you need help recovering payment from a client who accepted your work but refuses to pay, contact a Laguna Niguel commercial litigation lawyer who can review your situation and explain your options. The sooner you act, the more tools remain available to collect what you earned.