2 months ago I faced an almost same issue. Best is to forget it.
Build your positioning such that you command higher prices, better clients & take 50% deposit minimum before starting the work.
Look into Jonathan Stark.
Another thing is to name & shame them. Just state the facts on social media.
Maintain a blacklist of clients & share them woth your fellow freelancers.
I'm into marketing & maintain such a list. About 7-8 people/agencies in there. Not everyone in there didn't pay. Someone was a micro-manager, someone was scope creep, someone demanded unnecessary things during interview process, wasted a lot of my time etc.
2 months ago I faced an almost same issue. Best is to forget it.
Build your positioning such that you command higher prices, better clients & take 50% deposit minimum before starting the work.
Look into Jonathan Stark.
Another thing is to name & shame them. Just state the facts on social media.
Maintain a blacklist of clients & share them woth your fellow freelancers.
I'm into marketing & maintain such a list. About 7-8 people/agencies in there. Not everyone in there didn't pay. Someone was a micro-manager, someone was scope creep, someone demanded unnecessary things during interview process, wasted a lot of my time etc.