Existing web client (previously paid on time etc.) now owes me for a print project. Deadline was supposed to be beginning of December last year for a 50 page brochure. I worked crazy hard to get the brochure finished by the deadline for the printers and then clients failed to get final content for me. So, they missed their deadline for the printers. They gave me no explanation nor did they let me know when they would be supplying me with the final content. Printers kept hassling me as well because they were unable to get in touch with the client.
Mid January, after being ignored for 2 weeks, the man (husband/wife duo) told me they had split up and the lady was going to take over the company. So, I contacted her asking when she wanted to continue the brochure and also if I could invoice her for work completed so far. This way I would stay happy and interested in the project and also ensure that she would finish the project. She said she still wants to do the brochure and agreed to this and said 'send the invoice and I'll pop a check in the post'. 3 weeks went by with no payment so I emailed her a follow up email. She ignored it. I phoned her and left a message. No call back. I phoned the husband who said he had nothing to do with it anymore and said keep calling her. I have left several phone messages plus another follow up email. Nothing.
At first I thought this was fine because eventually I would finish the brochure for her and get paid the whole thing upon completion. Now, I think she has scrapped the project totally (the printer has dropped them) and has no intention of paying me for the work. The brochure is 90% done and I spent 3 weeks including weekends of hard work in November doing this job. Even if she hasn't decided to scrap the project, she's ignoring me totally. She has also changed all the ftp passwords to her website which I designed and maintain for her. So she has blocked me out of her website for some strange reason.
Is the next step a legal letter? I don't have a lawyer. Or should I just keep on trying to get in touch with her. Any suggestions, please.