Unpaid writers/Fraud

[P. Wilfinger]

Several writers and I have had trouble with an online publication. We're owed thousands of dollars in article fees, all of which were supposed to be paid on acceptance. The owner of the magazine has been contacted dozens of times, and seems to be in hiding.

We all want to sue to get our money back, but aren't sure how this will work since we are located in three different countries, and he lives in New York.

Together, we are owed more than $5,000, and have all the documentation to prove it. We are not sure of what avenues we can take. What we don't have is money and information. Several of the writers are on Social Security, and really needed that money to survive.

Suggestions and/or referrals are welcome.

Thank you for your time,
Pamela Wilfinger
Editor of Inscriptions, the weekly e-zine for professional writers http://www.inscriptionsmagazine.com

 

[Wilson]

That is is a problem with doing business on the Net. He's there and you're here. Can you sue him in your local small claims court? It is worth a shot. But each of you has separate claims. And it may not be fraud but just an inability to pay.