getting paid...help

>-----Original Message-----
>.. I know the biggist mistake I made, and that was not
>having a document for them to sign. Their offices were on
>a lower floor, and moving to upper floor. I moved tele
>lines in telco, Dsl Co. said they would need to issue new
>static IP's. I wired cat5 to all the offices for data
>with wall plates, structured media case, mounted Cayman
>modem/router, firewall router Sonicwall, assemb.
>computers. Monday (move in day) the dsl SBC said they had
>no knowledge of this account! After half the day fixing
>trouble with SBC's account, previous person did not write
>down the password and Cayman dsl modem/router did not
>have a reset switch. I went home (less than 1mile) and
>got the neccessary serial cable to reset router. Modem
>can be config with new ips ect..they get online, but
>can't see comp.in LA and can't get on line through
>Sonicwall.
>The offices in SD have to see computers in LA, which also
>have a sonicwall/firewall/router on the other end.
>They don't have the password, so after at least a day
>(Tuesday) trying all kinds of settings & failing, we
>reset device on Wed. I am not familiar with Cayman or
>Sonicwall devices, so I basically was LA's hands.
>Charged $50.00 an hour which they agreed.
>They don't want to pay the last check, all the patch
>cables in the media case and at comps. or the trblshtng.
>Mon-Thurs. Call back in a couple of hours, put all
>jumpers back on modem for internet access then call back
>switch back to Sonicwall then back to Cayman modem.
>Thurs, is when they finally figured out need timbuctwo
>(SP) software to see comp and share...ect in La's
>network.
>They said at first it was my fault, then said that I went
>over my estimate which was faxed & didn't say anything
>about helping out every day to get their comp. online and
>networked.
>Any good worded advice or suggestions for me, I
>appologize for not proof reading I am in a hurry.
>
>.
>

First question...Why did they need new static IPs just
because they were changing floors? I would have fought
that. With that said, the problems come from
that...redoing the settings in the router and firewall.
That was not in your estimate because your estimate was
just for moving things around. I would make sure they know
this was an unforeseen complication due to a combination
of the ISP wanting to change the static IPs and them not
having the password for the router. Of course that all
depends on when you submitted the bid, did you know that
they would need new static IPs at that point? If so, you
should have known that the router would need to be
reconfigured and the firewall policies be redone. Even
still, your estimate is just that, an estimate that was
submitted in good faith and accepted on their part.