"She’s got nothing to say / She’s got bills to pay / She’s got no one to hate / Except for me" Seether

As if there hasn't been enough to post about unpaid bills lately...
http://tftcf.blogspot.com/2005/08/trouble-in-paradise.html
http://tftcf.blogspot.com/2005/12/got-everything-in-my-mama-name-but-im.html

The company uses a lot of freelancers to put together the catalog -- copywriters, designers, photogs, etc. Well, our in-house designer, Karen, has been taking a lot of angry calls lately from freelancers who are owed a lot of money. As in, most around $2k and one guy is due $18k. I don't know if you've ever freelanced before, but if you're living on freelancing income, and some lame-duck client owes you more than $500, it's a big deal.

So last week, Karen asks her boss, Rochelle, what the deal is and Rochelle tells her to sit tight, she's on the case. Friday rolls around and still no answer so Karen asks again. Rochelle talks to some of the higher-ups and comes back and tells Karen that there will be checks that day. So Karen is sated (her husband is one of the freelancers) and she shares the news with Viki, the freelancer who cames in once in a while to work on site, and who was there Friday. The end of the day comes, and still no checks. Karen asks Rochelle again, and after checking with those above, Rochelle tells her the checks were mailed.

Mailed.

Even-though-Karen-and-Vicki-are-in-the-building-and-could-take-them-directly.

That sound shady to anyone else? Long-story-short, it's Wednesday, and no checks have been received. Vicki is supposed to work on-site again tomorrow, but I think it's a safe bet that if she does come in, she's not going to be alone, and she's not going to plan to stay and work.

Did I mention Vicki is an ex-drag racer with an oversized mechanic husband with oversized mechanic friends?

I'm taking in extra popcorn tomorrow.