Open a dispute over unpaid Invoice with Contract

[hudsongirl]

a few weeks ago I was commissioned to do an art piece for $70. As an insurance for myself and the buyer, I work by half payment on the commission date, and the last half upon completion. I was paid my first half through PayPal, but now he has left me $35 short. I have a signed contract with the person in question, and I have sent him an invoice. It has been three weeks since completion of the work. 

How can I open a dispute? If i cannot, can I lodge a complaint against him with PayPal? 

[DPCreations · Accepted solution]

No dispute with PayPal for funds not received.  This is a private contract issue and needs to be pursued through private legal methods to enforce payment.

If you didn't ship yet, there is no dispute for seller.

If already shipped, still no dispute for for seller.

[hudsongirl]

Fair point. As an error on my part, I sent him the final commissioned drawing before asking for my second half of payment. We had had good contact and easy cooperation between us beforehand.

Thank you for your help. 

[lancelotme]

You can take him to small claims court,if feasible.

Not sure where you are,but in some states,first you must pursue the issue by sending him a letter certified mail,then file a case in small claims court.

Court will ask both parties to work it out via mediation,if that fails,then appear before the judge and let him decide.

You may win the case,but collecting the money is still your responsibility,you can slap a lien on his house,you can hire a sheriff to seize enough merchandise (if he has a shop) and auction them off to raise cash.

all these will cost you extra money-hiring a sherriff to seize his merchandise and hiring an auctioneer to auction off these merchandise.

Not sure if this works,if you have mailed him the item via USPS,file claim with USPS and the local police where he resides. 

[lancelotme]

Not much you can do,just do not ship the item.

At least you have half the payment and the item.

You may not want to spend the moNEY as he can file item not received