Failure to Pay for Services Rendered to an International Client

[JimmyRHC]

Hello All,

I am a small dance studio owner from California and this is my first time posting in your forums. Please excuse me if I miss the proper formatting here.

Last year (December 2010) I received a request from a pop artist in Sweden (American expatriate) for choreography to a song of his. The agreement between myself and his management was that one of my instructors would provide choreography in video format, with half of the payment made upfront ($500) and the second half upon receipt of the video ($500).

The first half of the payment was successfully received in a timely manner and preceded by a receipt from his bank confirming that the transaction went through.
After completion of the project I received a second receipt from his bank (supposedly) confirming that the transaction went through. I actually did not receive the payment to my bank, and after their (the management's) failure to return my correspondence regarding the matter I contacted an English speaking rep from their bank.

I was informed that the supposed receipt actually stated (in Swedish) that the transaction did not go through for unknown reasons.

The artist and management was completely satisfied with the service rendered but will not help in resolving the matter of non-payment to date (due January 2011).

$500 is a substantial amount to me, but my impression is that it would be very expensive to hire a legal professional to resolve the matter.

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thank you in advance.

[Mr. Knowitall]

So your entire business transaction with this person has occurred with you in the U.S. and him in Sweden?

Realistically speaking, unless he comes to California and you can serve him with a small claims case, it's difficult to imagine a means to compel payment that's not likely to cost substantially more than he owes.