> Fuck freelancing.

Nothing wrong with freelancing. Just something wrong with the way you're doing it. Screen your clients.

> 6 months ago I was hired to build a guy a website for his wifes chain of dentists offices.

You either did the job or you didn't. If you did the job, the work is good, and they're using your work ... well, then you can nail them pretty good. Especially since they have physical assets.

He "decided to have GoDaddy" build the site, after I built it in wordpress. They arent using it. He actually logged in to HostGator and deleted the fucking wordpress instance. (FWIW, I actually do really great work- Not like I did a shitty job- The guy is just a fucking idiot. Cant fix that.)

While you may be fine in this case, be careful with that sort of action. When in dispute with a client, even a deadbeat, you have to be really careful what actions you take. Their failure to pay may well be a breach of contract, but under the law your right to pursue that is in court, not by throwing a brick through their window or interfering with their business.

You cannot cause harm to someone because they stole from you by not paying you. That is not proper, legal recourse.

I have been in the situation where I decided the most prudent action was to "shake the dust off [my] feet" and learn to screen engagements better.

I think you may be confused - I read that as the client deleted the wordpress instance, not the contractor.

On second reading, you are right! I did misread that. Sorry, piratebroadcast for reading into your statement something that you did not do.

but of course they can cause harm to you...

> The guy is just a fucking idiot. Cant fix that.

Well, who's the idiot? The idiot or the one who took him on as a client?

Again, screen. Don't blame the client. Blame yourself for taking him on as a client and then do a better job of screening. This will come with experience.

Try to move up market if you can. That sort of really low behavior seems to go away as the budgets increase on projects. There are other challenges of course that come with bigger deals.

So much easier said than done.

Sue him in small claims court. You do have signed contracts right?

I think Ill just eat it and have the fucking guy out of my life. He really is a subhuman piece of shit. He knows he fucked me and got away with it. I really need/needed that money at the time. My mother is sick, etc. Client is a real garbage human being.