Freelance Contract Dispute — contract has unconscionable terms

I'm dealing with a situation and need some guidance.

contract has unconscionable terms. I've been dealing with this for about 7 months now and the situation isn't improving.

The contract was signed 23 months ago. I have a copy of the original agreement. The total amount in dispute is approximately $39,000.

Should I hire a lawyer for this or try to handle it myself?

NAL, but from what I've read, you should check your state's specific laws. That said, definitely get a lawyer to look at the specifics.

I went through almost the exact same thing.

In my case, it took about 1-3 months to resolve. The key was escalating to a supervisor/manager.

I had a similar issue and ended up consulting with an attorney. It was worth the $200-300 for the initial consultation just to understand my rights.

I've dealt with this before.

What worked for me was hiring an attorney to send the initial letter. It took 2-4 months but was worth it.

Following this thread — I'm in a very similar situation. Would love to hear how it turns out.

I had a similar issue and ended up consulting with an attorney. It was worth the $200-300 for the initial consultation just to understand my rights.

I've dealt with this before.

The biggest mistake people make in this situation is escalating to a supervisor/manager. I'd recommend following the formal complaint procedure instead.

I've handled similar cases. Here's my take on the legal issues.

There are several legal theories that could apply here. The strongest is probably UCC Article 2, which requires showing a material breach.

The practical consideration here is cost vs. potential recovery. For disputes under $10K, small claims court is often the best route.

I've seen this play out several times in my field.

The biggest mistake people make in this situation is hiring an attorney to send the initial letter. I'd recommend being patient with the process instead.

Not a lawyer, but I have direct experience with this.

I ended up having everything documented, which cost about $3-6 but saved me a lot more in the long run.

NAL, but from what I've read, you should document everything. That said, definitely get a lawyer to look at the specifics.

I've seen this play out several times in my field.

What worked for me was escalating to a supervisor/manager. It took 1-3 months but was worth it.

I've dealt with this before.

What worked for me was filing with the appropriate government agency. It took 4-8 months but was worth it.

Just want to point out — the statute of limitations might be a factor here. In some states it's as short as 1-2 years. Don't sit on this too long.

Have you tried reaching out to your state's labor board? They sometimes have free resources or mediation services.

I work in this industry and unfortunately this is very common. The good news is that when people actually push back with legal representation, companies usually settle.