Any freelancer can tell you that client nonpayment is a major issue—a 2015 Freelancers Union survey found that 71% of freelancers struggled to collect payment from a client at least once. That’s why we organized freelancers throughout New York City to pass the landmark Freelance Isn’t Free law last year. And a new report from the NYC Department of Consumer Affairs shows that activism is making a huge difference for freelancers.

The Freelance Isn’t Free law has proven incredibly effective for freelancers who use it to exercise their rights: 61% of freelancers who filed a complaint were paid within 90 days, recovering an average of $2,039 per successful claim without hiring an attorney or going to court. In total, freelancers recovered $254,866—and, since the law wasn’t retroactive, those successes are just from past due invoices issued after May 15, 2017.

The Freelance Isn’t Free law only works for freelancers who use it—and the NYC DCA estimates only 1 out of every 500 eligible freelancers used its protection last year. So join us in spreading the word to other freelancers about Freelance Isn’t Free!

• Access our step-by-step guide to getting paid and protect yourself from client nonpayment.
• If you need to, file a nonpayment claim with the DCA.
• If you live outside New York, download our organizer’s toolkit and demand similar legislation in your city.

Freelance Isn’t Free is just the beginning. We fought hard for this law—let’s use it to hold clients accountable.

You don’t have to settle for nonpayment.