Hi

I am a English freelance graphic designer who lives both in the UK and France, I pay UK Tax and NI.
Last year a French person asked me to convert the website he'd designed suitable to make live. I completed the job, made it live he paid me and we were both happy. He then asked me to make further amendments, which I did, I billed him, he said the cost was too high, but after several months paid me. I decided to do no further work for him.
Recently he asked me to remove his site and put in place a holding page and send him all the files used to create the site so that he could make any further amendments. I did this free of charge.
He is now having problems using the files due to incorrect software / lack of knowledge and asked me to go to his house to help him. I told him that I was not prepared to do that.
He is now threatening me with legal action and referring to a contract that doesn't exist.

His email follows:
I have completely understood the aggressive tone of your e mail; I was just asking you to install the soft ware and to put on line the amended pages according to the contract. Clearly you do not wish to finish your work in spite of the sum paid of 3000 euros.


In accordance with French law, which you seem to underestimate, I leave you 48 hours to change your mind and accept my amicable solution, otherwise I will be obliged to commence legal proceedings. In addition, may I remind you that this case will take place in France, in French and that bearing in mind my profession, you will need a French barrister and the cost of the case and the legal advice and any translations will be yours to pay.


You have also kept all the access codes, and bearing in mind the fact that I will lose time for putting the site on line for the second time, I will also claim damages amounting to 3 times the amount of the 2 bills( 3000 EUROS) and 5000 euros for the pretium doloris


I hope that this is completely clear; the French do not bandy words for nothing. Do not think about this for too long as my offer of an amicable solution will only last for 48 hours and afterwards the legal papers will be sent directly to your home address.


Think about this carefully.

Any information / help you can give me would be very much appreciated
Regards Chris