The best thing to do is pay after the work is done. That's why I normally don't ask for payment of Services until after the job is done ;)

do your deals over paypal... ask the coder to invoice you but pay only when satisfied, even if the job is not finished... paypal invoices are protecting the coder and the client, because you can ask for a dispute if things go wrong...

The point is, there shouldn't be a contract needed. This is a community, in a community, people help eachother. Then there are some douchebags like ExtremeTim, or Wannabe coders(AKA 8 year olds not getting enough allowance money)/scammers who ruin a great community. What an +++++++....

hum, a community where everybody help without need of being paid would be the solution, but when there is money, there is scams too...

Even if we arent that definition of a community, people like that should never be allowed back into vbulletin.org.

yup, this is what I do.

Those looking for work just need to do back ground checks on those who they are paying ;)

do your deals over paypal... ask the coder to invoice you but pay only when satisfied, even if the job is not finished... paypal invoices are protecting the coder and the client, because you can ask for a dispute if things go wrong...

WRONG

I paid via paypal. Seeing that Coding is a SERVICE and not a good, paypal automatically denies your claim. Unless you pay afterwards (which most coders will not accept) then you have 0 recourse without the criminal system that will cost you 20x as much as you are out.

Request them to send a copy of the files via disc. :)

Coding is a service... delivering files for your style, like the style.xml or the directory containing your images, IS a GOOD...if the description of the invoice is not indicating the delivery of files, ask your coder to indicate it clearly in an edited invoice or you don't pay for it... that is clear and secure.

the only way to be protected is to protect yourself of all the manipulations a coder can do...

Those wannabe coders might turn out to be great coders some day... Cut them some slack (I think that's how the expression goes)