Ungrateful gits

A couple of weeks ago, I did a corporate writing job for a mid-sized company. It was a lot of work. Of the tearing-your-hair-out variety. And it also entailed hours on the internet researching stuff that did not want to be found and required me to hire someone to help out with the googling.

I sent the job back within the deadline, clearly indicating it was for a first draft and requesting feedback. I was met with a resounding silence. Several days passed and I heard nothing. I emailed again to check the company had actually received the file. Still nothing. I rang. The client was unavailable, but the secretary confirmed the file had arrived safely.

- Sod it, I thought and raised an invoice.

A cheque for the job arrived today with an almost blank cover letter saying please find payment for my invoice. That was it. No thanks for doing the job. Just nothing. I hate clients like that. They want everything and give nothing, not even a thank you, in return. Is it really so difficult to drum up some good manners?