I’ve read quite a few posts about freelancing/contracting and how it’s important to have at least a basic contract in place that outlines how the project is going to go down. And there are many contract templates available online for this purpose.

The advice is always followed by expressions of the importance of getting some sort of advance payment, perhaps 1/2 before, 1/2 at the end, or to bill blocks of days payable in advance.

In some of my experience the client appears to completely turn this on it’s head, supplying their own contract, specifying payment at some future date. And payment contingent on all deliverables being complete.

I’m curious to know from others how typical/atypical this is in their experience, and how to handle such situations?

Has this ever happened to you?
How do you / would you approach such a situation?