Anatomy of a Time-Waster: A Case Study in Moving Goalposts

Hello, mga ka-dev at kapwa freelancers!

We often talk about spotting obvious scams—yung mga "too good to be true" offers na madaling i-delete. But what about the ones that seem legitimate at first? Yung mga clients na nag-e-engage, nagtatanong, at parang isang step na lang ay pipirma na ng kontrata.

These are often the most dangerous, not because they will steal your money, but because they will steal your most valuable asset: your time.

Today, I'm sharing a fresh and frustrating experience—a deep dive into a potential client that went from a simple inquiry to a masterclass in red flags. Ito ang kwento kung paano ang isang "simple fix" ay naging isang endless loop of confusion that cost me not just digital time, but a full day of travel and sleep.

Potek, dito na talaga nagsimula 'yung nakaka-frustrate na part. Sabado 'yun, nag-set kami ng in-person meeting sa SM San Lazaro. Isipin mo, galing pa akong SM Fairview, puyat na puyat dahil sa ibang trabaho, pero sinagad ko pa rin. Pitong oras, pare, balikan! Dagdag mo pa 'yung gastos sa pamasahe at pagkain. Lahat 'yon tiniis ko para lang sa dalawang oras na meeting na 'yon para lang maipakita na seryoso ako.

Ang naging usapan naman sa meeting, mukhang okay. Sabi niya, una, i-eexplore ko muna 'yung codebase nila through remote access. Pangalawa, kapag familiar na ako, doon na papasok 'yung pag-fix sa SMTP. At ang deal, bawat "fix" na ipapagawa, doon lang kami gagawa ng kontrata. Fair enough. Nag-schedule pa kami na mag-reremote ako ng Linggo ng gabi para i-explore 'yung codebase. Umuwi akong pagod na pagod at amoy usok, pero kumakapit sa pag-asang may malinaw na usapan. 'Yun pala, simula pa lang 'yun ng mas malaking sakit ng ulo.

Kinagabihan ng Linggo, the frustration continued. Dahil galing pa ako sa labas, I had to ask to adjust our 9pm schedule to 10pm, tapos naipit pa sa traffic kaya naging 11:30pm, hanggang sa umabot na ng hatinggabi. I was exhausted, but I was committed.

Pagdating sa bahay, another problem: 'yung AnyDesk nila, may ads sa end ko. We wasted more time troubleshooting hanggang sa lumipat kami sa TeamViewer. After all the travel, traffic, and technical issues, finally, nakapag-remote din ako.

Once connected, I tried to confirm the plan we agreed on during the in-person meeting: "explore ko lang siya ngayon? then if naexplore ko na. contract tayo then gagawin ko na po yung SMTP". Dito na gumuho ang lahat.

Red Flag #1: The Bait-and-Switch (The "Test" Reveal)
Bigla siyang sumagot: "Ah Hindi Yan Ang concern ko Yan Yung pang test namin. Kasi Ang main concern namin Ang xendit hehe di pala tayo nagka intindihin non." The SMTP fix wasn't the job; it was a "free test." At ang totoong project daw ay Xendit—isang bagay na hindi man lang nabanggit sa meeting. The goalposts had moved.

Red Flag #2: The Backpedal and "Free Consulting" Angle
I stood my ground, explaining that I don't do free work and pointed to my portfolio as proof of my skills. Seeing this, the client backpedaled, "Sige ok na Yan pag usapan nalang natin Ang contract." But he immediately followed up with: "Explorer ka lang Muna para Makita mo at Meron Kang ma suggest kung ano Yun mas ok gamitin." This is the classic "free consulting" pivot, disguised as exploration.

Red Flag #3: The Blatant Contradiction (The Final Straw)
To get things straight, I sent a clear, two-point scope of work for the SMTP fix and my 100% upfront payment term. This was the moment that confirmed everything. The client replied with something unbelievable: "Tapos na namin na gawa ito." (We've already done this.)

Wait, what? The "test" they supposedly set up by "removing the code" was a lie. The very reason for our initial talks was a fabrication. They wanted me to "fix" something that was already working.

After I professionally pointed out the inconsistencies and stated that I was not the right fit, I received one final, confusing message:

"Back up lang Kasi need namin Dito... Ang need lang namin back up lang talaga ...pero anyway pag iisipan mo nalang Muna kung gusto mo mag part-time Samin .salamat"

Here's the screenshot of that final, bewildering exchange:

From a specific fix, to a "test," to a Xendit project, to a "backup" developer for a vague part-time role. It was clear they had no real plan, just a collection of scattered ideas they wanted someone else to figure out for free.

As freelancers, we must learn to recognize the difference between an opportunity and a black hole. I didn't just lose hours online; I lost a full day I can never get back. The 7 hours on the road, the sleepless night, the 2 hours of circular discussion—that was the real price of ignoring the initial red flags.

A legitimate client's path is straightforward. A time-waster’s path is a circle. I saved myself from weeks of future frustration, but the lesson is costly. Qualify your clients thoroughly before you even consider an in-person meeting.

Kaya sa mga kapwa ko freelancers, remember this: A client who does not respect your process will never respect your work, your energy, or your time. Learn to spot the patterns, trust your gut, and never be afraid to walk away.

Saying "no" to a time-waster is one of the most profitable business decisions you can ever make.

Keep building, and always protect your time.