I understand - and to some degree agree - with both responses.  In my defense, this client has sent one check and I am hoping for another.  We stopped working for them a while ago.  I am still trying to appeal to their humanity and sense of fairness ... assuming there is any .

Additionally, when dealing with a few hundred dollars I try not to get upset.  Sure the client is wrong and being a jerk, but I'm gonna try to keep my cool about it and not let it ruin my day.  Although not a religious sort, I do believe that unethical behavior has it's own special punishment ... maybe Karmic.

My philosophy has always been to 'kill them with kindness' in order to highlight their bad behavior.  We all know that going to court over a few hundred bucks is not profitable and would do more harm than good.  We have gone to court in the past and persued small amounts out of spite in order to 'Teach them a lesson' and the result has always been the same,  no money and lots of aggravation.

What I think is not mentioned enough is that the vast majority of clients (ours at least) are honest, fair and kind - good people.  As difficult as it is sometimes, I try to focus on them and just let the bad ones go ... hopefully after they have paid us.