News in of a company for freelancers to be very wary of: one which goes by the name of Cowshed Collective, run by “co-founder and CEO” George Cowin.

It seems there is not much collective spirit in evidence at the moment because the company is failing to pay freelancers for recent work they have done. Invoices are being left unpaid, enquiries unanswered and the company is displaying all the signs of one which is teetering on the edge of an uncertain future.

When asked whether he would contact freelancers and assure them that their invoices would be paid (and when), Cowin showed a marked and disturbing lack of interest, failing to answer those requests as well.

The company claims it is dedicated to “delivering content that builds communities, drives culture and challenges tradition”. It seems there is not much in the way of building going on when it leaves its freelancers wondering how they are going to pay their rent/mortgages/food bills. A bit more traditional hand-in-pocket-pay-what-you-owe behaviour would be way more welcome than fancy slogans and meaningless claims about “shaping trends”.

Freelancers are being advised to take court claims for what they are owed. Meanwhile Cowshed Collective: Freelancers Beware!