Signed the SOW without reading the MSA — a developer case study
Fictionalized composite from common freelancer stories.
Alex, backend in Almaty, took an 8-week SOW — $12k fixed. Client said MSA “already signed by procurement” — just sign SOW. Alex skimmed SOW only.
In the MSA he never opened
- Payment upon acceptance — 6 weeks of “testing”
- Work for hire on code including a reusable auth module
- Uncapped indemnity — UI font claim → legal invoice to Alex
- Changes only in writing — but PM added scope in Slack
Outcome
Partial pay after 4 months. Swallowed $3k legal exposure. Rewrote auth module — 3 weeks lost.
Lessons
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| “MSA already signed” | Get your own PDF copy |
| Short SOW feels safe | MSA still controls |
| Slack scope | Written change orders |
| Fixed, no acceptance deadline | Deemed acceptance 10 days |
20 minutes: download MSA + SOW → Contractoor both → email client before kickoff.
Informational only, not legal advice. Not a court case.