Hey HN,

I’m based in Texas and am working with a consulting platform (that I otherwise enjoy collaborating with). They’re based in the UK with an office in Barcelona, and the work itself has been great. However, I’ve run into an issue regarding payment processing.

Here’s the situation: I signed on to provide consulting services, and the payment terms weren’t fully clear upfront. Now that payment is due, I’ve been informed that I must use Tipalti, a third-party payment platform, to receive my payment. The issue is that Tipalti wasn’t mentioned as a required platform when I took on the work, and I wasn’t fully aware of its terms. Now they are insisting that I use it, and I’m uncomfortable with their terms, which may involve selling my data.

I expressed my concerns, and as a response, the company offered me gift certificates as a workaround to avoid using Tipalti. While I appreciate the gesture, it still feels like an inadequate solution. It seems insulting and a bit dismissive of my genuine concern over privacy and payment methods.

I’d love to hear thoughts on a few things: 1. Mandating Payment Platforms: Is it legal for a company to require a third-party payment platform (like Tipalti) after an agreement has been made? They didn’t specify Tipalti upfront, and now I feel like I’m being forced to accept it. 2. Privacy Concerns: Tipalti’s terms seem to include provisions around selling data (which makes me uncomfortable). How should I approach this from a legal perspective? 3. Gift Certificates as a Payment Workaround: The company has offered gift certificates as a temporary solution, but it still doesn’t feel like a fair or permanent resolution to the issue. Should I just accept the gift certificates, or is this potentially a sign of the company trying to sidestep the core issue of payment and privacy concerns?

Any advice or thoughts on how to approach this while also maintaining a good working relationship with the company would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!