I've been searching the forum for about half an hour, but couldn't seem to find a topic that suits me.
I'm a flash freelancer, active in the past mostly in Belgium, but recently relocated to the UK. Currently, I'm doing a lot of work outside of my normal online work, to create kiosk type applications for use in museums etc.
Now, first a little background: One of the partners I'm working with (I focus on coding mostly) wants to integrate a killswitch into one of our applications (we haven't resorted to this in the past). Reason being, we are worried about payment regarding this particular client, who is based abroad. Generally, the problem is not non-payment, but rather they seem to always pay late. We have discussed late payments on numerous occasions, but it seems it is just part of the culture (not a part we are willing to accept however :)). (FYI, a killswitch is not something I particularly approve of, and although it might force payment, it definitely doesn't create a happy relationship with any of our customers, once this becomes standard practise).
Some further facts:
The killswitch's effect would be: force-shutdown the computers that are dedicated to our application every 10 minutes (we deliver these machines as part of the project).
We would hardcode a shutdown date (2 months after final invoice is due)
We would be able to remotely disable the killswitch, should payment not be a problem
We are communicating to the customer, exactly what we are doing (although obviously not how we are achieving this technically).
Now, for my question: Is integrating this sort of killswitch and/or executing it, incase the customer doesnt pay unlawful or illegal? I know this has gotten some company's into trouble in Belgium, and the United States, but I'm wondering whether anything has been decided on this in the UK.
