I recently did a job where I had to write a poem for a guy which entailed me doing it like a rhyme. It took me a few days but I think the end result was good. He didn't like it and in turn I sent him 3 poems that were completed and all different only for him to turn around and say that he did not like any of them. He cancelled the job and got away with 3 poems for free as I never took a deposit. Here is a lesson for those who are writing; take  deposit before you do the job and send your work as you never know what will happen and you might not get paid for all the hours you have put in.

It is awful when people steal from you! I always ask for payment upfront and won't begin the job without payment. I think there are many who say they don't like your work, but actually use what you have shown them. Where do you pick up most of your jobs?

If he's used them anywhere send DMCA complaints into his host and to him as well, and seek legal council if you want to pursue it. You have a right to your work after all.

That's good advice, because this person deserves to be punished for promising a payment and not delivering it, but stealing the work he didn't pay for is even worse.

If he didn't, though, and depending on how you two established the terms of your business, it may be very difficult to prove that he owes you. Did you sign a contract? Were you hired via a freelancing website or something of that kind? Every one of those sites has its own rules about when the client has the obligation to pay and whether just cancelling without payment is allowed. I am not a lawyer, and I'd advice you to ask one, but sadly, I suspect the amount involved wouldn't justify any legal expenses.

That's if the person didn't actually use your work. If he did, you should be taking screenshots / bookmarking archive.org versions of those pages / photocopying prints / archiving emails / etc. as soon as you can. And then talk to a lawyer.

It is sad and if only we could do something about it but proof is what I need to show that he used my works and this is hard to get.