Updated content at the end. Originally published July 23, 2023.
My Personal Experience Working with Ssun Health, Led by Eric Nuss
I didn’t plan on writing this post. But after everything that happened, I decided it was worth putting it out there, especially for other freelancers and small business owners who might find themselves in a similar situation.
This post is about my direct experience working with Ssun Health, a company led by Eric Nuss. It’s based on work I performed, invoices I issued, and records I retained in the normal course of business.
I’m not sharing this as legal advice or as an accusation of wrongdoing beyond my own engagement. I’m sharing it because unpaid work is a problem, and pretending it doesn’t happen doesn’t help anyone.
How The Work Began
My professional relationship with Ssun Health, led at the time by Eric Nuss, started as many client engagements do.
There was a defined scope of work. There were agreed-upon terms. I provided web and design services as requested, and invoices were issued in accordance with those terms.
Initially, communication with the staff was responsive, and the relationship appeared functional.
When Payment Stopped
Over time, invoices went unpaid.
Follow-ups were sent. Payment timelines were discussed. Despite this, payment was not received within the agreed-upon terms.
At the same time, I continued receiving requests for additional work. In my experience, this is where things become dangerous for small businesses: work continues, invoices pile up, and payment remains unresolved.
This post reflects what I experienced: work was completed, invoices were issued, and payment was not made as agreed.
Communication Broke Down
As time went on, communication became inconsistent. Responses slowed. Payment assurances changed. Meanwhile, the outstanding balance remained unpaid.
I’m not speculating about motives or intent. I’m describing what occurred during my engagement.
At a certain point, there’s no ambiguity left. Unpaid invoices are unpaid invoices.
Attempts to Resolve the Situation
Before escalating or disengaging, I made multiple good-faith attempts to resolve the issue, including:
- sending written reminders regarding outstanding balances,
- requesting clarity on payment timing, and
- pausing work until invoices were addressed.
Despite these efforts, the invoices remained unpaid. I sent demand letters and eventually referred the outstanding balance to a collections agency. The agency was unable to recover the balance, and the matter was closed by the agency.
The Lesson I Learned (The Hard Way)
Here’s the part I wish I’d taken seriously sooner:
If a client stops paying, the work stops. Immediately.
It doesn’t matter who the client is.
It doesn’t matter how urgent the project feels.
It doesn’t matter how many times you’re told “payment is coming.”
If you continue working without being paid, you’re absorbing all the risk, and that’s not sustainable.
That mistake is on me. I won’t repeat it.
Broader Context
After my own experience, I later became aware of public reporting and legal filings involving Eric Nuss and Ssun Health that suggested others had encountered financial and operational disputes as well.
That information is documented elsewhere and based on publicly available sources. I’m not attempting to summarize or restate it here.
This post is about my experience working with the team at Ssun Health, led by Eric Nuss, nothing more, nothing less.
What I’d Do Differently Now
If I were in the same position today:
- Work would stop after the first missed invoice
- Contract terms would be enforced without exception
- No additional work would proceed without payment
Experience is a powerful teacher, but it’s often expensive.
Why I’m Sharing This
I’m sharing this because freelancers and small business owners need to hear it plainly:
You are allowed to enforce your contracts.
You are allowed to stop working when invoices go unpaid.
You are allowed to expect to be paid for your work.
Professionalism does not mean tolerating nonpayment.
Final Thought
This post reflects my personal experience, supported by business records created at the time of the engagement. Others may have had different experiences. Readers should conduct their own due diligence.
But the lesson stands:
Fuck you. Pay me.
An Update: The Investigation into Eric Nuss and Ssun Health
It has been more than two years since this post was originally published. During that time, Denver7 has reported on investigations and legal matters involving Eric Nuss and Ssun Health, based on publicly available information.
Through that reporting, it has become clear that my approximately $3,000 unpaid balance represents a relatively small amount compared to the financial disputes described by others in public records and news coverage.
While I still have not been paid and do not expect that to change, the existence of investigative reporting has provided additional public context around the business practices involved.
My purpose in sharing this experience is not to make accusations beyond my own engagement, but to encourage other freelancers and small business owners to conduct careful due diligence, enforce contracts, and protect their businesses when entering into professional relationships.
Eric Nuss and XpoDental
According to publicly available records, Eric Nuss has since announced a role as a Strategic Advisor with XpoDental LLC, a separate company that I have never worked with and am not affiliated with. This reference is included solely for context. Readers are encouraged to review publicly available information and draw their own conclusions.
