Joyce,  Did you have any agreement with them about

length for payment?   If not, I guess they have the "freedom"

to string you along 6 months to a year without any complaint

on your part being valid.  Perhaps that is the "problem" in this

industry, abstractors are just willing to take what the company

will dribble out to them, without having a valid and binding

agreement going in regarding the work and pay terms.

It is much better to solve the problem up front, then less

disputes would be posted on this forum.  But, you know

many of the abstractor don't seem to have any business

sense, and only want to complain after the fact.