The Payment Procedure should be clearly spelled out in your Independent Contractor's Agreement; not invented on the fly.
I'd wonder why they didn't collect the full year's premium prior to 6/30/10, BEFORE the Policy commencement date. They appear to be a mite tardy now.
Once they have it, you'll probably not have much of a chance of getting it back; but it sounds like you're the one holding the money, and owing for the 7/1/10 thru 8/18/10 period.
These are desperate times, and people are starting to do desperate things.
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Dale C. Hittle of GOLDEN RULE PROPERTIES in Glover, Vermont
Where We're Always Striving To Put Together "THE FAIR DEAL"