That ain't right. They cannot simply reduce people's pay. Designs are very subjective. One might like and another might dislike. If customer don't like then can design until customer accept. If can simple do like this, if customer don't like, can customer pay your less for the project?

david or others with similar experience should go report these companies with labour office. Let these company/people blacklisted. The reason they can get away with this kind of thing for so long is because nobody reported them.