Have you ever told a client you wouldn't be able to help them? Your gut tells you they will be a potential pain and you don't want to deal with them?
this is a first for me; I told this guy I won't be able to help him and now I'm being hit with a barrage of threats. He's going to sue me for discrimination....
And he's being really nasty about it.
TIA for all of your sage advice.
Dougie
Never say "No": say $20,000, paid in advance.
Yes, yes and yes.
Yes, I have provided an astronomical estimated cost.
Yes, I have, truthfully, told them my schedule will not fit their time line.
Yes, I have flat out told them I will do no work for them as I prefer to work for people who actually pay their bills and pay them promptly.
I have also told people to call certain other firms who perform the kind of work desired far more frequently than I do and, most likely, for a substantially lower overall fee as I will not be as adept as the other firms.
I have told people that I no longer perform that specific category of surveying. And, I don't.
I did twice in the last two weeks. One was going to crash cause I already knew the answer to the job which he didn't want to hear, and the other was told we couldn't start until after February if they want to wait, they don't.
Block him. No need to put up with his crap.
Absolutely. Never try to be everything to everyone, and don't put up with any crap from slow payers. Never listen to the story about all the great projects coming up and they would love for you to be on board for next year. If they can't pay you now you certainly don't want to get in even deeper next year. If a realtor calls asking about prices tell them to have the client call you directly. And if you just don't feel like doing a survey, then don't. Listen to the aoogah horn and alarm bells - that is the inner voice of experience telling you to be careful.
I had a customer referred by a local well known attorney I worked with. Did the work had drawings ready for court, and we could not get paid. Attorney wanted the drawings and was getting nasty, threating with "you don't want people to know you hold up jobs" etc etc.
Well I held tight, got paid, delivered drawings for court.
Found out 3 months later the client left the attorney holding the bag for like $6K. What poetic justice !
Can't say it's happened to me. But, if I was threatened with court I'm calling my attorney. Every now and then they are needed. This would be one of those times. I've worked with attorneys for many years, you get a feel of what kind each one is, I'd be calling the scary one for this.
The back story:
I get a text from this guy that wants a boundary survey. I text him my fee, he texts back and says he doesn't want to spend that much. I respond with "good luck"
He sends me an email with a quote from the low-baller and asks if I can match this price. I respond that my fees are not negotiable but it does include the recording fee. (this was my downfall) he emails back that he's decided to go with me (for my fee minus the recording fee). This is when I responded with "Sorry, I'm not going to be able to help you, good luck with what ever you decide to do"
He responded with a barrage of emails I didn't see, because it was 9:30 on Friday night and text messages that I did see. It was very unsettling; threating to sue me for discrimination and saying nasty things about my mother and father (wonder what the judge will say about that) I haven't responded to any of it.
@MightyMoe The scary bulldog attorney will be getting a call in the morning...
Not sure everyone needed to hear this; it was good to get it off my chest...
I truly appreciate all the good people on this board; on this planet. May everyone have a blessed day; I hope I do.
Dougie
That's a crazy potential client. He was clearly making up the low-ball number, no problem there, you stuck to your number. Then he threatens you, my GUESS is that's the same as the made up number, but you never know for sure.
Good Luck with that one!!!!
