How NOT to run a business

[aephi alum]

OK so I have to vent. I have a total @$$hole for a client.

I agreed to do a certain number of hours of work each week for him. We have a signed contract. Last week, he kept me late a couple of days, so I went an hour over the time we'd agreed to. He verbally agreed to this at the time. So I billed him for it. So now he's pissed that I billed him for it. Apparently he thinks I should be working for free.

After he chewed me out he had to make a phone call. I was really annoyed, so I stepped out and called my husband on my cell and got him to calm me down and talk me out of telling him where he could stick his contract. So I came back in and there he is screaming at me for making a phone call on company time!

He ALSO threatened to give me no additional work (the contract is up at the end of the month) and to badmouth me to all companies in the area.

He is so f*cking unprofessional that it boggles the mind.

OK, </vent>

:: pours herself a large martini ::

[Peaches-n-Cream]

Enjoy your martini. Sorry he was such a creep!

My dad has dealt with people like this before because he owns his own business. I know it is frustrating. What my dad did was if and when the "client" spoke with anyone my dad did business with and my dad found out was that my dad just called up the business in which he was bad mouthed and explained the situation. Most people know my dad and knew what he was saying was true.

[aephi alum]

Well, my contract is offically dissolved as of 6:30 this evening.

He accused me of stepping out frequently to make cell phone calls. (a) This is untrue, I stepped out once and only once, yesterday, and I have the cell phone bills to prove that I did not make calls on his time. (b) If I'd wanted to, I could have made calls on his dime. The phone system in Connecticut (SNET) is a little weird in that if you are calling beyond the next town, it is considered long distance. But with my cell plan, I have a fair number of minutes, and long distance is included.

Grrr....

Oh I am so sorry to hear that this client was acting like a jerkwad. Just remember you are the better person!

[CatStarESP4]

This guy is a total idiot! If he kept you beyond the certain number of hours that was agreed upon, he should have paid you without a whimper or a whine. Another thing, to accuse you of making phone calls on company time, that is absurd. You called your DH (Dear Hubby) from your cell, right? I don't think that is within the jurisdiction of the boss.

[Peaches-n-Cream]

Sorry about what happened.

[SigEp_Stud]

You should check with a lawyer about the way he dissolved the contract, screamed at you, and threatened you.

Legal advice never hurts

[bethany1982]

What clause in the contract did you supposedly violate? In the long run, do you really want to work for a guy like this?

[Lady Pi Phi]

Well it seems to me that if you made this phone call after you worked the agreed amount of hours, you were on YOUR time, which means you can do whatever you want. If he wanted you to continue working after those hours then he should have payed you over time or kept his mouth shut and let you go home.

If it is something that is important to you, I would seek some legal advice. It sounds like this guy's in viloation of the contract.

[aephi alum]

Thanks all

He accused me of "repeatedly" stepping out and making cell phone calls and billing the time back to him, and of going over the agreed-upon number of hours (which I did on occasion, but only at his request). He literally watched my time in five-minute increments.

Meantime, he breached the contract by repeatedly paying me late. He never once paid me on time. Though usually he paid me within a week of the due date, so I didn't make a big deal out of it.

Well, I'm better off I've got some plans to start up my own business, and in the meantime, I still have some unemployment benefits coming to me. I've also got a call in to my lawyer - we'll see if anything comes of that.

Moving forward...