Not With A Very Long Bargepole!
Current Mood: Evil 👿
A decidedly ‘ex’ client of mine decided to get in touch with me, out of the blue, this morning.
I have no idea which planet this person is currently occupying but it’s not this one!
They didn’t even realise that their ‘site’ was no longer available despite the fact that the hosting account and domain name lapsed in February! They claim to have not received any calls or emails – despite the fact that I have sent letters and invoices to their home address – including a letter warning of the imminent lapse of the domain and hosting in March. I’ve also sent out numerous reminders and at least one stiff collection letter (again to their home address) for training fees that have been outstanding since January of this year.
The hosting company even tried contacting this person by phone but the recipient claims they never received any telephone messages, emails or saw any letters!
The excuse given was that they were away for ‘a few months’ recently. I was trying to contact them between January and July. How long is ‘a few months’, for pete’s sake? And who leaves their business completely unattended for almost 9 months – including not paying bills or invoices?
Added to which I saw them working in their shop (I live close by) about 6-8 weeks ago…
I have had terrible problems with this person over the past 2.5 years. I’ve had to chase up pretty much any payment owing with multiple reminders and collection letters – all were, apparently ‘never received’. The most basic organisational skills seem to be completely missing and, quite frankly, running an online shop is out of the question as they cannot, as yet, even handle email!
How the high street retail business survives is completely beyond me! This person doesn’t know how much they paid me or what it was for!
I’ve done my best to support this person for over two years. I’ve repeatedly explained how domain name registration and hosting works but it goes in one ear and out the other because they won’t stop and listen. I’ve prepared, and given out, factsheets in the hopes that the printed word will have a greater effect but I suspect those documents are languishing on a shelf somewhere – unread.
I’ve suggested that either employing an assistant with at least some IT ability or learning how to use a computer before taking on a e-shop would be a Good Idea ™ but to no avail. Not a word I’ve said has been listened to. When problems have occurred in the past, I’ve offered to sort things out, at very reduced rates, because I’ve felt sorry for the client. These offers have always been refused because, ultimately, this person doesn’t want to actually pay for anything.
This situation has now completely exhausted my sympathy. I have written off the amount I’m owed as a bad debt and I wouldn’t touch this particular business with a very long barge pole.
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