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<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=109282321-14042006><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>That's the nature of consulting - you have to balance
demonstrating competency with solving the problem before being paid. We've
had many similar experiences, and we now require prepayment for 2 hrs service
before we do any work (or even talk to the client for more than a
few minutes). (Despite attempts by potential clients to
make the sales call into a problem solving call). We have undoubtedly lost
potential opportunities, but our "walk away with free advice" effort has been
almost eliminated.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=109282321-14042006><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=109282321-14042006><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>The same goes for proposals. I can't count the number
of times our proposals have become a do-it-yourselfer's guide to setting things
up by themselves. I think it's great if customers want to do it
themselves, but don't waste our time!</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=109282321-14042006><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=109282321-14042006><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>I understand of course that it's tough for users too.
There are lots of self proclaimed experts on the list who after hours of
billed time have done nothing for their money (we've cleaned up after lots of
those folks too). These are usually the same people sending out flame
emails about how smart they are and how stupid everyone else
is.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=109282321-14042006><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=109282321-14042006><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2>MD</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=109282321-14042006><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=109282321-14042006><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=109282321-14042006><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV><BR>
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=en-us dir=ltr align=left>
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<FONT face=Tahoma size=2><B>From:</B> asterisk-users-bounces@lists.digium.com
[mailto:asterisk-users-bounces@lists.digium.com] <B>On Behalf Of </B>Voce
Lavoce<BR><B>Sent:</B> Friday, April 14, 2006 5:14 PM<BR><B>To:</B>
asterisk-users@lists.digium.com<BR><B>Subject:</B> [Asterisk-Users] My
consulting story<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>Hi everybody,<BR><BR>I would like to be awareabout what
happened to me.<BR>Two weeks ago, on a Sunday morning a French guy called me.
Ask me to fix some problems with his asterisk. After fixing his
problem, he asked more and more, after 10 hours of work I ask him to pay
me for the first milestone. However, lucky me that I did not finish, since he
never paid me. <BR>Be afraid and take your action if some french guy wants to
hire you to do some trunking with the Philippines.<BR><BR><BR>Hope, that
this can help someone.<BR><BR>See you </BODY></HTML>