[Asterisk-biz] A question about ethics, I suppose

[Robert Wolpov]

As a former PriceWaterhouseCoopers management consultant, I learned never to 
do consulting work without a complete understanding of the payment terms 
between you and the client.

I think it is ok if you inform the board of the client so anyone proposing 
on work for this client can be informed of what may occur.  However, I will 
say that it sounds like you had nothing in writing requiring the client pay 
to you and you informed him after the fact that he needed to pay. 
Therefore, if you are informing the board of the name of the client, I would 
make the situation clear.  Was there a formal obligation that the client did 
not meet?  If not, it is hard to say the client was anything more than 
difficult to do business with.

Unfortunately (for hourly based consultants) 9 out of 10 clients will ask 
for more than they want to pay!  This is why you need formal payment terms 
before the work is done!

Good luck.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Alan Smith" <didyou.rtfm at gmail.com>
To: <asterisk-biz at lists.digium.com>
Sent: Sunday, May 22, 2005 8:39 AM
Subject: [Asterisk-biz] A question about ethics, I suppose


> Hello,
>
> I'm wondering if some people on the list can give their opinion on a
> business-related matter I'm facing.
>
> We were previously approached by someone wanting to help us fix up
> their Asterisk installation. Subsequently, we did a couple more jobs
> for them, all the while somewhat undercharging them for the work --
> often times throwing in an hour or so worth of time free on top of
> what was agreed. The client would also call me once in a while, and I
> accommodated by answering their mostly technical and Asterisk-related
> questions, sometimes calling them back on my personal cell phone. I
> suppose I subscribe to the "above and beyond the call of duty" line of
> thinking..
>
> However, on the last occasion, the job required a couple of additional
> hours above what I had quoted the client for. While performing the
> work, I informed the client of this matter, and he was agreeable when
> I said I would have to charge him extra. I thought this was
> reasonable, and explained to him about the "freebies" I had given
> prior, and that in the long run things evened out.
>
> It has been about two months since I sent that invoice. I have a
> feeling this client may end up not paying me at all. But what bothers
> me is the same client is currently posting on the Asterisk Users list
> asking for consultants to work on another job.
>
> So the question is this: would it be ethical to reply to the client's
> posting, and use this public forum to warn others of the risk of doing
> business with the client? Would it be construed as slander? I'm just
> concerned that he might rip other people off, and would just like to
> warn others.
>
> Thanks for taking some time to read my email.
>
> A. Smith
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