I spent almost a work-week on a complicated private house project. The family was under much pressure and they phoned me every two-three hours begging to complete the design, then they went crying to the City Engineer's office to beg for his immediate signature. I suspect the Municipality delayed the approval to show that they are inflexible under pressure. Today I called to collect my fees and was informed that the Client had jumped from the eleventh floor and today is his burial. He had some incurable form of cancer. I was paid the retainer and suspect that will be all. They owe me some 800 dollars. It is not worth my time and effort to try to collect with the help of a lawyer.
7 comments:
The clients who are most demanding are the ones who are least likely to pay. From such people, always get paid up front.
After a respectful period of mourning (a month), contact the family and ask to be paid.
K
If I am soft like that I'll never see a shekel. The chances of collecting decrease exponentially with the hours. I'll go and threaten a scandal in the shivah.
That's business. If you get hysterical at his wake, you'll never hear the end of it.
Ivan
Forgive and forget. You will be rewarded in another way.
Anon.
I'll follow your advise out of laziness. Who will reward me?
Koko. She is on the way with an emergency supply of muffins, doughnuts, cream cake and vodka.
Hang in there.
Anon.
That will be a wild weekend.
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