How Should I Handle a Client Who Won't Pay After Successful Career Consultancy?

Hi,

I have a problem and I want all of you to provide a solution for this.

I run a consultancy as well; it is actually registered under my father's name. We provide consultancy in the fields of training, competency, career management, etc.

Through this forum, I generally receive emails from almost 6-7 members every day seeking help in various matters, and I do assist them with all their queries.

Recently, I received a similar email from a lady who is also a member from the UAE. She requested my help as she wanted assistance with her complete career development, designing competencies, and securing a job.

I worked with her without any formal agreement, but we did exchange emails where she agreed to pay the fees that I typically charge my clients. Additionally, we offered her a discount as she was a member of this forum. The whole project took almost three weeks to complete, and she was successfully selected for the job. :)

However, it is now October, and she has not paid me for the work done. Although the amount is relatively small, I have refrained from taking any action so far, only sending her reminder emails. But now, I feel the need to address this situation to ensure she understands the importance of fulfilling her financial commitments.

I am disheartened as I helped her based on trust. :(

Please advise on what steps I should take in this situation.

Regards,

Archna

Hi Archana,

Teach her a lesson on how she can behave this way with someone who is a helping hand for her. As I didn't properly understand the situation between you and her, I can't suggest something good. However, if you have any connections within the organization where she works, email her at her official email address and try to inform her coworkers or bosses. If you have her contact number, call her directly.

Regards,
Preeti

Hi Preeti,

I have sent her plenty of emails, but to no avail. She always has a standard answer that she was traveling, so she couldn't send the money. I had her contact number, but a few days back, I lost my cellphone, and with that, all the contact details are now gone.

You can call it misfortune or anything else, but I don't have anything except her emails where she has written that she will pay the amount.

Thanks for your email.

Cheers,
Archna

Hi Preeti,

Thanks for the mail. The matter between her and me was simple; she asked me to work on her career mapping and competencies for the job she has with Intercontinental Group of Hotels. I helped her with everything, and then when the time came to pay up, she simply vanished. I wrote her emails, but it was of no use as she would make some excuse or the other. All my colleagues advised me not to help anyone outside the country without a proper agreement, but I went ahead simply on TRUST. I had her cell number, but unfortunately, I lost my cell and all the contact numbers as well. I have no clue how to teach her a lesson.

Cheers,
Archna

Archna,

I have a suggestion.

Now, you should email her/him to state that you have another revised detail that you would like to share. Also, frame your words as if to make her feel that you consider the earlier deal as a sample or trial run.

You could try contacting your mobile service operator (RPG, Hutch, Airtel, etc.) to provide you with the list of calls you had made/received. If you are lucky in obtaining it, try to reach her from any phone. In doing both, one thing is common – you put your money. Keep trying, and you will find ways to handle these things in a better way next time.

Best regards,
vennpuru

Hi,

It is sad that some people betray trust.

If I were you, I would simply write this off as a bad debt and forget the entire episode. I would not have lost my competence - only money, and that too not substantial!

If the subject person is happy in cheating others even for small amounts, let the person make merry in cheap thrills.

By teaching lessons to others, I lessen myself. That is my view!!

But yes, I would certainly write to her about my disappointment in her behavior and would inform her that I do not wish to deal with her in the future and that she should not treat anyone else like this for her own good.

As you sow, so shall you reap. If she has sown seeds of misbehavior, I am sure she will also get treated the same way by others - I don't have to ill-treat anyone.

My sense of dignity, self-respect, and morality does not allow me to stoop down to her levels.

Now whether to write to her on this forum or personally is strictly your choice, but I would suggest that you write to her privately and make your mind known!

Regards,

Samvedan

January 11, 2007

Archna...

I don't think much can be done in this particular case. Just learn from your experience and be careful in future dealings.

Like you, I also have a consultancy and provide strategic, process-oriented, business-related, career planning, and content management-related services. But, I am very fair in my dealings. I charge 25% of my fee at the beginning, another 50% after the completion of 75% of the task, and the balance after the completion of the total task.

Yes, you can write an email to her expressing your displeasure on this transaction. Stay in touch with her, and in the future, if she comes to you for any assistance, do charge her for this transaction as well.

I hope this will help.

Regards,
Sanjeev Sharma

Hello Samvedan ji,

Thank you for the email.

It's not a matter of money anymore. As I mentioned in the post, the amount is not what I am seeking. I only write her emails about twice a month or so. However, I have been contemplating teaching her a lesson she will remember for the rest of her life.

I have no intention of communicating with her via this platform, which is why I did not mention her name. I do not wish to stoop to her level. :D

I have already sent her all the emails; I just wanted some advice from the seniors.

Thank you for your assistance.

Best Regards,
Archna

Hi Archna,

I was a little bit late in catching up with your problem. Frankly enough, you are too good to be in business. In business, you can be kind, but at the same time, you have to be ruthless. Only then will some individuals not take advantage of our kindness and goodness to exploit. You cannot do anything to her as there is no concrete evidence available with you. She may simply deny everything you say. So, business has to be done with the brain, not with the heart!

Regards,
PRADEEP

Archna...well, don't know what actually you are looking for. You said that money is not a matter. You also said that you have already written some mails. Still...you like to, ("in your words") want to teach her some lessons. Then, "Kuch nahi karney ka...thodi si Gandhigiri karney ka" that means be good to her in every possible manner.

Keep on sending mails to her...once in a blue moon. Send greeting cards on her birthday, New Year, or whatever festival you celebrate in a year. Yes, when you continue to interact with her...once in a while also remind her...what she did to you.

I know, it might be difficult...but it helps. I do practice these things when I come across such people. It helps. It brings down the image of that person in his or her own eyes. And you win, without harming the person, without hurting the person, by being nice to them.

It's like being a "Sugar Coated Knife". I hope this will help you to some extent.

Regards,

Sanjeev Sharma

Well…………….. I know that you want to teach her a lesson but have you heard the saying “An eye for an eye will make the whole world go blind”???
Anyway what you can do is since you know that your consultancy has helped her to get a job, why not you call up her workplace??? Maybe if she still refuses to budge you can ask for her Manager or colleague and pretend that you can't get through to her due to her constant traveling and say that you would just like to leave a message and narrate the story. Maybe after getting this massage she wouldn't ant to ignore you any more.
All in all I say that you also have learned a lesson thru this. In the future you can strike up an agreement as well as ask for an advance fee or something which could be refundable under circumstances or something.
Hope all will work out fine for you!!

Hello Pradeep,

Thank you for your email. If you say I'm too good to be in this business, I agree with you. At times, even I felt so. But I'm good only for people I trust, and I trusted this lady because she is a part of this forum.

I took this project simply because she was a member here and she was the one to offer the fees. I thought, when she is ready to pay, why not take the fees later on? So, for the first time, I didn't charge any advance.

I've been in this business for quite some time now, and we have clients in Germany, the Netherlands, Hong Kong, etc. But this is the first time I have encountered this problem.

Anyways, I think I will learn from this experience.

Thanks a lot for your email.

Cheers!! Archna

Hi AS & Vennupuru,

Thank you.

Making a dummy ID and then calling her will be cheating again, which I do not consider the right way. Although when I first read your mail, I thought of doing it :D but then I don't want to spend my time and money on a person who does not understand ethics and values. Well, let's see what I do now.

Sanjeev, I know I have learned a lesson that I will never forget in my life. If you read my mails, I'm in this business for quite some time now and generally sign an agreement with clients, which I did not do purely on my trust. Gandhigiri - this idea I also liked and actually doing this only for the past few months. I also sent her e-greetings on Christmas, New Year's, and also on Id.

Thanks a lot. Cheers!!

Archna

Dear Archana,

It is very sad that a big and very good consultancy had a problem with a candidate.

All of us here in Cite hr have backgrounds as very good backend professionals. We Indians have a priority basis in helping others, but others take advantage of this. I don't know why?

Since you are in consultancy, I hope you might have a very good rapport or good contacts with the employee and employer to whom you have sold this candidate. In such a case, you can make a direct phone call to the employer, take his or her details, and send a hard copy of your communication to the firm (to whom you have sold the candidate).

As you mentioned that you have lost the contact details, you can apply for another SIM and request an itemized bill or detailed bill.

This way, you can obtain some details for your information. Additionally, you can contact a good lawyer on how to sue a particular candidate.

Considering that the firm is in your father's name, this could be a bit of a difficult task. What you can do is present yourself as an acting working employee of the organization, not as the proprietor of the firm. Act according to the situation.

This is a very delicate issue; handle it in a sensitive manner.

Try reaching out to the candidate using another email ID. Engage in a chat through any ID and keep the candidate in touch with you. Convince the candidate that you are the only one on this earth who can help.

Utilize tactics and adapt according to the situation.

I understand that you may have spent more money on processing this candidate. Spend a little more money and try to contact them in any possible way.

While we usually think positively, now it's time to show that we can also think negatively and demonstrate how we can reach them in all possible ways.

My advice to you is that every time you are processing something, consider all aspects. Start by thinking negatively; sometimes negative thinking can lead to positive ideas.

Utilize all your contacts to reach the candidate through all possible channels.

* Begin your search from the employee top management.

Please do send your clarifications and feedback if you find it correct.

Regards,

Sridhar.B

Hi,

In my suggestion, just leave the issue as it is and be careful about your future assignments. If you start digging, it will go on and end up with no result. It is better not to waste your precious time on something which you cannot get back.

Regards,
Sathya

Dear Ashra,

I agree with your point. When I mentioned wanting to teach her a lesson, I never implied any intention to harm her in any way. If that were the case, I would have approached the legal department rather than seeking advice on this forum.

I aim to convey this message to her, especially since she is a member of this forum, although she has been rarely seen since the incident.

I do not handle placements; my expertise lies in career growth, competency mapping, designing, training, and development. However, I do have all the necessary details regarding her current workplace and her supervisor.

Thank you for your suggestions.

Cheers,
Archna

Hello Sridhar,

We have a wonderful reputation among all the clients we are catering to. But to make it clearer, our consultancy does not deal with placements and recruitments. Instead, we specialize in competency designing, career graph designing, career counseling, and training and development. We only take on big projects for the long term. It was a matter of chance that I took on this project because this lady wanted a job and wanted us to design her career graph and competencies, which her employer asked for.

I have an itemized bill with me, but it was her who made all the calls, not me. Additionally, most service providers do not provide an itemized call description for received calls, so this has become a problem.

Thank you very much for your help and suggestions.

Cheers,
Archna

Archna, maybe you should try the Gandhigiri method. Wish her for every occasion, festive, and of course, send a "GET WEALTH SOON" card. It's an alarm for her before she betrays or cheats others. :) Vennpuru

Hi Archna,

In case you have communicated with her through emails, to which she has replied concurring on the payment, this can serve as evidence in the courts of law as per the IT Act if you decide to pursue legal action. You may encounter issues if she is not an Indian national.

If you are aware of her current employer, you may address your concerns to them. They, in turn, can seek clarification from her.

Consider raising the issue in the forum and allow us to discuss it further at Cite HR. I am certain that you will take necessary precautions in the future as you move forward.

Enjoy!
Joydeep

Hi Arvind,

Yes, this is true that I have made a fool of myself in this particular case, but that does not mean you can use any language and call me with what you want. Tell me,

Did you not cheat your parents on any occasion? You must have, and they have not said anything even when they knew you are the culprit. Were you not a fool to think that you are smart and can get away with anything?

Have you not trusted someone in your life and got hurt? Again, I think you must have. Does that make you a fool? :lol: So be sure next time before you use this kind of language.

May God Bless you,
Archna

Hi Archana,

Hope you are doing well. I agree with Samvedhan and Sanjeev. Although you have done nothing bad, but strangely, you are the one feeling worse - the main cause is your thinking that you have been wronged.

Take it as a lesson - write this off as a good deed done by you (you did get her a job :icon1:) - write to her a few more times and let it go if she doesn't understand her mistake. It has happened to me a few times too. You can't keep thinking about it.

In the future, you could use any of these approaches:

- Write and send an agreement for payment which the client will need to sign and send in hard copy by mail. Since the process takes a few weeks, it's enough time for you to collect the signed paper.

- Have an advance payment scheme. Give the discount only if 50% of payment is made at the start of work.

- Send excerpts of your work - and deliver the complete document once the payment is received.

- You can open a profile on guru.com and take payments through their escrow system:
http://www.guru.com/help/pro/Invoice.cfm#spEscrow

Regards,

CHR

Dear Archana,

Pay heed to what Samvedan and Sanjeev have said. Consider it as an unpleasant experience and avoid such transactions in the future. Don't get worked up thinking about it too much. Just forget it.

Write one last email to her and speak your mind. You may also consider naming her in the community so that others are not taken for a ride by her as well.

Cheers!
Faizal Haque

Hi,

Probably you can write an email to the state police (attaching the confirmation email) in the UAE requesting them to take some action. They might, in some cases, help you.

Dhaval

Hey all,

Thank you very much for your suggestions and moral support. I'm very happy to see so many people supporting me. I know I'm not wrong and have done nothing wrong in helping her and providing her with the best services, so what's gone is gone. I will surely implement what everyone has suggested, and I'll keep her mailing.

Hi Sid,

Thanks, buddy! I'm feeling good with all of you there for my support. Do you think it is a good idea to name her in the forum so that she won't cheat anybody else? Please let me know your opinion on this.

Regarding the agreement, I generally take upfront payment of 50%, then 25% more, and the last installment of 25% more. However, due to my trust in her, I did not take any fees. Actually, I was not planning to; she was the one to offer the money and then not give it.

Thanks, Kiran,

I understand what you meant, but she is not very active in the forum, so she might not be reading all this. But even if she reads it, it is good for us; at least she will feel ashamed.

Thank you all for your consideration and help in this case.

Best Regards,

Archna

Dear Archana,

After a long time, this post. It is really sad that you were trapped. As I know you, I am sure you will come out successfully from this sad episode. Experience makes a person complete/perfect. The magic of 'experience' is that people can learn a lot, even books cannot.

For future deals, kindly try to have a written/formal agreement, which will be very useful in case any problem occurs.

To end, you are NOT a loser, and that lady is. Because had she paid you whatever you deserve, she would have continuously enjoyed your confidence and also your support, encouragement, advice, suggestions, and very valuable CONTRIBUTION to her in the future.

Wishes,

Senthil Raj