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Would you charge? slight rant!
Just had a client put a job on hold at 3 sites as another member of the management has just put their oar in. Looks like they have a contact they want to put the work to + internal bullsh*t so I think the plug will be pulled.
Initial meeting – local.
Quote approved.
Second Meeting – Local – asked to re quote to include 2 other sites.
Quote approved – asked to proceed.
Site visits (Inc meeting with MD )- mileage total – 350 Miles + time.
Asked to proceed.
Initial proof for main sign sent for them to make a decision on layout.
Board meeting – spanner thrown in the works by marketing not being kept in the loop.I am waiting to see what transpires, but if they do not proceed would you charge for at least travel?
Not a happy Friday bunny!
Cheers
Tim.
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11 Replies
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😮 definitely charge for your time and mileage and send an email about their business practice!
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Although a verbal order is legal it’s difficult to prove.
If you got a written (email or letter) order (as most large Companies will provide, with a PO number) then they owe you. -
Can you not contact the MD and explain what has happened either via email, letter or phone?(not sure what kind of company you are dealing with or what relationship you managed to build with the MD). Explain the work and time which has already gone into the project. He may not even be aware of what is going on.
Difficult one but I wouldn’t invoice it straight away as you may harm your chances of still getting the work if you go in with all guns blazing.
Good luck no matter what though.
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My 2 contacts were local, they had the task put in their hands by MD.
I have only met MD once at their central office – where he had input on decisions. Although Marketing Manager wasn’t present (I didn’t know they had one), I assumed the MD’s decision was what went.
Apparently marketing has got snotty, job justification I think and internal bull.
I have emailed my local contact to explain my disappointment in them and await their next move> Stating that at the very least I will be charging travel.
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May even be worth contacting the Marketing Dept too. Might just be that they feel they have been left out of the loop. Try explaining that you didn’t know they existed else you would have contacted them and kept them in the loop. They may have no other reason to not use you other than the fact that they have had not contact with yourself.
These are the avenues I would try if the work is still there for the taking or am I missing something and the job has already been awarded elsewhere.
Cheers
Gary
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Can understand the frustration Tim after putting in so much time and effort. Gary makes a good point about the marketing department possibly just being upset about being left, can’t do any harm to try and contact them can it??
Certainly would be looking to get paid for travel and some of your time, hope they don’t try and use your design done by another company if you have provided a visual of main sign.
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I’d be working with them, stoking my client and generally nursing the deal through…. no point throwing your toys out of the pram until your sure its blown out!
Hang in there and get the job!
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No toys throws yet.
I’m waiting to see if those I have been dealing with push on my behalf out of decency.
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I’d want a purchase order and maybe a deposit before travelling 350 miles, I couldn’t do that on a verbal agreement.
Hope it all works out for you though, nothing worse than a customer who changes their minds last minute.
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It was an emailed acceptance of quotation and confirmation to proceed.
At the moment they are lying like thieves.
With both my contacts contradicting each other.
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be careful, don’t just go in demanding this and that just yet.
contact them by email "in reply to" one of the emails confirming acceptance.
just briefly outline how you have tried to help their company in fulfilling their signage requirements, but express your concerns on how things have developed. but again offer your help with any issues that may have recently come about.If they have chosen another route and basically closed the door on you as a result of their colleagues acting above their authority, then you should be at least compensated for your time and costs incurred in the process.
However, their reply to you will also show the email of acceptance acceptance within the email history. They may now apologies for their colleagues actions. they may not and just outline they have taken another route. but you now have more dialog, and "in writing" from their MD.
once it has been confirmed the decision is final, you at least have the paper trail of proof. i would then invoice them based on the confirmation of order from depot managers etc. including the email history on paper for their referral.
will you get paid? that’s another thing, but at least you have went about it with a bit of back bone, rather than a "he said, she said, type scenario" which is where it will go because as you have said, they have already began the lying process.best of luck mate…
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