Advice Please

BusinessForums · 22-03-2011 5:07pm #1

Hi Guys,

I am look for some advice.

We carried out a job for a customer. The jobs involved providing a service, we were given contact names and numbers etc for the job. I rang the customer today to find out billing details etc to be informed that they have no knowledge of the people that booked us and that they didn't book us. Infact they said that they booked a similary company to carry out the same work. I have tried every means of contacting the people involved, but it appears the numbers were false.

When I asked the customer why they did not question why they did not speak to our staff they said "because they were too busy, and we through they were there for a laugh" however, they managed to talk to the staff of the other company.

Is there any come back from this, as we have incurred substancial costs in providing this service...

I would appreciate your advice.

Kinetic^ · 22-03-2011 5:09pm

Is there a contract? Emails?

BusinessForums · 22-03-2011 5:12pm

Yes, emails from this person who claimed to be working for the customer.

However, they are not responding to emails now, and the contact number I have for their collegue is going to someone else entirely.

Kinetic^ · 22-03-2011 5:21pm

At least you have some record of it. I'd speak with a solicitor tbh. Most will give you your first consultation free and let you know where you stand. PM if you want a recommendation for one.

TheCostumeShop.ie: Ronan · 22-03-2011 8:34pm

BusinessForums wrote: »

Yes, emails from this person who claimed to be working for the customer.

Was the email the businesses domain ie a company email or a free email address?

Have you googled the person who claimed to be from the company to see if they are working there? Linkedin search etc.

Seems very odd someone would go through the effort of a contract without good reason.

ted1 · 22-03-2011 8:38pm

sounds odd. Can you expand on the nature of the service?

jetsonx · 22-03-2011 9:13pm

BusinessForums wrote: »

Yes, emails from this person who claimed to be working for the customer.

However, they are not responding to emails now, and the contact number I have for their collegue is going to someone else entirely.

If the sums are so substantial why were you still at the "email stage" of communication with them even when closing the deal?

In the final stages of a business transaction where "big" money is involved, email should only ever be used for confirmation and record keeping purposes. There are way too many variables in your average "big sum" business deal to finalize it reliably over email, especially with a new customer.

This whole malarky about "a contact number" you have of their "colleague" is about as credible as "a bloke I know down the pub said...."

OP, I hope you have learnt something from this.

BusinessForums · 22-03-2011 9:50pm

TheCostumeShop.ie: Ronan wrote: »

Was the email the businesses domain ie a company email or a free email address?

Have you googled the person who claimed to be from the company to see if they are working there? Linkedin search etc.

Seems very odd someone would go through the effort of a contract without good reason.

No it wasn't from a work email, although that wouldn't be entirely uncommon.

jetsonx - It's not huge money, just under 2k. It would be very common to have most if not all of business dealings done through email. Anyway, there was phone calls to the office from a second person who claimed to work with the person confirming the details in the email.

TheCostumeShop.ie: Ronan · 22-03-2011 9:56pm

So whats their advantage here - what did you deliver and could they benefit from it? IE if you provide contracts and a training manual it could be a competitor trying to learn your model and use your course structure etc.

ssbob · 23-03-2011 10:14am

TheCostumeShop.ie: Ronan wrote: »

So whats their advantage here - what did you deliver and could they benefit from it? IE if you provide contracts and a training manual it could be a competitor trying to learn your model and use your course structure etc.

I would like to know this aswell. Can you explain what the service was?

I would advise that you get a hard copy purchase order from companies before carrying out any work no matter how big or small it may be.

BusinessForums · 23-03-2011 11:03am

It was a service of a medical nature. We provided the service for the customer, they were aware that we were there, however, they didnt ask our staff why we were there. When I raised this point with the customer they said that they "thought we were there for a laugh". They had ample time to talk to our staff, but apparently they were too busy. They did have time to speak to the staff that they had booked though.

ssbob · 23-03-2011 11:23am

BusinessForums wrote: »

It was a service of a medical nature. We provided the service for the customer, they were aware that we were there, however, they didnt ask our staff why we were there. When I raised this point with the customer they said that they "thought we were there for a laugh". They had ample time to talk to our staff, but apparently they were too busy. They did have time to speak to the staff that they had booked though.

If I were you I would write a letter to the company in question with a print off of the e-mail as back up, you should also try looking into this person who e-mailed you.

If you do not get a satisfactory response then you should pursue it with a solicitor but for less than €2k, the likely outcome will be that it will probably cost you more.

You may have to chalk this one down to experience.

Advice Please

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