What would you have done?

**Old Greg** · 1 June 2018, 08:23

Originally posted by Echo1234 View Post

So a previous client contacted me about a "contract" opportunity. They had won a contract to deliver a product. When they won the contract one of the conditions was that they needed to have someone with specific qualifications and experience. When they went to bid for the contract they did have someone with the qualifications, but he left the company before they won the bid.

So now they have won the bid they are in a bit of a pickle as they fail part of the conditions for the bid, not sure if they will loose the contract or there are penalties. They have asked me to basically pretend to be a contractor working for them on the project. I would spend a day with them to learn about the product they are developing, then go with them to their clients office to discuss requirements and basically pretend I am working on the project, act as a consultant. After 6 months go back and pretend to deliver the product. I'm not actually doing any work.

They said they would have paid me my standard daily rate and expenses to travel but I felt that there was a bit a fraud happening here, so I just couldn't accept it. Previous experience working with them was difficult. They are a small business but it seems like they are winning the business on a bunch of lies.

And no I haven't asked my accountant.

Doesn't sound good for your reputation. See if you can win the business yourself.

**LondonManc** · 1 June 2018, 08:35

How much do you actually get to bill for over the six months?

Would 20 grand up front buy your conscience?

**SueEllen** · 1 June 2018, 08:39

Nope.

If your name, so reputation, is on it then you need to be involved at least part-time so you know they aren't delivering tulip.

**sal** · 1 June 2018, 08:50

I might consider it as long as they don't put my name on any parts of the finished product/documentation.

But definitely not for 2 days + travel expenses (said 2 days are likely to be off my current contract so really a zero-sum).

Offer to do a review (for a fee of course) on the parts of the product that involve said specialist skill before it's delivered to their client, which should satisfy your conscience.

**Hobosapien** · 1 June 2018, 08:57

Either they need someone with the qualifications and experience to deliver the product or they don't. If they don't then why is the buyer insisting they do?

I wouldn't want to be the one delivering the product without having had some hands on experience of the process to that point. You would be the one stuck in the middle if the product failed to meet expectations and you wouldn't know enough of what's gone on to be sure you weren't a scapegoat with potentially financial/fraud penalties if the customer got wind of the scam that had been pulled.

You could say you would help deliver the product by being on retainer as a consultant where you ensure they meet their obligations but they would need to be willing to pay more than the odd day's cost here and there, got to be one day a week equivalent at least to make the potential hassle worth it.

If they can't afford or be bothered to pay a suitable fee for your experience and qualifications as a proper part of the delivery process then walk away and leave them to the likely mess they'll make.

**Echo1234** · 1 June 2018, 09:06

From the information they told me, the contractor(me) is expected to work on the product as part of the condition on winning the bid. It is a government contract(not UK) which I guess means they have had to meet a whole bunch of conditions.

They only have a small team of young developers and with the previous experience I had working for them, I know they will cut corners, so me doing a review on their final product is probably not a good idea. I think the thing that bothers me is that they are pretty much committing fraud with their end client, trying to find someone to pretend they are working on the system. They pretty much said to me if I don't do it they'll try and find someone else.

**pauldee** · 1 June 2018, 09:10

Do you currently have a contract?

Why don't they just hire you properly to do the work? Do they just not want to pay for it?

**Echo1234** · 1 June 2018, 09:12

Yeah I'm currently in a contract which ends this month, so at first I thought it would be a good opportunity.
I'm guessing they just want to do it on the cheap.

**ladymuck** · 1 June 2018, 09:25

I would walk away. Sounds like a right dodgy set up.

What would you have done?