New client problems

[psychocandy]

When you are taking time off during a contract, first agree it verbally and then follow immediately with an email summarising your conversation - including the fact that they have accepted that you will be off. If it's not in writing then they can deny everything at a later date and try and make you look bad when it's their cockup or lack of planning.

Could just be one of those clients who are difficult to deal with but it's business at the end of the day so try and sort out your differences if at all possible. I had an argument with the missus the other day, that doesn't mean I'm going to shoot her. Likewise, you should try not to dump a business opportunity just because the client is a bit of a PITA.

Good luck!

Good advice from wanderer. Solves any misunderstandings later....

I expect many will have experienced panic from client on a Thursday when you remind that tomorrow is last day for two weeks. I have had one client like this who asked me if I didn't mind cancelling my holiday...

Yeh, right so I lose all the money I've paid for holiday, piss off the Mrs, and you pay me normal rate for two weeks. Let me think for 1 second - no thanks.

[snarfblat]

Good advice from wanderer. Solves any misunderstandings later....

I expect many will have experienced panic from client on a Thursday when you remind that tomorrow is last day for two weeks. I have had one client like this who asked me if I didn't mind cancelling my holiday...

Yeh, right so I lose all the money I've paid for holiday, piss off the Mrs, and you pay me normal rate for two weeks. Let me think for 1 second - no thanks.

I made that mistake a few years ago when they kept asking me to postpone my holidays. I ended up working a year and a half with just a few days off. I decided it was time to go when they were angry I wanted a long weekend to get married.

[TheFaQQer]

I have had one client like this who asked me if I didn't mind cancelling my holiday...

Yeh, right so I lose all the money I've paid for holiday, piss off the Mrs, and you pay me normal rate for two weeks. Let me think for 1 second - no thanks.

I've been asked that before. I put together a proposal for how much they would need to pay me to cancel the holiday, because I'm not unreasonable.

They declined

It's the same when I'm asked to work weekends if I'm staying away - to make up for not seeing my children for two weeks, I need to take them away for at least four days. Cover the cost of that, and I might be interested in working that weekend.

[snarfblat]

Reading here is making me feel like I might be suffering burnout.

I'm finding the older I get, the less tolerance I have for nonsense.

Maybe after this gig, I should take a long break.

[TheFaQQer]

Maybe after this gig, I should take a long break.

From the sounds of things, you should have a long break INSTEAD of this gig

At the end of the day, just smile and invoice. Keep thinking about the money, and what you are going to do when the gig ends. I'd even go as far as booking something for as soon as you think you'll be available - if it's long enough then the client won't off you an extension anyway, and you can then leave into the sunshine.

[northernladuk]

How would you feel if you had been through the process of pricing up an extension and the builder turns up on the first day and says he will be off 2 days that week? Not pleased I would expect.

Sounds like you didn't handle it as well as you could have which has resulted in a bad first impression which is now going to bite you for the rest of the gig.

[psychocandy]

I've been asked that before. I put together a proposal for how much they would need to pay me to cancel the holiday, because I'm not unreasonable.

They declined

It's the same when I'm asked to work weekends if I'm staying away - to make up for not seeing my children for two weeks, I need to take them away for at least four days. Cover the cost of that, and I might be interested in working that weekend.

Its amazing how many urgent things are no longer urgent when client realises they can't get it for free or usual price....

[kaiser78]

I have been contracting/consulting for quite a few years now but I seem to be running into problems with the new contract.

I have been there a week.

I will just list the problems.

Agency, they are usually a problem, guy lied to and threatened me with better sign the contract right now or they will find someone else. I just ignored him as I knew the client wouldn't be ready until after the holiday.

The eager client starts pushing back my start date. Ended up pushing it back 2 weeks.

I worked the first week doing the 40 hours that were expected. The manager comes tells me I can only work 30 hours until he gets more for the budget. He doesn't know when that will be,

On the first day I told him I had some other clients. I told him I need 2 days off this week for a another client and to speak at a convention. These are things that were already planned and couldn't change them. I had rearranged everything else to make it fit.

The client was not happy at all with this. He kept sending me texts during my golive to "CALL HIM!!!" I finally shut my phone off. So when I had the chance to call back, he said I never said anything to the lead about taking those days off. He was quite nasty about it. I said of course I did as that is how you found out and sent out an email about me speaking to the company.

The work itself is simple but the lead wants to micromanage and talk down to me.


How should I handle this client? I didn't start my own company to be in a situation like this. If I wanted to have every move monitored and have to raise my hand to go to the toilet, I would have stayed an employee.

Why did you tell them on the first day only and not before you started (and in writing) - not surprised they got the hump.

It is a two way thing to expect a level of professionalism...

[psychocandy]

How would you feel if you had been through the process of pricing up an extension and the builder turns up on the first day and says he will be off 2 days that week? Not pleased I would expect.

Sounds like you didn't handle it as well as you could have which has resulted in a bad first impression which is now going to bite you for the rest of the gig.

OK in this case I see your point but for others its not usually first day is it?

Using the same argument, builder tells you he can't start job for 2 weeks - then on friday afternoon you give him a hard time because he won't be available the following monday even though he'd already told you this and you'd agreed to it. Gotta admit this happens.

[snarfblat]

Why did you tell them on the first day only and not before you started (and in writing) - not surprised they got the hump.

It is a two way thing to expect a level of professionalism...

Because my other client hasn't finalized their golive date and I hadn't been notified of my acceptance to speak and this client kept pushing back the start date. They ended up delaying by 2 weeks. I am not just going to sit around and do nothing during that time.

They didn't bother to tell me up front they didn't have enough to pay me for 40 hours either.