Problem Client Vent.

12 Comments

1. Balanced124557September 17,2024 at 5:51PM UTC

   what are you gaining out of this? She doesn't pay you correctly, prob won't be a good reference either. Not sure why you're going to continue to have her as a client. She's using her - no matter what her "product" is.

2. Tami L CannizzaroSeptember 17,2024 at 5:57PM UTC

   On to the next one! With the key learnings taken from this one. :-) Early in my consulting I came across a client that snowed me and while it bothered me a bit, I attributed it to growing pains/learning and, like you, figured out how to ensure it didn't happen again. Funny - and gratifying - a few years later the same client contacted me to help her son. I told her it would be months before I could possibly work him in to my schedule, yet in the meantime she could review my current rates and terms of business. Never heard from her again. Best Wishes for your next client!

3. AnonymousSeptember 17,2024 at 7:56PM UTC

   Thanks for sharing!

   There is a difference from not being able to afford a service and being cheap. Some people will always try to get a deal. They usually are wasteful in other ways and would rather not figure out how they can cut back on excessive expenses to budget appropriate services. She made it clear she doesn’t respect you. She may have adapted this abusive pattern from elsewhere and the ultimate challenge is to remain unscathed, not picking up this behavior in the future. Thats my 2 cents and not advice bc you figured out how you are going to handle it and bravo.
   MY AFFIRMATION to you comes from an old mindfulness journal of mine that I have open to this one page on my desk and when I glance at it helps me put my situation in perspective. It is:

   go where your energy is reciprocated, celebrated, and appreciated!

4. AnonymousSeptember 18,2024 at 12:59AM UTC

   Op here, thank you. This is beautiful and *just* what i needed.

5. Lisa OGradySeptember 17,2024 at 10:34PM UTC

   Yeah, I’m with your decision. Bye, Felicia….

6. AnonymousSeptember 18,2024 at 12:04AM UTC

   Well it seems like she filled out a form instead of talking with you. Are you closing the job with her because of what she wrote or because she doesn’t have the funds? Just curious. Seems like this union wasn’t a good fit. Good for you for recognizing this and moving on.

7. AnonymousSeptember 18,2024 at 1:02AM UTC

   Op here: closing the job by the end of oct per the terms of our agreement, i am probably going to facilitate the rest of the website changes and then peace out, but while i have been working in my current capacity for a long time, i am relatively recently self-employed at it, and i am chalking this up to learning and a need to raise my rates. ?

8. ShawnetteSeptember 18,2024 at 12:28PM UTC

   Thank you for sharing your gift with small businesses. Since you are offering these gems at a discounted price, you are doing something decent for someone. Be encouraged that you did your job to help someone with good intentions and that goodness will be returned to you . I applaud that you even mentioned the discount as it signals, you know your worth and value. Keep it moving you have better on the way!

9. AnonymousSeptember 19,2024 at 4:32AM UTC

   She does not deserve you. Glad you're settling up and dumping her sorry a$$.

10. AnonymousSeptember 19,2024 at 1:38PM UTC

    You gave champagne to someone on a lite beer budget. If you're okay with it, be okay with it. It's okay to have clients you don't like -so long as they pay. If you want to give your version of pro-bono or low-bono work, that's okay too. Define your terms and stand by them. Sounds like this was a lesson and you both weren't a match. You know it. Now go do your thing with clients more worthy.

11. AnonymousSeptember 21,2024 at 3:58PM UTC

    she doesn’t want to pay you fairly, obviously she doesn’t respect you, devalue your worth. If you happen to examine her excessive spendings at other area, you will be very disappointed and regret not to dump her early. You deserve to work with people treasure you, not take advantage of you.

12. AnonymousOctober 10,2024 at 3:47PM UTC

    She hired you as an expert but clearly has ideas of her own though she is not sharing them with you. I think you should address to her that when you take on a client you expect collaboration and direct feedback because your reputation matters as does the outcome of what they hired you to do.

    Let her know what you have heard her say but not to you directly and that she could have better success if she trusted others to do what she needs in future. Then walk away with head held high. To let it go and not respond seems like you will have a small stain from that going forward. Don't let it get to you, you know your value.