Current Client / Past Client issue

Jims5543 · 01-10-2007, 11:28 AM

I was essentially fired from a huge Pool builder in town because I refused to turn around a survey in 24 hours. They wanted me to rush their work and potentially make mistakes all to save themselves 2 days staging time.

They found a past employee of mine, that I fired, that has no license, to do the work.

I watched one of his guys do a survey one day and he spent all of five minutes with a tape measure never really surveying the pool but making a picture for the pool company to get their inspection. My crews spend 45-60 minutes and use surveying equipment and measure the pool to the property line, to the house, and to the block corner to make sure everything was right. We normally collect about 50 points per pool. We had him move probably 3 pools a year because they were in easements. (huge no no)

I expressed to the new super of the Pool company that I just cannot speed up the process, we do a thorough job and feel we are protecting him from a lawsuit. He fired us.

I tried to contact the owner. (we both started our business' at the same time and have done favors for one another over the years, I considered him somewhat of a professional friend.) He would not take my calls nor would he return any of my messages. It was a huge blow to loose this company as a client.

So now they are doing a couple of pools for a builder I work for. They want me to send over free copies of surveys I have done for the builder so they can prepare a plot plan and pull a permit. Their only other option would be to pay their new surveyor to resurvey it if I do not send over a copy of mine.

Last time they asked I told them I would be happy to do it once the owner would dignify me with a return phone call. No call and I never sent the survey.

Now they are asking again, and I recieved an e-mail from the builder asking me to send over a copy of the survey. I explained to the builder that I was fired and why, he agreed with me that it was a poor decision on their part. This builder has had hack surveyors in the past and understands we are very ethical and do good work.

So do I just eat crow, and send the survey over, maybe a note of some sort.

Part of me says to try to market them back and this is my chance another part says send an F.U. note attached.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Don't even think of caving in. You need a returned call and explantion or apology from your professional "friend". What do you have to lose now?

dtw · 01-10-2007, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rick Lee
What do you have to lose now?

An unstained relationship with his builder.

That's an ugly one, Jim. How does the builder want you to proceed. I'd probably go along with them - which probably means sending free copies. Maybe you can turn chicken ***** into chicken salad, if not immediately, a little further down the line.

Eric 951 · 12:03 PM

You are under no obligation to provide the survey to the pool installer.

However, since you recently were retained by the builder as their surveyor, you may want to appease the builder. You should try and find out if the pool builder already has a firm price in place with the builder for the installation of the pools--otherwise, the pool installer may add the cost of getting their own survey to the price they are charging the builder--which the builder would not like.

For me the lack of ethics(and common courtesy) in business is something which I take personally--and if treated in a manner such as you were by the pool installer--not even receiving a return phone call--I would tell the installer to go F himself.

edit--is it possible to directly charge the pool installer a pro-rated amount to provide them with copies of your surveys?

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Ah, I misread it. Thought it was the ex-client wanting freebies instead of paying for the surveys.

legion · 01-10-2007, 12:03 PM

At the very least, I would try to draw this out a little longer before caving.

Jims5543 · 01-10-2007, 12:22 PM

Yes, my dilemna is that I can tarnish my relationship with my client. (the builder)

The new super at the pool company had it in for me from day one and I sensed it. He kind of set us up giving us 2 jobs 80 miles away from each other out in their respective BFE's and then showed the owner we were taking too long to get the work done.

I just printed a "special" survey for the pool company, it lacks a lot of info a hack surveyor would need. The "surveyor" will have to actually survey now instead of copying my work.

So now my builder is happy and the pool company gets their free copy.

Jims5543 · 01-10-2007, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by legion
At the very least, I would try to draw this out a little longer before caving.

This has been going on since Monday so I have delayed them 3 days already.

Dottore · 01-10-2007, 12:53 PM

Long, wet lunch with the owner and builder. Explain who you are and why you work the way you do, and why you would like their future business.

Jims5543 · 01-10-2007, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dottore
Long, wet lunch with the owner and builder. Explain who you are and why you work the way you do, and why you would like their future business.

That would entail the Pool Company owner returning my phone calls so I can invite him to lunch.

Maybe a note attched to the survey asking for a luch meeting.

As far as the builder, he sensed the slow down here and moved his office to Raliegh NC and is selling homes there now.

His brother is in town running the show and he really cannot make decisions for the company.