Integrity.
 

Integrity.

I took a small job on the side to build a network for a company for a friend of a friend.

We had a verbal agreement, I know that's lame but it wasn't a lot of work and I wasn't worried about it. It's a tight knit network of friends who are generally pretty honest with each other.

I do the work;

Setup the network - just a couple of switches, a router, firewall, internet connection, DMZ, access-lists and VPN Remote access.

The usual.

We had an agreed upon rate.

I worked on it for about 6 1/2 hours installing and configuring. My knowledge an expertise got it up and running and operational very quickly (in my opinion). Less than a day's work in full - I had estimated 8 hours.

All of this was verbal.

Now he wants to cut my rate in half.

HALF!

My buddy who I was managing this with is talking to the owner (friend of a friend) about it. There isn't much of anything I can or care to do about it more than discuss it, get what I can and walk away. Of course - in the future if we continue this effort I'll get contracts together.

The questions are though - where is the integrity?

What would you do? They asked me to set this up so that I could offer them an ongoing support contract as well. Of course I won't be doing that now probably regardless of the situation. I have that remote access. I can wipe the configs (take my ball and go home). They have their hardware and they can hire someone else to configure it for them. I of course would walk away with nothing but malice at that point.

I am not the sort of person who would do that kind of thing. Sure I thought of the possibility but for me it isn't an option. Especially in this situation - just some extra funds - a little fun money.

Dorks.

You could always open up their network to a bunch of 3l33t H@xX0rZ to have their way with... ;)

I'm a bastage when people try to f*ck me.

These are not the type of people I like to assosciate with. I'd probably just stop talking to them.

Their business will not last long.

Sounds like the one with the integrity is you.

You just found out cheap that your friend's friend has none. Cut your losses and get it in writing next time. Life has a way of dishing out what people deserve; Stick to the high road and know that you're a better man than most.

Sounds like the one with the integrity is you.

IMHO Integrity and honor seem to be almost a thing of the past. the whole idea that you can't trust someone or they want something for nothing really irritates me. People continually ask for, or expect quality for nothing. Hmmm. The "I deserve it" attitude. You have a day of hard, quality work invested in this operation, take the money, and walk away with a note that you won't work for them again.

Unfortunately, I also try to work, buy, trade and operate from the integrity standpoint. It used to be a standard. Usually it works. but more and more, I find that I need to be much more careful how I handle even small operations.

You tried to do, (and did) the right thing. thanks heavens you didn't have more time invested.

Karl
88 Targa

My faith in humanity was somewhat restored yesterday. I was discussing a gun trade with a complete stranger a few days ago. The rifle he wanted to trade for my Commander is known for quality control issues, but some are excellent. Trouble was that he had never fired this rifle, it was new in box, unfired. I told him I needed a few days to research and think it over. He called yesterday, told me he had taken it to the range and it was terrible. He said he could not, in good conscience, let someone else take it. I was pretty pleasantly surprised.

Of course he may just have had a better offer...

Ok. Perhaps I am petty, but I think you hit a weak spot with me.

Assuming you quoted something aroung $100 an hour (don't know, just a guess). 6.5 hours should be $650. Now they "renegotiate" after the fact down to $325.

Sorry to admit it but I would pull the plug. I would rather forego the entire $325 and undo all my work than have these guys rip me off. The look on the guys face might be worth $325 as well.

Then you walk.

Good luck. Other than losing more income, you truely are in the drivers seat.

I do see your point. I really don't understand why they would agree to my wage and then try to renegotiate after the fact. I was open to negotiation in the beginning.

Dorks.

I think we need that gin.

Sorry to hear this, but this shiat happens all of the time. Nice part of being in business for yourself is firing your customers.

Yeah, it's pretty weak - waiting to hear back on it from my partner.

Sorry to hear your "friend" shafted you, mikester. :(

We had a pretty similar situation a few years ago on a MS infrastructure project. We accepted the "renegotiated" offer and even did a knowledge transfer to the in-house idiot. 6 months later they called us to come clean up the mess the in-house guy generated. We simply said "Sorry, we don't have time for you."

Life is too short for jerks. Since it was extra spending money, continue on the high road, walk away and never go back.

Yup, it's not worth worrying about. Cut ties and don't ever deal with those "friends" again. Integrity, honesty, morals......does anybody else actually try to teach their kids this stuff?

Take the $325.

As you are walking out tell him after you get the rest of your money you will give him all the passwords.

If it were me (and in the past it has been) I'd accept his half price check and go back and remove half of the network equipment/ connections.........seems fair to me

'Small jobs' make up 25% of my work, but they lead to more work... so set the tone early. You don't have to be a dick... just professional.

Don't do any work, ever without a contract. Also, even for something small like this ask for 50% up front to get them to have some skin in the game.

I'd stop work, go straight to the owner and lay it all out. Who are you dealing with and who made the decision to cut it in half? Your buddy or the owner? When faced with situations like this, usually somebody either screwed up (buddy did not communicate agreement to the owner?) or is lying. Screw-ups I can deal with... liars have to be pinned to the wall.

Good luck.

Take the check and cash it immediately. These guys will be out of business in no time if that is how they deal with people. I wouldn't do any more work and I certainly would not answer any technical questions for them.

Yup. Integrity starts with being responsible, and that includes business partners as well...

As a contractor (in the building sense) it is against the law for me to remove or alter anything I have done on site. That is listed in the CA Business and Professional Codes, but it does seem specific to contractors since it's in the part that governs the contracting business. It might suggest a precedent though.

I see a couple of choices. First, I wouldn't accept a partial payment without something in writing regarding the balance. You could offer to reduce the bill for immediate and full payment and be done with it, but I would not take only half. I'd start at 90% thinking as 85% as a goal and I'd negotiate a percent at a time to let them know 50 % is way, way out of the question.

Following those efforts, I'd send a certified letter demanding full payment in 30 days (typical legal demand maneuver). No payment, small claims. I've sat in small claims court and verbal contracts are honored. All you need to show the judge are dates, times, facts and any receipts for expenses. When the judge asks the defendant if any work was done and they say anything but no, it goes downhill for them from that point on.

Make sure you are addressing an individual, not an LLC, partnership or corp. They may try to brush you off if they have such an entity, but they won't have much in the way of individual defense without a contract with you. I can't be totally sure about the last part, but you do have to know whom you're dealing with.