Leaving jobs before completion

[D Skelton]

As the title, anyone here got experience of leaving jobs part way through?

I've a client we've been doing some major work for that is pi$$ing me right off. Making all sorts of unreasonable demands and is now saying that the work he's been really happy with up to now is a load of crap and has taken us too long and cost him too much. All payments so far are up to date so I'm not out of pocket, but in his mind I'm being unreasonable, in my mind he's being unreasonable.

I'd rather do without the aggro so have essentially told him to find someone else to second fix the project as I'm no longer interested. Things is, if I bail, he's pretty much buggered as he'll have to find another spark to start in a weeks time which is highly unlikely.

That im not so much bothered with, but it's the bovine excrement he's likely to start spreading about me that I am.

I can go into real detail if anyone wants.

Any thoughts?

 

[Leesparkykent]

Is there lots of material and labour left to finish the job?

 

[D Skelton]

There's a weeks worth of work for three plus a few grands worth of materials.

He's paid for all labour and materials so far and everything is up to date. I'm owed nothing and owe him nothing. Materials that have yet to be installed that he has already paid for have been left on site.

 

[Welchyboy1]

Well if your paid up its down to how much collateral damage he could possibly cause to your reputation

is he part of a larger network of your clientbase or a one off customer?

i have stayed on at a job like this before just out professional courtesy, only to be knocked the final payment for my trouble

 

[Jamzie]

If you can't sit down with him and discuss reasonably his issues and problems, and be able to offer your thoughts and comments, I know what I'd be doing. Ask for a 'clear the air' meeting. If he refuses, at least you've tried. ..then burn the buggers house down (last bit is a joke)

 

[Leesparkykent]

If you can't sit down with him and discuss reasonably his issues and problems, and be able to offer your thoughts and comments, I know what I'd be doing. Ask for a 'clear the air' meeting. If he refuses, at least you've tried. ..then burn the buggers house down (last bit is a joke)

I think this would be best, apart from the last bit lol

 

[stevethesparks]

If its just second fix left, I think I'd bite the bullet and finish off - easy to say as its not me he is P$$$$$g off.
Is there a contract?
Also whilst still there, might be an idea to get some images to back you up if all goes belly up in the end.

 

[D Skelton]

Part of me feels sorry for the guy regardless of how much he's pi$$ed me off with his rudeness, demanding and bombastic attitude and his unreasonable expectations and thinks that I should bite the bullet too.

The other side of me says fluck it! If he spoke to me that way in the pub he'd end up head first through the window! I barely stand to make much profit on the second fix anyway. The fella now thinks I'm a cowboy and won't ever use me again anyway so why bother. Why stress myself out worrying about whether he's gonna pay me or not after completion for the sake of helping him out.

As my colleague says; "Regardless of your feelings, he's flucked up trying to be a project manager without being willing to accept any of the responsibilities of a project manager, and he knows it. That ain't your problem Damian, he's brought it on himself".

Long story short, money up front is not an option. For business reasons I can only recieve money in may, three weeks from now. Don't ask as it's a boring story that involves tax and accountants.

I dunno, I've told people to 'do one' before and not thought twice about it, just don't know why this one is grating on me?!

 

[trev]

I walked out on a restaurant eicr a while back. The bloke was really grating on me, why do you have to turn the power off? What's wrong with that it works perfectly? Why can't I have this, that or the other? The final straw was when he asked if I was sure I knew what I was doing.
I said "the great thing about being self employed is, I get to do this" packed my gear up and walked away. He was houting and bawling about how he was going to make my name mud among the local asian community.
It's done me no harm whatsoever.
I'd do it again if necessary

 

[Leesparkykent]

Why isn't he happy with the work that's been completed?

 

[ian.settle1]

Damien,

As you want to get out this job and your location says Canada think this is apt

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_One_That_Got_Away_(film)

 

[VoltzElectrical]

Difficult one mate. I've always been a believer in 'don't burn your bridges'.

Can you organise a mediation meeting with you, your client and someone impartial? Make it clear that you are as unhappy as your client, but equally unhappy to leave an unresolved situation?

Obviously i don't know the particulars, but maybe there is a suitable mediator such as an architect who could negotiate a middle way and perhaps take advance payment to be released to yourself upon satisfactorily completed works.

Only you can decide dude, but you have to ask yourself honestly if you want to chuck your toys out, but then cogitate on it for months to come. Again, not knowing you, you have to ask yourself if you have the personality type to do that. Personally I don't, and it would bother me for the rest of my life if I felt i had not explored every avenue of conflict resolution.

Good luck and let us know.

Voltz

 

[D Skelton]

Why isn't he happy with the work that's been completed?

He was, but as soon as he started thinking he could 'order' me about, I told him where to go. He told me that I have to ditch other customers to tend to him as he is a priority. I politely said that I can't, and that I have met your every request so far, but that this time, he's gonna have to wait a week for me to start second fix. Then he started telling me that the work toon too long, that we've cost him more money and that its not very good (despite the fact that every stage so far has been completed on time, on budget and to his satisfaction). He then took to being rude about my family and getting personal so I politely said that if he didn't like my services then please feel free to find someone else to finish the job.

He then essentially threw his rattle and told me to get lost.

Now he's realised that im for real, he knows he's buggered. He's begging me to do the work but he's still being a see you next Tuesday about it tryi NF to pass the blame for his own ineptitude on to me.

I didn't trust the guy from the word go, hence why it was materials up front, weekly payments for labour, and I've been proved right, the guy is a nob and a weasel.

I can easily do without the bother and am more than happy holding my head high if I walk away, yet I still feel like I shouldn't be leaving him in the proverbial.

He hates me, but he needs me. Without me, he's gonna be many thousands of pounds out of pocket!

Quite an interesting situation to be in.

 

[Iddy]

Try to have a meeting first mate. Sometimes Its better outcome for both parties. If you don't then he / she may still attempt to damage your business profile after you have completed the work and the client is no longer in need.

 

[Andy78]

I can empathise, I personally would hate to leave a job unfinished for the sake of pride if nothing else. Bearing in mind everything you have said about this customer though, The only way I would want to carry out a second fix would be payment up front and everything in writing.
The ideas of a mediation session might be a way to chill things down a bit, but if you were to walk I wouldn't blame you at all. This guy sounds like a right tool to deal with and his spots aren't going to just change overnight.

 

[ruston]

I would have the final payment up front as Andy says, bite the lip and finish the job and put it behind me. If you go back your integrity is intact , if you don't the allegations he makes against you may be heard with credibility by those who hear his claims.
He sounds the type who may embellish the situation.

 

[Leesparkykent]

He was, but as soon as he started thinking he could 'order' me about, I told him where to go. He told me that I have to ditch other customers to tend to him as he is a priority. I politely said that I can't, and that I have met your every request so far, but that this time, he's gonna have to wait a week for me to start second fix. Then he started telling me that the work toon too long, that we've cost him more money and that its not very good (despite the fact that every stage so far has been completed on time, on budget and to his satisfaction). He then took to being rude about my family and getting personal so I politely said that if he didn't like my services then please feel free to find someone else to finish the job.

Now he's realised that im for real, he knows he's buggered. He's begging me to do the work but he's still being a see you next Tuesday about it tryi NF to pass the blame for his own ineptitude on to me.

I didn't trust the guy from the word go, hence why it was materials up front, weekly payments for labour, and I've been proved right, the guy is a nob and a weasel.

I can easily do without the bother and am more than happy holding my head high if I walk away, yet I still feel like I shouldn't be leaving him in the proverbial.

He hates me, but he needs me. Without me, he's gonna be many thousands of pounds out of pocket!

Quite an interesting situation to be in.

Suppose you could try to organise a meeting to resolve both your issues or at least communicate via email so you have some kind of record. On the other hand though if he's got personal and rude about your family then that would be a hard one for me to swallow.
If you do decide to crack on then maybe get him to sign something to the effect of him being happy with the work completed so far and final payment to be made on X date regardless with no retention on money as long as work has been completed to spec an current regs (or along those lines).

 

[D Skelton]

As already said, I can't take money up front unless he's willing to pay me three and a half grand in cash up front. I can't see that happening some how.

Maybe it's worth a shot though.

I need to sleep on it I reckon.

It's good to get views from varying angles though.

 

[VoltzElectrical]

As already said, I can't take money up front unless he's willing to pay me three and a half grand in cash up front. I can't see that happening some how.

Maybe it's worth a shot though.

I need to sleep on it I reckon.

It's good to get views from varying angles though.

You could if a third party such as a solicitor or architect held the payment. It could form part of the mediation process that I have suggested be set out and followed for the interests of both parties.

 

[ruston]

You need some sort of lever though based on his performance.

 

[rapparee]

Your location says you are in canada, is the job in canada do you really want to tarnish your name you are not that long over there.

Another point, from reading your previous posts, would i be right in thinking you employ some boys. If you were to walk away have you other work lined up to send them to on monday morning.

Like voltz says a mediation would do no harm, but have you any intel of what is going on behind the scenes, is there another trade whispering in this guys ear poisoning him against you (architect, qs, building contractor etc).

 

[shanky887614]

He was, but as soon as he started thinking he could 'order' me about, I told him where to go. He told me that I have to ditch other customers to tend to him as he is a priority. I politely said that I can't, and that I have met your every request so far, but that this time, he's gonna have to wait a week for me to start second fix. Then he started telling me that the work toon too long, that we've cost him more money and that its not very good (despite the fact that every stage so far has been completed on time, on budget and to his satisfaction). He then took to being rude about my family and getting personal so I politely said that if he didn't like my services then please feel free to find someone else to finish the job.

He then essentially threw his rattle and told me to get lost.

Now he's realised that im for real, he knows he's buggered. He's begging me to do the work but he's still being a see you next Tuesday about it tryi NF to pass the blame for his own ineptitude on to me.

I didn't trust the guy from the word go, hence why it was materials up front, weekly payments for labour, and I've been proved right, the guy is a nob and a weasel.

I can easily do without the bother and am more than happy holding my head high if I walk away, yet I still feel like I shouldn't be leaving him in the proverbial.

He hates me, but he needs me. Without me, he's gonna be many thousands of pounds out of pocket!

Quite an interesting situation to be in.

then don't work for him, the only potential clients he will tell to avoid you would be the kind you want to avoid anyway


it might be worth sticking in though if you havent got more work lined up for the other guys or he could cause big issues etc

 

[D Skelton]

Work ain't the issue. Got plenty of it. Money ain't the issue either. Got plenty coming in.

It's as if I feel some sort of moral obligation towards the fella.

Weird seeing as that ain't the sort of person I normally am.

Usually, burning bridges is something I find solace in.

 

[bossian]

Me? If it owed me nowt, I'd bail now before I banged him one for being that way! I'm sure your known well enough to keep getting work without him.

 

[telectrix]

just roll up in a panzer next week. any hassle, give him an 88mm AP round up the jacksie.

 

[KWCFC]

He then took to being rude about my family and getting personal

That made my mind up for me. If you don't need the work then f*ck him, hang him out to dry.

 

[Marvo]

..........He's paid for all labour and materials so far and everything is up to date. I'm owed nothing and owe him nothing.

Well you're in a very fortunate position that you can make this decision without financial implications of almost certainly not getting any monies that are owed if you decide to call it quits.

I'm sure you know there's no right or wrong answer, only your gut feel. You'll probably laugh but sometimes if I'm in the kind of position you are at the moment I do a full risk assessment. List the worse case scenario if you carry on with the job and it goes south then figure out what you'll stand to lose. Then look at the general trend of the deterioration of the relationship over the last few days or weeks and based on that make an educated prediction on how likely it will be that you will be able to finish the job and get paid given the history so far. Weigh the likelyhood of a premature departure along with the worst case cost scenario and make your bet accordingly.

We've prematurely parted company with clients a couple of times in the last 10 years and I don't regret either instance. At least if you are the one who decides to pull the plug you get the opportunity to exercise some damage control before you inform the customer.

 

[VoltzElectrical]

Work ain't the issue. Got plenty of it. Money ain't the issue either. Got plenty coming in.

It's as if I feel some sort of moral obligation towards the fella.

Weird seeing as that ain't the sort of person I normally am.

Usually, burning bridges is something I find solace in.

As said, I disagree with the burning bridges.

You say that you feel some obligation towards the fella. I suggest that in reality you feel an obligation to yourself to see a job through, despite relation difficulties. Personally speaking, I can't stand to be beaten. I would rather explore all possibilities to resolve any situation for the sake of closure but then choose not to do business with said parties in the future.

 

[Kamikaze]

Your location says you are in canada, is the job in canada do you really want to tarnish your name you are not that long over there.

Another point, from reading your previous posts, would i be right in thinking you employ some boys. If you were to walk away have you other work lined up to send them to on monday morning.

Like voltz says a mediation would do no harm, but have you any intel of what is going on behind the scenes, is there another trade whispering in this guys ear poisoning him against you (architect, qs, building contractor etc).

Well, Canadians are almost French. And Nelson once said, that it is every Englishman’s duty to hate a Frenchman as you hate the devil. So I recon Damien’s client got it coming to him….lol.

 

[telectrix]

haha. between rommel and a suicide pilot, customer has no chance.

 

[Deleted member 72666]

Work ain't the issue. Got plenty of it. Money ain't the issue either. Got plenty coming in.

It's as if I feel some sort of moral obligation towards the fella.

Weird seeing as that ain't the sort of person I normally am.

Usually, burning bridges is something I find solace in.

Then you need to search long and hard to find the real reason you're feeling this way and only then can you decide whether to stay or go!

 

[trev]

Quite apt given the circumstances
[video]https://youtu.be/xMaE6toi4mk[/video]

 

[Geordie Spark]

I think this would be best, apart from the last bit lol

Oh I don't know - I thought the last bit was the best! :devil2:

 

[hasel5]

my penny worth is walk away head held high and look forward to the next difficult client with the Knowledge from the the last noob

Ive got one on the go atm who is a total xxxx and going to court over £150 quid after £5k job completed 6 months ago

 

[plugsandsparks]

I went self employed so I could choose my client, choose the work and enjoy life. I don't take %hit from anyone nowadays and would not think twice about dropping a difficult client. If the monies are tied off its a no brainer. Un=reasonable people have a reputation themselves so would not worry about him bad mouthing, could even be a perverse recommendation. lol - BTW , wheres the job...lol

 

[baldsparkies]

Your not a registered charity, that's a vat number on your invoice.
Your in business to provide a professional service at a fair price and to date that's exactly what you have done.
Its all even at the moment, don't let your heart rule your head on this one.
Weigh up pro's and cons, put your points to him, if he's giving off bad vibes, walk away, and tell him why.
But do not go too deep into his pocket, that's when it comes right back and bites you on the proverbial.
My thoughts for what its worth Skelts.

 

[Geordie Spark]

Well you're in a very fortunate position that you can make this decision without financial implications of almost certainly not getting any monies that are owed if you decide to call it quits.

I'm sure you know there's no right or wrong answer, only your gut feel. You'll probably laugh but sometimes if I'm in the kind of position you are at the moment I do a full risk assessment. List the worse case scenario if you carry on with the job and it goes south then figure out what you'll stand to lose. Then look at the general trend of the deterioration of the relationship over the last few days or weeks and based on that make an educated prediction on how likely it will be that you will be able to finish the job and get paid given the history so far. Weigh the likelyhood of a premature departure along with the worst case cost scenario and shoot the b'stard!!

We've prematurely parted company with clients a couple of times in the last 10 years and I don't regret either instance. At least if you are the one who decides to pull the plug you get the opportunity to exercise some damage control before you inform the customer.

The AutoGeordie correct has corrected this for you at no charge to yourself.

 

[trev]

If you have a one to one site meeting he might "have an accident" that might make him rethink his position and his attitude to you Damian. Dangerous places them building sites mate, you never know what's waiting for you just around the corner

 

[Leesparkykent]

If you have a one to one site meeting he might "have an accident" that might make him rethink his position and his attitude to you Damian. Dangerous places them building sites mate, you never know what's waiting for you just around the corner

lol...

 

[ferg]

Sleeping on it is always a good idea.

Marvos suggestion of a written risk assessment is also very good.

The act of writing it down clarifies your thoughts etc. etc.

You mention that you are feeling bad for the guy even though he's being a prize muppet.

Is he behaving out of character due to the stress of the situation?

Or is he just a prize muppet and you are being uncharacteristically kind natured.

 

[ipf]

As the title, anyone here got experience of leaving jobs part way through?

I've a client we've been doing some major work for that is pi$$ing me right off. Making all sorts of unreasonable demands and is now saying that the work he's been really happy with up to now is a load of crap and has taken us too long and cost him too much. All payments so far are up to date so I'm not out of pocket, but in his mind I'm being unreasonable, in my mind he's being unreasonable.

I'd rather do without the aggro so have essentially told him to find someone else to second fix the project as I'm no longer interested. Things is, if I bail, he's pretty much buggered as he'll have to find another spark to start in a weeks time which is highly unlikely.

That im not so much bothered with, but it's the bovine excrement he's likely to start spreading about me that I am.

I can go into real detail if anyone wants.

Any thoughts?

Leave him hanging, mate......who's to say he's not going muck spreading even if you do complete.....I think the odds are he might.

 

[Delboybully]

I was subbying for a sparks who had problems with a customer, loads of aggro and relations between the customer and the sparks deteriorated completely. Eventually due to payment not being received on time we left the site. The customer tried to get another sparks to finish the job but obviously found it difficult to say the least.

So a project manager was called in. He liased with the customer in regard to every question and relayed that to us, the sparks and the customer would not even talk relations were that bad. The project manager was also impartial and if the customer was wrong, he would tell them so. An agreement was put into place that we would spend 3 days a week on site with payment before we came back. The project manager had the final say on the amount billed for and if it was correct for the work done according to the sparks initial quotation.

The job got completed, everyone got paid and although the customer doesnt know it, the sparks and the project manager were actually doing the customer a favour by trying to get the job completed. This worked out so well that the customer even called the sparks a few months later to do some more jobs! The sparks declined, he didnt burn any bridges as he told them he was busy for at least 3 months.

So maybe you and the customer should get an impartial advocate to liase between yourself with regular payments (maybe even daily) to limit any potential losses- the customer pays the avocate!!!

 

[richy3333]

Karma says walk away.

ive walked away from jobs and declined work and it's never hurt me. I ain't a charity.

 

[ImpededLoop]

Regardless of anything else, if he has resorted to insulting your family, I would walk away whilst the going is good.

You could do this politely and offer to spend a day with the new contractor to show them how you've wired the job - payment for your time in advance of course.

 

[uksparks]

I think it's possibly best to finish what you started to just keep your name clean.

Talking of annoying customers, I put a mirror in a bathroom this afternoon, electric illuminated thing.

Anyway, it was 600mm wide and 2mm lower on the right hand side, my god the customer kicked off big time, I explained it was quite tricky due to the plasterboard fixings etc Nd lack of adjustment. I did offer to have another go at fixing it but doubted I could get it any better, it looked absolutely fine, but all he would say is that he has an eye for lines and it's not straight.

 

[shanky887614]

I think it's possibly best to finish what you started to just keep your name clean.

Talking of annoying customers, I put a mirror in a bathroom this afternoon, electric illuminated thing.

Anyway, it was 600mm wide and 2mm lower on the right hand side, my god the customer kicked off big time, I explained it was quite tricky due to the plasterboard fixings etc Nd lack of adjustment. I did offer to have another go at fixing it but doubted I could get it any better, it looked absolutely fine, but all he would say is that he has an eye for lines and it's not straight.

couldnt you have used penny washers on the mirror etc?

 

[Geordie Spark]

I think it's possibly best to finish what you started to just keep your name clean.

Talking of annoying customers, I put a mirror in a bathroom this afternoon, electric illuminated thing.

Anyway, it was 600mm wide and 2mm lower on the right hand side, my god the customer kicked off big time, I explained it was quite tricky due to the plasterboard fixings etc Nd lack of adjustment. I did offer to have another go at fixing it but doubted I could get it any better, it looked absolutely fine, but all he would say is that he has an eye for lines and it's not straight.

2mm on the cant??? ............ Dear God man - that's like a country mile!!

Sorry like but I agree with the punter on this one.

Stay back after class and write a 100 lines - "I must try harder to get things square, level and plumb"!

( cant = not level. )

 

[Marvo]

( cant = not level. )

Thanks, I thought it might be an attempt to give the swearword filter the runaround

 

[Geordie Spark]

Thanks, I thought it might be an attempt to give the swearword filter the runaround

I knew you would - that's why I stuck the translation in

The other one is "on the s****" and the swear word filter won't like that but I'm not swearing



Edit: .. Nope - it didn't!

 

[Geordie Spark]

Plasterboard fixings - LOT'S OF THEM!!! >>>>>>> Plasterboard Fixings | Fixings & Fasteners | NoLinkingToThis