To worry about meeting this client

[Goingslowlymad1]

I have literally just started up a small consulting business and hav a client who seems to be quite interested and to be be honest may be my best client financially so far. However, I find him rather creepy- at the moment it's all over Skype due to the nature of the work but he is now pressing to meet - which to be fair would be usual in a consultancy business - and I wouldn't hesitate to meet most of my clients. Without being too specific, he has called me too often at inappropriate times, has suggested things that are just slightly off in terms of the work (hard to explain without being outing) and is just generally not quite right... Can anyone help with doing something to avoid meeting him without losing us his custom?

Ok. I'm a freelancer...and NO.

Don't meet him.

Has he been paying you for online consultation? Would meeting physically be usual in your line of business or is it often conducted online.

Consultation is often conducted online. Just say no...you only work online.

Trust your instincts. If you do meet, take a colleague-fake trainee?-preferably a male one and meet in a public place where you can't easily be followed to/from such as coffee shop in a mall.

ALWAYS trust your instincts. Don't try to talk yourself out of trusting your gut feeling. There will be other clients.

Just NO. Use your gut instincts. In fact I bet you don't have any money from him, no contract, nothing ... just a dangling hint and vague promise of lucrative work, and this invasive shit that goes with it.

Thanks all! mrsonline yes I have been paid- that's the thing I guess- I have given clear breakdown of services and, as he had started phoning far too much said "only 1 Hr phone support is included per month" but he still continues to push boundaries

@tired I think that's my best shot- dh is a bit like me- thinking "oh I'm sure he's fine just a bit odd" but did say I'll come with you to meet him- but I sort of said that would look unprofessional. But perhaps if I pass him off as a colleague that would work!

So you can stick rigorously to the contract - and sack him off if he breaches it?

It just sounds more trouble than it's worth.

Been there.

@lineysrun that's sort of why I introduced the 1hr support time to the contract as he was getting Arsey that I wouldn't answer two calls a day!! But basically when I've pointed out that he's going over the hours he just pays more hours..just realised how ha sounds!

Useless phone! Bad not ha!

If it walks like a duck ...

It's an odd situation as I'm new to being self employed and in my work would expect to meet people in person. Oddly would have thought nothing of meeting an odd guy when I was employed- maybe felt more protected

NO. Not worth it. Don't meet him.