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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To name and shame a big company that has just screwed me over

77 replies

SmallBuisnessOwner · 25/01/2018 15:01

Name change.

I did some work for a huge company, it was exactly as they requested (even against my advice that I thought they were missing the point). It was over a weeks work.

Was delivered to them they said thanks bla bla and I invoiced.

Now a month later I'm expecting payment and they are saying they were expecting more from me due to the track record of achievements I told them about at the begining of negotiations. But these achievements are averaged out across all of my work, I can't guarantee anything for a single peice.

They are asking for another one for free.

Aibu to refuse to do so, request payment ASAP and if not (on my social media) make a post where I talk honestly about what happened to me and by whom?

OP posts:

endofthelinefinally · 25/01/2018 15:47

IME this is a scam that big companies( and local government) use to get out of paying small businesses.
This happened to a friend. He lost his business and had to lay off staff and go bankrupt, all because of big companies not paying their bills.
Do you have insurance/ legal cover?

Original poster

SmallBuisnessOwner · 25/01/2018 15:51

I won't go bankrupt, it's mainly my time invested and I work from home.

I think it might happen alot. I don't think the company are aware I have a reasonable personal following on social media. This is the kind of thing I would publish on my personal social media rather than my business to get the story out there.

But at the same time they are worth billions and could threaten me. So not sure.

Just hope they pay up next week, but it's starting to stink.

OP posts:

Riverside2 · 25/01/2018 15:56

if you name them on social media when you yourself feel you have no case, according to the paperwork, then that would make you look really unprofessional.

If they don't pay next week, could you have a face to face conversation with the person who commissioned the work and see why they don't want to pay you until you've done more? It sounds like a misunderstanding has occurred but either side could be at fault in that way.

Original poster

SmallBuisnessOwner · 25/01/2018 16:01

It's not that I don't have a case, it's that I don't have power against a huge corporation.

They are being CF as far as I'm concerned.

OP posts:

nobutreally · 25/01/2018 16:13

Social media is never the first option in a professional dispute imo: small claims, yes: 'I'm going to tell twitter', definitely no, no matter how many followers you have!

I would politely point out:

That you did what was agreed (quote the email agreement back to them, with dates ('in your email of xxx')
That the figures you initially gave were generalised, and you never agreed to any specific targets for this work
if you feel there are specific reasons that were beyond your control why metrics might not have been reached, point those out. Politely, and if possible backed up with any communication you had at the time ('As I said in my email on xxx, I would advice against x because y)

I've worked (as a one-man-band, independent) with many big companies over the last 14 years) & luckily have never had this sort of situation. However, this is what T&Cs are for! Going forward, make sure you have a watertight set of T&Cs that you send over to clients before work starts...

TieGrr · 25/01/2018 16:13

So some kind of ad campaign or marketing strategy. They ignored your advice and asked you to do something you didn't think would work. Now they're complaining that it didn't work.

Is there someone higher up in the company you could escalate to? Pointing out that the work was commissioned and your advice was ignored.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 25/01/2018 16:15

They haven't said they won't pay, just that they expected more and are now asking for more

Don't even think about it; "delay payment then start quibbling" is the oldest trick in the book, and if you do any more for them they'll quibble about that too

And please reconsider using social media to criticise them - it might work for disappointed customers since they're "income", but unfortunately you're "outgoing" and you'll just risk looking unprofessional

eddielizzard · 25/01/2018 16:20

def DON'T go on social media about this. will look unprofessional.

stick to the facts and state again what work was agreed for payment.

Riverside2 · 25/01/2018 16:21

OP "It's not that I don't have a case, it's that I don't have power against a huge corporation."

but that is you writing it off before even trying to fix it. I realise you don't want to out yourself, and I also realise how appalling many organisations are about paying.

but I read your post as "they were expecting more and now won't pay till they get more" and that struck me as a possible misunderstanding.

I agree it's a possible piss take too! It's just I think it's worth investigating all the possibilities.

I would definitely keep away from social media because if they feel they are in the right, they might come after you for money - and if you do it, they will tell everyone they work with not to hire you.

Dontletthebastardsgrindyoudown · 25/01/2018 16:22

A certain big (scummy) sports company are well known for this. Agreeing a price with a contractor, receiving work, picking holes in it and then demanding way more work for the money they've made.

Dontletthebastardsgrindyoudown · 25/01/2018 16:22

*paid not made

Original poster

SmallBuisnessOwner · 25/01/2018 16:27

Some amazing advice here, thanks so much.

I'm not going near social media yet, if I did it would be under me rather than my company.

I wasn't too forceful when I thought it wouldn't work as I figured at the end of the day they are paying me a fixed cost to do exactly what they want.

I'm saying no to any more work, as that blurs the lines and could be an even bigger waste of time. Thanks for those tips nobutreally that's really helpful

OP posts:

Original poster

SmallBuisnessOwner · 25/01/2018 16:28

You can just say sports direct can't you? I wouldn't work with them with their rep...

OP posts:

Viviennemary · 25/01/2018 16:29

I don't think you should threaten social media either. I'd send them another copy of the invoice and request payment within 14 days or else there will be extra charges added for late payment. I agree somebody else is trying to cover themselves because they made a mistake in what they requested. Send a copy to the accounts department as well.

StormTreader · 25/01/2018 16:32

Sadly it seems almost expected now that big companies have a "we dont feel like it, what are you going to do?" attitude. Unless you know they will really want to work with you again in future and can hold that over them, youre at a huge disadvantage.

I know it was actually company policy at a big company my dad worked for that they didnt pay anyone until it was already overdue 3 months with the attitude "maybe they'll go bust and we'll never have to pay at all".

Nikephorus · 25/01/2018 16:48

I wouldn't threaten social media; I think it looks unprofessional.
Plus they might sue you for defamation (or the appropriate technical term). Plus any future customers might check your social media and decide you're potential trouble.
If you want to be taken professionally you have to act professionally.

bigsighall · 25/01/2018 16:56

My experience in case it helps.
Similar situation to you (self employed did work for a medium sized company)
They refused to pay as it wasn’t quite what they wanted. It was everything we had agreed in writing.
I warned them several times about paying and they didn’t. I submitted a claim via the small claims court. It cost about £100. I then added an inconvenience charge and interest (google what you’re allowed to add) and then sent it off. They paid up. I think for them it was less hassle. I got the court fee back too. If you can afford the court fee, it’s well worth doing.
Do not let it go. Stay professional.
Good luck

lostincumbria · 25/01/2018 16:59

Big companies do not want the bad publicity a claim in court would bring. They'll very likely pay - these issues are normally due to middle management trying it on - legal will just make the payment.

TinklyLittleLaugh · 25/01/2018 16:59

How much do they owe you OP? If it is a small amount maybe just see it as a valuable lesson about nailing down a contract. We don't do anything without first sending a customer a quote, detailing what we are going to do, and the payment we want for it. And then getting their written acceptance of the quote. Over the years we've had a few chancers, but we have always been paid in the end.

nobutreally · 25/01/2018 17:03

Glad to be of use! I'd also recommend joining some sort of professional freelance group if you can: I'm a member of a couple specific to my role, and also freelance heroes on facebook, who seem a helpful bunch. Useful to get recommendations for T&Cs/lawyers who'll chuck out a quick threatening letter etc.

So yes, go in firm but calm for now: then 'taking legal advice' as next step; then small claims if that doesn't work. But remember big companies are also constrained by the same laws we are: they can't just make the rules up, even if it feels like it sometimes...

Also remember, even if your professional and personal twitters are officially separate, it's not exactly difficult to join the two up!

peachgreen · 25/01/2018 17:05

Good job OP. They're being very cheeky. I've worked for people that would try this sort of thing and it's just horrible. Hope it works out!

TinklyLittleLaugh · 25/01/2018 17:07

A couple of years ago we had a big company refuse some stuff we had custom made for them, even though it was exactly what they had ordered. We decided that, as we did a lot of business with them, we would agree to take the stuff back and try to find another buyer. Which we eventually did, though at a discounted price.

A month later, someone in the big company's accounts dept paid our invoice anyway (we are talking five figures). We decided to say nothing and wait and see if they ever chased it up after auditing. They never did.

DextroDependant · 25/01/2018 17:08

I agree with all the advice to take it to court.

worridmum · 25/01/2018 17:12

Its the problem with massive companies they expect to be paid on time but in all the time my DH has worked for big companies (about 15 years of experience). He can count the number of times he has been paid on time on one hand.

But woe be tide you if you do not pay for there services on the dot or they ramp up charges etc (they try to get out of paying for extra charges as they expect small companies not to take them to court)

My DH when he does work gets them to sign a contract that the payment of the invoice must be made within 20 working days or 1 calendar month of work being completed or a 5% surge will be added per working week not paid after the deadline. (These are not small firgures or companies and the number of times said companies leave it 3 months to pay than attempt to weasel out of paying the surcharge plus interest is insane and the judge when we went to court was not impressed with the last one took to court think massive international company with registered profit of 1.2 billion pre tax was did not pay a small £80,000 (compared to there profits) to a small company within a year and had the gall to contently ask if my DH can write off what they owe him if they promise more work.... (like hell we are doing anymore work for them).

It got to the point where we had to send the high court sheriffs out to the UK head quarters to actually get payment....

Original poster

SmallBuisnessOwner · 25/01/2018 17:13

Im not talking anywhere near five figures for this, but as a self employed creative it is a small amount for some but a large for me. I was already undervaluing my time by doing it in the first place.

Thanks will persist

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