Shitty client

[SundayChanger]

I work in a specialised area where work can’t be ‘moneterised’ in a simple way but it’s valuable both financially and reputationally for my clients. A contract was postponed through Covid - and rightly so considering what we charge compared to employees they had decided to furlough.

They brought me back, asked me to do something highly skilled (can’t say what or It would out me) which I did with bells and whistles within a week. It worked, like everything else I have undertaken with this client because I have worked in this industry for 25 years and know my stuff.

Unfortunately the organisation is not run by paid professionals but elected officials who believe my work could be done by ‘anyone’ and that I should ‘clock on’ (I am a consultant) and that I should therefore now be expendable. There was even a comment by a particular and influential official that I do what I do because I ‘know’ (wink wink) people. (Not the case).

If I just jacked them in, it would be a big loss to my company, but we have substantial investments we can utilise to get by. Aibu to say to this client - jog on and I will go to your main competitor cos you are such an ass. If so, how would you do it to get the message across without being unprofessional. Or would you take the money, smile sweetly and wait til it all finished naturally.

I wouldn't let their ignorance cause me to be unprofessional. They may realise in time (or not, some ignorance lasts).

You need to continue to be professional. However as a business you have the right to grow your business suggest you do that so that eventually you’re unfortunately not available due to other commitments however you’ll recommend someone else.

Are you saying they don’t want to pay? Or are they ending their relationship with you?

Basically they keep changing the goal posts. It’s kind of like they ask for a biscuit, you give them that biscuit, they then say you haven’t given them what they want cos they want a waffle. Then you give them the waffle, because they wanted the biscuit. You tell them they have the biscuit and the waffle and they swear you didn’t give them a thing. Generally whilst being rather bullying and intimidating

Sorry reading that back makes no sense as I managed to miss out part of the analogy. Imagine if someone said they wanted you to complete task 1. You did that. Then they said I didn’t want you to do task 1, I wanted you to do Task 2. You did that second task as well but then they said why have you done task 2 when they asked for task 1. You respond that both tasks are done, here is the evidence, at no extra cost to you. Their response is no you didn’t. You have been concentrating on task 2, I wanted task 1 and you haven’t done it.’ And so it goes with you pointing out how everything has been achieved whilst they use bullying language to say you have done neither.

Your last post makes sense. Seriously, find better clients, then as pp says, be unavailable to this client. All very professional.
I have been there, and it generally comes back to ignorant people trying to get something for nothing.
You know your worth after 25 years in your industry, so don’t allow them to undermine it.

Do you write advertising copy or design marketing pitches by any chance? You are describing a world I have dipped my toes into so often but clients are always like this and it does my head in. The biscuit waffle analogy is so accurate. I have promised myself never to return to it.

In your case, I would set clear guidelines on the work done to date, get paid for this stage of the work once it's complete and then price yourself out of the job for the next phase if they keep dragging their heels and faffing about. Stay very calm and professional but get out and try not to ac cept work with them again.

This sounds familiar! I totally get the frustration and how demoralising it can be. Can you just step away gradually and be less available?

I work in an industry that faces similar challenges and take solace in this website from time to time clientsfromhell.net/