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Original poster

Self employed moving into employment… ex customer causing a fuss

26 replies

Justthisonce12 · 26/11/2022 14:28

I’m honestly not sure how to handle this.

I’ve taken a full-time permanent role still on a contract, but inside I are 35 which I absolutely love. I’m really thrilled with everything about the company.

A previous client has found out about this and decided that I will not be able to dedicate my time and attention to them and hit the fucking roof basically. This includes contacting the company that they think is my new employer to express their concern and basically demanding their money back for services that have already been provided to them.

The new people know about the old people and are aware i will need to deliver the last little bit.

However, I am fully expecting an nuclear reaction on Monday when the old people read my email basically saying you have nothing to worry or complain about, you’ve had what you paid for, and I will finish this project off as fast as I can feasibly.

OP posts:
TakeYourFinalPosition · 26/11/2022 14:32

By “found out”, do you mean you didn’t tell them?

I think it’s somewhat reasonable to be anxious if you’ve paid someone to complete a project and find out that they’re returning to employment before it’s done. The way they’ve handled it is odd, but perhaps they felt that was the best way forward given that you didn’t tell them directly?

It’d also make more sense if your new company is for example a graphic design agency; and the project is for graphic design, as they may have presumed the contract would pass on. Incorrectly, but I’ve known people believe that to be the case.

Obviously only you know what they’ve been like as a customer to date and if they are generally a bit of a nightmare or if they’ve panicked and overreacted, but I think you’ve dropped the ball a bit in not communicating the change to them and reassuring them that their project would still be finished etc prior to them finding out themselves.

PatriciaHolm · 26/11/2022 14:37

I will finish this project off as fast as I can feasibly.

So, you've taken a full time job somewhere else without finishing off the previous work, and didn't tell the people you were doing work for, and you still have work to complete... so yes of course they are frustrated and annoyed with you.

So much so this almost screams reverse.

Original poster
Justthisonce12 · 26/11/2022 14:40

I don’t have any issue with them being frustrated at the lack of communication, but having now communicated it, I’m just not quite sure really where to take it from here.

and yes, they have been a bit of a nightmare. They’ve moved the goalposts once which actually is what led to having to take on a new assignment.

OP posts:
pastabest · 26/11/2022 14:50

I think a bit more context is probably important here.

Original poster
Justthisonce12 · 26/11/2022 14:50

I should also point out because it is relevant they have never been my only Client. There is always been an expectation that I would be working for other people alongside this particular assignment, so it shouldn’t of come as any great shock to them. And if I’m being really honest it’s actually none of their bloody business who I’ve gone to work for, it doesn’t affect them. I do understand that they might think it does but it doesn’t.

OP posts:
LaurieFairyCake · 26/11/2022 14:54

"The work will be completed as agreed in our contract by X date. After this work is completed my services will not be available".

You don't need to engage with twats.

Aprilx · 27/11/2022 11:36

Your post is really not very clear and I wonder if that is intentional. But it seems like you have taken a job when you already were contracted for services to somebody else and didn’t even bother to tell them. You have said they have had what they have paid for but also that you will try to complete the project as soon as possible, so that seems contradictory. Frankly you sound very unprofessional and I am not surprised you have hacked the client off.

SirChenjins · 27/11/2022 11:41

I’m not sure what you mean by “I will finish this project off as fast as I can feasibly”? Presumably you have a confirmed completion date which your current client has agreed to and which won’t be impacted by your taking on this new job?

Your post is a bit vague - why would your current client hit the roof? What are they concerned about?

tribpot · 27/11/2022 11:45

So you don't have a permanent role. You've taken a contract inside IR35. It's full-time hours but that doesn't necessarily mean anything in terms of your ability to deliver work to other customers. Your pre-existing customer still has a contract with you (outside IR35 I assume) and they have no direct relationship with you as an individual but rather with your company. There's no evidence that your company isn't going to deliver on its contractual commitments but they've gone off on one anyway? (And appear to want your new customer to cover what they've spent with your company, WTF).

Have you put in writing to old customer how you/your company will honour the contract and complete the deliverables? Is the new customer a competitor of old customer?

Either way, I think you need to deliver what's left of the old contract as quickly as possible and get that last invoice in.

ChristmasCakeAndStilton · 27/11/2022 11:45

How many hours a week would the old client perhaps be expecting? If, say, 20 hours a week, and you've just taken on a 40 hour a week job, I think they are correct to ge concerned - although have gone about it in the wrong way.
If it's a 5 hour a week project, they are being u reasonable.

What project deadlines are already in place? Will you be able to meet them still?

EmmaAgain22 · 27/11/2022 12:03

pastabest · 26/11/2022 14:50

I think a bit more context is probably important here.

This.

Original poster
Justthisonce12 · 27/11/2022 18:43

@Aprilx throughout the contract ive always been working for other people including in fact exclusively with their competitors and it in no way impacts the result of the project which has no deadline - I suspect they regret that now, but it cant be changed.

I didnt tell them and tbh wouldn’t tell any of them about each other because it should need saying.

I guess we’ll see what happens tomorrow but i like Lauries response, i wont be working with them again after their stunt

OP posts:
WeAreAllLionesses · 27/11/2022 19:39

I would worry they weren't going to pay me after that.

What a weird project with no deadline and no clause re competitors. Hope your contract is watertight your end.

Justthisonce12 · 27/11/2022 20:06

This reply has been withdrawn

we've withdrawn this post at the OP's request.

Original poster
Justthisonce12 · 27/11/2022 20:06

But obviously, I need them to be the ones to terminate it, not me

OP posts:
Headabovetheparakeet · 27/11/2022 20:12

Your op isn't very clear, but it's given me the impression that you haven't handled this situation well and are now surprised it's blown up.

Your last comments about being happy to terminate the contract and walk away is probably exactly what the client is pissed off about.

You just sound really unprofessional.

WeAreAllLionesses · 27/11/2022 20:12

Have you been paid already?

LittIe · 27/11/2022 20:15

What was the completion date for the work you were engaged to do for this client? Are you going to meet it?

I can see why they’re pissed off, TBH.

Original poster
Justthisonce12 · 27/11/2022 20:47

There is no completion date. It’s delivering an outcome, but not within a specific time frame.
I think those of you who are deeming me. Unprofessional are looking at this as being a specific. How can I put it on my get a piece of work that needed to be delivered within a certain time frame and that isn’t the case at all it’s a outcome that they want, and it might take me six days to complete it in which case they then probably be kicking off because they think I just picked the thing out from my top drawer of my desk and they probably feel that I didn’t earn the money or it could be something that frankly takes me years to deliver. Either way they still have to pay mae fees paid me half at the moment.

OP posts:
Original poster
Justthisonce12 · 27/11/2022 20:49

I honestly don’t know how to explain it without putting the contract. If you also have a look at bar you’ll just have to take my word for it that it’s something that if I took 15 years to deliver this if I took 30 years to deliver it, I would not be in breach.

OP posts:
Bard6817 · 27/11/2022 21:07

It’s always difficult when you move on from a client.

I’ve been IR35 and Full time so i feel your pain, and moved between when it suited me.

It really comes down to the contract, in that have you been paid in advance, what clauses allow you to terminate, penalties, notice, and finally whether or not you wish to continue with it and if realistically, you’ve bitten off more than you can chew.

Good luck….

SirChenjins · 27/11/2022 21:08

I’m not following you at all on this, sorry - it’s very difficult to comment when you’re providing so few concrete details.

Headabovetheparakeet · 27/11/2022 21:33

If it's something that could take 30 years to deliver then surely there's a notice period in the contract for terminating the agreement?

pastabest · 27/11/2022 21:54

Ok

I'm going to start the guessing game

my starting guesses are ...

treasure hunter
maths tutor
Death

Original poster
Justthisonce12 · 27/11/2022 22:48

Headabovetheparakeet · 27/11/2022 21:33

If it's something that could take 30 years to deliver then surely there's a notice period in the contract for terminating the agreement?

No there isn’t actually and no penalties for either side. Its fine i have got what i need from the thread, thanks for the contributions

OP posts: