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Can I tell this client why I'm angry, or do I have to bite my tongue??

2 replies

Legacy · 05/11/2008 14:54

I'm rather annoyed.

A client (who uses a team of freelancers) asked me to put together a proposal a few months ago for a series of workshops. I gave her a proposal and heard nothing.
When I chased her, she said it wasn't in the format she needed, and asked me to restructure it, which I then did, although it took me another few hours work.
I sent it back to, and then heard nothing for a few weeks.

Last week I found out that the idea of the workshops was discussed at a project update meeting 3 weeks ago, and they decided it was too expensive and they weren't going ahead. I wasn't invited to this meeting, so had no chance to present the proposal or even discuss it.
What's worse is that this decision was minuted after the meeting and sent to the other freelancers.
I only found out through one of the other team members mentioning it to me!

I am angry because this is such an unprofessional way to treat people:

a) I think I should have been given an opportunity to at least discuss my proposal
b) The client should have communicated the outcome back to me immediately after the meeting - I should not 'discover' 3rd hand 3 weeks later!

I called her and left a general message, but she still hasn't returned my call.

I feel like I want to be honest and say that I'm angry/ disappointed by the way this has been handled/ communicated BUT is there anyway I can do this without cutting myself out for any future work??

Not sure I want to work for an organisation like this to be honest

OP posts:
hattyyellow · 05/11/2008 18:59

I think that spending time on preparing bids/proposals for potential work is just part of the freelance game - however frustrating it is not to get paid for the time spent doing them.

I've submitted bids before which have been turned down and would not have expected to automatically get the chance to present the bid.

I do think it's extremely rude not to have contacted you earlier to let you know that they aren't interested though.

Toots · 06/11/2008 10:48

I think you need to say how you feel but avoiding making it personal emotional.

Maybe more of a 'It would really have helped if there had been...' format.

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