Rude clients

[amused1]

So, I work in the service industry. I provide a technical, professional service. I'm a tax accountant. Some clients act as though I'm a rug to wipe his or her feet upon. Every once in a while I want to bitch slap a client bloody.

 

The worst are cheaters who bitch because I won't subject myself to financial penalties or prison time so they can save x% on the dollar in taxes. I've walked a number to the door. Then they abuse me with bad on line reviews. Fortunately, I have a large, strong client base. Still, my new client numbers are down for the first time in 10 years. Should I stoop and call the bastards out on line? As much as regulations allow? Or would that do more harm than good? Thoughts?

[+ azdr0710]

and just how in hell do you have time to look at the forum at a time like this??!!

 

stay honest, of course.....if somebody asks you to do something illegal, can you just say "we aren't going to be able to help you"?.....do you have a boss who makes you takes these clients?....or are you your own boss?....

 

off the record, can you report potential cheaters to the IRS?.....and/or is there a "secret" network of accountants in your area in which you report to each other bad clients?.....

[+ deej]

I have declined clients several times. "I don't think this will work" will usually suffice.

 

As an IT consultant, I'm often amazed how often prospective clients ask me to service a pirated version of Windows. That's like asking your mechanic to service a stolen car.

 

In cases where the prospective client becomes abusive about rejection, I offer him a business card from one of my competitors in the area (knowing full well they'll reject him too). In the most egregious cases they just go away. In the BEST cases they've come back because they found out I'm honest and we fix things.

 

Rule #1: take the high road.

Rule #2: when tempted otherwise, see rule #1

 

You are not obligated to accept every customer who comes through your door.

[amused1]

Deej, I appreciate your insights and agree with you on the high road approach. That said, younger potential clients seem to look at on line reviews a lot.

 

I get a lot of referrals from happy clients but wonder if the on line reviews I don't refute may be doing me harm. Perhaps it's professional pride? At the end of the day I need to pay my bills and put something aside for retirement. Sigh. I hate cheats.

[+ deej]

Look at escort rebuttals to bad reviews here. They're rarely well received.

 

Remember HooBoy's original advice to escorts seeking a good review (which I think is actually still in the escort FAQ): The best way to get a good review is to be the best escort you can be.

 

If you think you can benefit from wrestling with pigs in the internet machine, don't. You both get dirty but the pig enjoys it. (Another thing HooBoy used to say!)

[+ sam.fitzpatrick]

Deej's rules are great and probably better than what I was going to suggest - - an anonymous From 3949-A.

[seaboy4hire]

If they are reviewing on Yelp you can add your side of the story.

 

Hugs,

Greg

[marylander1940]

So, I work in the service industry. I provide a technical, professional service. I'm a tax accountant. Some clients act as though I'm a rug to wipe his or her feet upon. Every once in a while I want to bitch slap a client bloody.

 

The worst are cheaters who bitch because I won't subject myself to financial penalties or prison time so they can save x% on the dollar in taxes. I've walked a number to the door. Then they abuse me with bad on line reviews. Fortunately, I have a large, strong client base. Still, my new client numbers are down for the first time in 10 years. Should I stoop and call the bastards out on line? As much as regulations allow? Or would that do more harm than good? Thoughts?

 

you know what to do, if not you wouldn't have posted this thread on here...

[LADoug1]

In cases where the prospective client becomes abusive about rejection, I offer him a business card from one of my competitors in the area (knowing full well they'll reject him too). In the most egregious cases they just go away. In the BEST cases they've come back because they found out I'm honest and we fix things.

 

Why would you potentially set up another escort by referring the abusive client to them?

[jjkrkwood]

I have declined clients several times. "I don't think this will work" will usually suffice.

 

As an IT consultant, I'm often amazed how often prospective clients ask me to service a pirated version of Windows. That's like asking your mechanic to service a stolen car.

 

In cases where the prospective client becomes abusive about rejection, I offer him a business card from one of my competitors in the area (knowing full well they'll reject him too). In the most egregious cases they just go away. In the BEST cases they've come back because they found out I'm honest and we fix things.

 

Rule #1: take the high road.

Rule #2: when tempted otherwise, see rule #1

 

You are not obligated to accept every customer who comes through your door.

 

deej is correct, as I too have an IT company and concur with his findings. I find that customers will try to control you, but you must set the ground rules from day 1, so that if the relationship is not a fit, they can move along.... there are just rude people in general, and they can be found in any walk of life. I personally wont deal with them and let them know it in no uncertain terms....

[tanman4u]

Why would you potentially set up another escort by referring the abusive client to them?

 

 

In cases where the prospective client becomes abusive about rejection, I offer him a business card from one of my competitors in the area (knowing full well they'll reject him too).

 

.

 

I think Deej was referring to customers in his IT business not escorts.

 

If the online forum they're trashing you in allows replies ALWAYS reply in a straightforward and professional way. Sometimes you can benefit more from a rebuttal to a bad review than just having a good one. I speak as someone who handles our TripAdvisor accounts and, though very rare, we occasionally get a not-so-good-one EVERY one gets a reply.

 

If you're like me and your research places to stay or things to do on TripAdvisor or places to eat on Yelp, I tend to scroll through any of the 5 star reviews and look for the bad ones and see

a). What the reviewer didn't like and if it sounds like s/he was just full of it, and

b). How and if that business replied and what they said.

 

I've chosen several places based just one that.

 

Sidenote to Amused1. My Dad was in your business and he always refused to help me cheat on my taxes even though he would have been imminently qualified to do it. Thank you Dad, now I get it.

[AdamSmith]

I have declined clients several times. "I don't think this will work" will usually suffice.

 

deej is correct, as I too have an IT company and concur with his findings. I find that customers will try to control them, but you must set the ground rules from day 1, so that if the relationship is not a fit, they can move along.... there are just rude people in general, and they can be found in any walk of life. I personally wont deal with them and let them know it in no uncertain terms....

The wisdom of ages! Likewise in my biz of technology market research services, exactly as deej and jjk advise, sometimes the most profitable thing you can do is to decline a client -- or fire them.

[jgoo]

I can certainly see how online negative reviews could have you concerned. I agree with others who suggest responding in a professional manner. I have no idea if this is a practical solution for you, perhaps you could bury the negative reviews by making sure there is an over abundance of positive ones from your large base of satisfied clients. It may seem somewhat unseemly to ask for the reviews but the nature of how it is today and the fact it seems to have some impact on your business, it may be time to consider that.

 

As an aside, to highlight how online reviews need to be taken with caution (both positive and negative), last year my landscaper sent an email to all his customers (I assume) saying that any reviews submitted for him on various sites he listed would result in a certain % discount for a certain number of visits. Now he didn't say it had to be a good review, but certainly that was implied. I'm sure that tit for tat is against all the rules of any review sites but I am sure it happens more often than not.

[tanman4u]

How about the guest house in Hudson New York that threatened to fine anyone $500 if they posted a bad review.

 

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/08/04/travel/bad-hotel-review-fine-backlash/

 

The backlash resulted in hundreds of bad reviews mostly from people who had never even stayed there.

[Reluctant Daddy]

We have a yearly ritual every spring. We call it weeding the garden, and we get rid of clients who are abusive and those whose payment history is less than stellar. The best is their disbelief that we would dare do such a thing to them.

[+ Truereview]

@amused1 , this is a great topic! Thank you for your clear example too. Two things that haven't yet been mentioned but have worked for me: word of mouth by opinion leaders and the power of client reviews that do the rebuttal for you.

 

If you've been in your profession for a while (sounds like you have), you know when an opinion leader walks into your office. This client is smart, respected by peers, prepared, kind in interactions, humble, and articulate. This is the kind of client that not only makes a dream client, but a great influencer. This is the gal or guy you want talking about you, not just posting reviews. Invest into heavy rapport-building with this client. It will pay tenfold. Plus, isn't it less burdensome to invest your energy on good clients than unfair, cheating fuckers?

 

The client who does the rebuttal for you: I've seen this in person and in online reviews. I witnessed it in person last week at a client event where a total stranger was bad-mouthing one of my consultants in front of me and a couple of other clients (agony!). Then I saw this soft-spoken client of mine (an opinion leader) lean in to our circle and whisper something to the effect of: my experience is totally contrary to what I just heard, if you'd like to hear more about mine, I will be at the bar. Wow! I've seen similar behaviors online, where a comment (not even a review) totally reframes the negativity of the moment thereby canceling the impact of a negative review.

[Reluctant Daddy]

Plus, isn't it less burdensome to invest your energy on good clients than unfair, cheating fuckers?

 

+ infinity

[seaboy4hire]

If a customer at my day job wants to be rude I give them some decaf shots thatve been sitting for too long in their coffee. I aint got time for rude bitches in my shop.

 

Hugs,

Greg

[+ Funguy]

Grin and bear it and then charge them more.

[bigvalboy]

What a great thread...You all sound like lovely people...

[jjkrkwood]

What a great thread...You all sound like lovely people...

 

Annie I am sure if this Bartender was RUDE to you, you'd give him a Bigger tip ?

 

[bigvalboy]

Annie I am sure if this Bartender was RUDE to you, you'd give him a Bigger tip ?

 

Actually my bartender has never been rude to me...

http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/df/84/0e/df840e6986fd522c6f9ef25aba0f73d5.jpg

 

Yes I know...the place is a dump, but it's my dump.

 

 

http://www.guymag.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/IMG_16171.jpeg

 

http://s3-media3.fl.yelpcdn.com/bphoto/2necviLYBhEvxqxpuJgOmw/o.jpg

[jjkrkwood]

Actually my bartender has never been rude to me...

 

 

Yes I know...the place is a dump, but it's my dump.

 

http://www.guymag.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/IMG_16171.jpeg

 

I detect a "Manbun"......

[bigvalboy]

LOL...the manbun is no more. It's now shoulder length.

[jjkrkwood]

LOL...the manbun is no more. It's now shoulder length.

 

 

http://manhuntdaily.com/files/Lars-N-by-Mikel-Marton-long-hair-big-cock-pale-skin-lean-body-male-model-hot-photography-huge-hard-dick-nude-naked-4.jpg http://epicsaholic.com/pics/3545/hot-men-with-long-hair.jpg