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Morning all! I was referred here by a link on Digital Spy, and having read through a number of the threads you all seem a friendly and helpful group of people! I do have a bit of a dilemma, and would appreciate any thoughts you may have, I will try to keep it as brief as possible! In a nutshell:
- Was asked by my former employers to write a manual for the office after I left their employment. Agreed payment of £10k in 3 instalments, 2 of which I have received.
- There have been delays on both sides, not just mine, the final instalment was due after month 3 (August last year) or upon completion of the work.
- It has gone back and forth with them to be checked and approved several times during the period.
- Each time it has come back I have made the amendments requested and added in new stuff as requested for them to approve.
- Earlier this year they were ignoring my emails and I asked if there was a problem. They responded that, amongst other things, they were not sure it was fit for purpose. I replied by pointing out that the document at that time was an amalgamation of smaller parts which had all been individually approved so I found it hard to believe that this was the case; this point has never been raised since. They also tried to claim that I had got staff still employed there to write 'large parts' (their phrase) of it, which is simply not true. I had always said there were 2 small parts I could not write and never hid this from anyone. Again, after I pointed this out they never mentioned this again.
- The document was circulated amongst the management team in February (previously it had been dealt with by the MD only) and they came up with some more items they wanted to see added, which I duly did and returned the document. Silence since, despite several polite emails from me chasing, until today.
- They are now saying that the team has decided that there are lots more omissions and amendments to be made (this is the same team that had already reviewed the document) and that they have decided to complete it themselves. They have therefore asked me to consider a reduction to the final payment.
I am inclined to think that a) they could well be talking rubbish about it needing lots of work as I worked there for a number of years and the document contained everything I could think of! Plus, as I have stated above, they had already reviewed it several times so I feel it is unlikely that it needs lots of further work; and b) If they decide to finish it for themselves that's their decision?
As far as I can see it I can either tell them I want the full amount as it was their decision to finish it themselves and as I have said above I simply do not accept that there is a large amount of work to be done on it, or I can suggest a small reduction just to get this matter completed. The MD is a very legal-savvy kind of guy so I am inclined to think that by asking me to consider a reduction, and not telling me they were going to reduce the fee (if you see what I mean) they are under no legal obligation to pay me less, but I am not sure on this...
Thoughts, suggestions and advice greatly appreciated! (and sorry, it was quite a big nutshell wasn't it!!)
- Was asked by my former employers to write a manual for the office after I left their employment. Agreed payment of £10k in 3 instalments, 2 of which I have received.
- There have been delays on both sides, not just mine, the final instalment was due after month 3 (August last year) or upon completion of the work.
- It has gone back and forth with them to be checked and approved several times during the period.
- Each time it has come back I have made the amendments requested and added in new stuff as requested for them to approve.
- Earlier this year they were ignoring my emails and I asked if there was a problem. They responded that, amongst other things, they were not sure it was fit for purpose. I replied by pointing out that the document at that time was an amalgamation of smaller parts which had all been individually approved so I found it hard to believe that this was the case; this point has never been raised since. They also tried to claim that I had got staff still employed there to write 'large parts' (their phrase) of it, which is simply not true. I had always said there were 2 small parts I could not write and never hid this from anyone. Again, after I pointed this out they never mentioned this again.
- The document was circulated amongst the management team in February (previously it had been dealt with by the MD only) and they came up with some more items they wanted to see added, which I duly did and returned the document. Silence since, despite several polite emails from me chasing, until today.
- They are now saying that the team has decided that there are lots more omissions and amendments to be made (this is the same team that had already reviewed the document) and that they have decided to complete it themselves. They have therefore asked me to consider a reduction to the final payment.
I am inclined to think that a) they could well be talking rubbish about it needing lots of work as I worked there for a number of years and the document contained everything I could think of! Plus, as I have stated above, they had already reviewed it several times so I feel it is unlikely that it needs lots of further work; and b) If they decide to finish it for themselves that's their decision?
As far as I can see it I can either tell them I want the full amount as it was their decision to finish it themselves and as I have said above I simply do not accept that there is a large amount of work to be done on it, or I can suggest a small reduction just to get this matter completed. The MD is a very legal-savvy kind of guy so I am inclined to think that by asking me to consider a reduction, and not telling me they were going to reduce the fee (if you see what I mean) they are under no legal obligation to pay me less, but I am not sure on this...
Thoughts, suggestions and advice greatly appreciated! (and sorry, it was quite a big nutshell wasn't it!!)
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