{"id":44339,"date":"2015-10-26t05:01:39","date_gmt":"2015-10-26t09:01:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/48e130086c.nxcli.net\/?p=44339"},"modified":"2017-06-27t07:42:06","modified_gmt":"2017-06-27t11:42:06","slug":"client-balks-necessary-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/\/www.g005e.com\/2015\/10\/26\/client-balks-necessary-work\/","title":{"rendered":"when a client balks at necessary work"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"ed<\/a>maybe it’s time to part ways.<\/strong><\/p>\n

by ed mendlowitz<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

question:<\/strong> i know that one of my clients needs some extra work done, but they don\u2019t want to pay for it. it is important that this work gets done.<\/p>\n

do you think i should do it anyway? what is my responsibility?<\/p>\n

more practice doctor q&a: <\/b>it\u2019s not sales. it\u2019s your duty<\/span><\/a> | <\/span>7 ways to lose a client\u2019s trust<\/span><\/a> | <\/span>is joint representation a conflict?<\/span><\/a> | <\/span>what goes in a client\u2019s permanent file?<\/span><\/a> | <\/span>6 ways to take a client beyond tax prep<\/span><\/a> | <\/span>client\u2019s difficult daughter balks at bill<\/span><\/a> |<\/span> 6 simple steps to impress a prospect<\/span><\/a> |<\/span> complaining client? no wonder!<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

answer:<\/strong> i don\u2019t think you have a responsibility to do the work if the client doesn\u2019t want to pay for it, no matter how necessary.<\/p>\n

on some level, it is the client\u2019s money and we cannot spend it for them. lots of time we feel a greater responsibility for the successful completion or followthrough of a project than the client and we tend to overstep the boundary of fee limitations, preferring to let the success of the job speak for itself, and negotiate after we did the work.<\/p>\n

that is just not good business. if we feel strongly that we are right, we should be able to get the point across to the client \u2013 and if we cannot get the point across, then maybe we are not so right.<\/p>\n

also, if the client doesn\u2019t give the okay, and you feel the lack of getting this work done could cause the client a serious problem, then you need to consider whether you should continue working with that client. we are professionals and enjoy high levels of trust from our clients.\u00a0continuing a relationship where we know there will be a serious problem at a later date betrays that trust, and i believe that we owe it to the client and ourselves to rethink the engagement.<\/p>\n

i can tell you that when a serious problem develops, one of the things the client will say to you is, \u201ci trusted you to protect me. how could you let this happen?\u201d how will you respond?<\/p>\n