My boyfriend is out $350.00
By winterose
@winterose (39887)
Canada
May 1, 2008 9:04pm CST
I just posted the problems I am having here on this site today, but that is nothing in comparison with my boyfriends troubles of yesterday.
My boyfriend is an accountant and yesterday was the last day to file taxes here in Quebec. He has been working day and night to get the taxes finished. He is so tired he falls into bed as soon as he gets home sometimes without even having supper.
Well he uses the program Quicken that many of you may be familiar with.
And he had a families income tax to do. There was the wife and husband and adult child. The most complicated income was the mother who is a business woman making over 80,000 a year on her own.
He did all three taxes, and then the quicken program acted up, it wouldn't print out the woman's tax. He called the service people or whomever and it turns out he has used the entire capacity of the program it was full.
The women was there when he was doing the calling and she was fuming. Telling him he wasted her precious time.
He was already stressed because of the program not working she demanded her income taxes back, remember he had prepared all of them, just couldn't print the big one her income tax, so he gave her everything and told her to go.
He didn't even charge her for the two; her husband's and adult child's return which was complete done and printed. He told her to take the incomes and go.
He is out $350.00. He said it is just a business loss, only he cannot afford business losses, the loss actually is felt in his pocketbook. It is not just one of those things you right off and get compensation for, he is too small a business for that.
He feels if she has any scruples at all she will pay him for the two that were completely done,
I told him that he gave them to her and told her to go so she is under obligation to pay him
What do you think should she still pay him if she had any scruples, or not?
5 people like this
23 responses
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
4 May 08
I think your friend has established goodwill here by offering the finished tax returns for free in lieu of the problem with the larger tax return. He has done the ethical thing and the lady is entitled to compensation.
As I say, he can chalk it up to goodwill and claim it as a business expense...or a loss, whichever way he goes it is a legitimate expense.
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
6 May 08
that is what he did, if you read the discussion he says it is a business loss.
2 people like this
@chertsy (3797)
• United States
2 May 08
That stinks for your boyfriend. He should had her pay for the other two because she owes him for that part, honestly, she should of paid him something for doing her's. Since he told her to go, then honestly she doesn't have to pay, but that wouldn't be fair on her part. This lady should be greatful that your boyfriend did this for her. I'm sorry, that he had to deal with a b*tch, I mean how was he wasting her precious time, when he had done and printed her husband's and son's taxes. I wonder if he can call and speak to her husband about the payment for doing this.
I hope this turns out to be a happy ending. I hate seeing people being screwed out of money that they worked hard for.
2 people like this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
6 May 08
is she was any kind of person she would pay for the two she got, but she was upset miss big shot went out of her way to come down and pick up the returns and one was not ready. My boyfriend was just tired out, burned out from tax time and he did not want a big fight with her so he just told her to take everything and go.
@revellanotvanella (4033)
• United States
3 May 08
Sounds like this woman put on a show or was about too and Im sure your boyfriend didnt want that to affect his other customers but really, what logic does this woman get off on for not having to pay for some technical inconvenience like that--he's the one providing the service and did for at least two, point in case.
It would be hard for me not to do just the same because I felt like that when my boyfriend had his business and he let stuff go to maintain the integrity of the business but it was hard for me because they were legitimate things to question.
@mnflower (1299)
• United States
3 May 08
Sorry for your boyfriends lose but the way the woman acted she should pay but with her attitude I wouldn't hold your breath she seems like she is one looking for nothing and that is what she is going to pay for his services.I would of wrote her a bill for the two and then gave her hers and sent her on her way. plan and simple.
2 people like this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
6 May 08
It is always easy to say what you would do after the fact, he does not regret what he did, the discussion question was does she have the scruples to pay or not and I do not believe she will ever pay him for those two since he sent her away like that.
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
6 May 08
he actually did all three and spent a lot of time on hers but couldn't print it.
1 person likes this
@tyc415 (5706)
• United States
6 May 08
Thank you for the BR to this discussion. I am assuming that not any of the three from that family have come back to pay your boyfriend for his hard work and his time? I would have thought by now they would have had a heart and done what was the right thing to do.
@suehan1 (4344)
• Australia
6 May 08
unfortunately rose this is why the rich get richer and the poor get poorer,we have scrupples,and that woman did not.i would have withheld the husbands and the childs tax return until she paid me,as the work was completed and really should have been paid for.cheers sue
2 people like this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
6 May 08
he should have keep them the two that were done but she already had them in her hand and was just waiting for the last one to be printed out.
1 person likes this
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
2 May 08
That is most unfortunate thing to happen especially after all his hard work. I think he should have charged her for the other two and for half of hers I know people can be mean and have tempers
but in this case customers aren't always right, She should have paid him some. I doubt this woman has any scruples at all otherwise she would have offered to pay him for the job he done on the other two taxes and for what he done so far on hers. She is probably out their gloating right now about how she got off without paying anything
and I think in the future he should have a sign stating that he will be paid up front atleast for half of the money and the rest when job is done. That way they are least likly to skip out and that they don't get their papers until he gets their money
. Fair is only fair.Why should Matt hve to suffer for this womans bad atitude and bad scrulples? I do hope she will come back if her husband makes her and pays him somehting for all his hard work.
but in this case customers aren't always right, She should have paid him some. I doubt this woman has any scruples at all otherwise she would have offered to pay him for the job he done on the other two taxes and for what he done so far on hers. She is probably out their gloating right now about how she got off without paying anything and I think in the future he should have a sign stating that he will be paid up front atleast for half of the money and the rest when job is done. That way they are least likly to skip out and that they don't get their papers until he gets their money. Fair is only fair.Why should Matt hve to suffer for this womans bad atitude and bad scrulples? I do hope she will come back if her husband makes her and pays him somehting for all his hard work.1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
6 May 08
he does that already but he released her from paying, he just wanted her to get out.
the question was will she have the decentcy to still pay him or not, I say or not
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
6 May 08
Probably right but their is always hope that this womans consious will bother her enough so she might.
@Sherry12 (2472)
• United States
11 May 08
If she has any conscience at all she will pay him. Since she is a business woman, she should be more understanding and know that things like that happen. Besides, he'd already done the work on the 2 finished ones. Did he tell her he wasn't going to charge her when he told her to go? She might be expecting a bill in the mail. If I were him, I think I'd send her one.
@Aingealicia (1905)
• United States
2 May 08
Rose,
Absolutely he should be paid. Having been a small business person, I know that that cuts to the bone sometimes when you pay out of pocket.
Ainge
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
6 May 08
yep you can say that again, it really hurts him.
1 person likes this
@Aingealicia (1905)
• United States
7 May 08
I am so sorry to hear about that. I hope he can recover some of the money.
Ainge
@Deea48 (1166)
• United States
6 May 08
I am sorry that happened. But you are right, since he handed them all to her and told her to leave, she is under no obligation. I suppose he can look at it as a lessoned learned and perhaps next year be more careful to not give back the work he has completed.Again sorry that happened, it stinks when you do not get paid for a job that is completed.
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
6 May 08
it is not a lessened learned it is a decision he made and he is calling it a business loss, the question what not whether he did the right thing, he did what he wanted to do the question was just for discussion on my lot,
I think she will never pay she doesn't have to,
he says if she had scrupples she would, that was the discussion question.
@DonnaLawson (4032)
• United States
2 May 08
She should have paid him for the two that he did for her.. That would only be fair.. If she was getting 3 haircuts and didn't like one of them, then she shouldn't get all three of them for free.. she sounds like she has no scruples and is being very cheap.. I would have given her original paperwork back to her and then told her to go.. Was she waiting until the last minute?? or did she have more time to file them?? That was a huge loss as far as I am concerned.. Better luck to you..
1 person likes this
@jalucia (1431)
• United States
3 May 08
Your bf could send her an invoice for the two that he did. It's not unreasonable to ask her to pay for them. I understand what he means about it being a business loss. He probably feels as if there is no need to allow the event to cast a dark cloud over his life. He'll make that money somewhere else.
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
6 May 08
yes that is exactly how he feels, he will make the money somewhere else
@Pitgull (1522)
• United States
10 May 08
He couldn't print it, but could he of sent it or copied it to something else for her?
He still provided services, she should understand softwares have glitches, but then she may believe it's his fault for not having decent software yadda yadda yadda...:/ I feel bad for him....(not pity but you know)
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
19 May 08
no she wanted her papers back right there and then and said she would have done it herself.
@Fishmomma (11658)
• United States
2 May 08
I think he should call the husband and request payment. The taxes were completed for him. He may end up with nothing, but it can't hurt to try. The woman was unreasonable and I can understand he just wanted her out of the office quickly.
Does the adult child live at home? If not, then call that house also. I honestly feel the two with done taxes should pay for service completed.
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
6 May 08
I doubt that he will get payment now, once they leave with the stuff they are under no obligation to pay. He has to right it off as a business loss.
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
2 May 08
Yes. I think she should still pay him for the work that he has done on the other tow, but i almost bet she won't. I bet she is too mad about it and feels she does not woe him anything, which isn't fair at all, but that is just the way people are these days. It seems to always be something for good people and the bad people get everything handed to them on a silver platter.
1 person likes this
@raydene (9871)
• United States
2 May 08
Oh Sweets
That is aweful..Poor man!
It wasn't his fault...
She should have offered to pay for that work done!
I would have held on to the ones
that were completed.
She should pay for them.
I think if it were me I would send
her a bill for the 2 completed.
Nothing ventured..nothing gained!
She owes for those! She commissioned him to
do them and they are done!
Good luck to him.
xxxxx
1 person likes this
@Mare73 (1335)
• United States
2 May 08
I'm sorry to say, but I wouldn't have paid either. She was there to get a service done and get it done properly. It's not her fault the system was full and your partner was not aware of that. That was an error on his side. When using certain programs, a person should know the capacity of programs and know when to stop, fill up and keep it moving.
I feel bad for you two because you're out the money, but I wouldn't blame the lady.
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
6 May 08
she had two completed and handed to her that is what we are talking about for paying it was only the third one she didn't get even though the work was done, so she got two income taxes done for free, nobody can run a business like that. But he was mad and tired and burnt out and just told her to go, when he should have at least charged her for the two that was completed and that is what this discussion is about not the one that was not printed out.
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
2 May 08
In a perfect world, she would probably put a check in the mail to him. Unfortunately, this world we live in is far from perfect.
If he gave her the completed returns and sent her on her way without collecting then, and doesn't plan on sending her a bill, then he can no doubt kiss that money goodbye.
If I was in a small business like that for myself, I don't think I could have let it go quite that far. I maybe would have offered her a discount for her inconvenience, or possibly charge for one of the returns and give her the second one gratis, but losing $350 after all he did is quite a bit of a bonus for her.
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
6 May 08
the bulk of it was hers,worth 250 because it was so much work, but that was the one he couldn't print out. the other two together were only worth about 100. He had no time to fight with her, he was tired burnt out and had several clients waiting. So he did gut reaction what he did.
@kenzie45230 (3560)
• United States
2 May 08
Bless his heart. I probably would have handed her the tax records back and presented a bill for the completed taxes. He did them, after all. If she paid, I would have given her the prepared tax forms. I understand his not wanting a bad reputation, but this woman will probably bad mouth him anyway.
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
6 May 08
he just wasn't up for a fight, I asked him why he didn't charge her for the two that was done and he said it was not worth arguing with her, he is tired out, under lots of stress with deadlines and he just didn't want a long drawn out scene, but I am going to tell him to make up a bill and send it to them, you never know she just might pay.
