I am going to touch on a subject that relates to everyone on a daily basis.
\nAs business owners, do we name and shame customers that cost us money?
\nI don\u2019t care what business you operate.\u00a0I guarantee all of you have at least one customer who believes they are better than you and everyone else. That one customer will simply refuse to pay for services\/products rendered.
\nWe have quite a few!
\nIt is very hard to sit back and watch while they keep trading with their big franchise name knowing that the smaller operators cannot afford the legal fees or resources to fight them.\u00a0It is unfortunate, but this is the way the world works.
\nWe all have that account code in our accounting package called \u201cbad debt\u201d; but my question is why can\u2019t we name and shame them?
\nIt is not defamation if your facts are true and you have appropriate evidence and documentation.\u00a0You have surely been told before to \u201crise above\u201d and they will get what is coming to them.
\nBut how will they get what is coming to them if no-one speaks up?
\nEthics is defined in the dictionary as \u201cmoral principles that govern a person’s behaviour or the conducting of an activity\u201d.\u00a0Every business course that you study generally has the topic of Business Ethics which touch on exactly this: How do I become a good business operator and be fair in your dealings with others?
\nWhat it doesn\u2019t touch on is: How to deal with the emotions you feel when certain businesses believe they simply don\u2019t have to pay you because they are the big dogs.
\nThere is a real problem with the economy for small business and this is what lets us down.\u00a0This is why the big dog will always remain the big dog and small businesses will always remain that \u2013 small.\u00a0Unfortunately, the steps required to chase a bad debt are very costly and not to mention time-consuming.<\/p>\n
Numerous phone calls and emails which are ALWAYS ignored.<\/p>\n
Letter of Demand \u2013 generally not acknowledged<\/p>\n
Solicitor letter (costly)<\/p>\n
Local magistrates court application \u2013 time consuming, costly and will take a while for a hearing date<\/p>\n
Hearing \u2013 This could go either way depending on the JP\/Magistrate if the other party has justified evidence.<\/p>\n
Not to mention the emotional strain and sometimes physical strain that is put on you and ultimately your family.
\nPersonally, I am yet to find a good outcome on bad debts.\u00a0It seems that these particular egotistical customers pride themselves on their BIG branding and rely on the fact that the little people will simply \u201cgive up\u201d.\u00a0I urge you not to.
\nIf we want to set a good example for our generations to come, the one thing I want to teach my children is if you believe in something and feel you deserve to be paid\u2026.Fight.\u00a0Fight for what is yours.
\nPerhaps by naming and shaming, we can transfer the balance of power back to small business.\u00a0It may reduce the big dog\u2019s bark to a whimper.
\nLauren Kropp
\nDirector \u2013 Real Strategix.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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