Hi Monica,
I’m so sorry that a great working relationship for years ended on such a sad note. It’s not fair.
The mis-management of accounts in large companies baffles me – and it happens all the time.
More than once (last year alone), I wrote articles for major publications and companies, who uncharacteristically delayed my payments, by up to four months. Four months! I had to follow up many times (and in one case I continued to write more articles as per the contract even though I worried I may never get paid).
I’m pleased to report that eventually I did get paid (each said they had a shakeup in accounts payable and my information had been lost).
But I’ve had it go the other way too, where an article I wrote that got published (in a major magazine!) was never compensated.
I hope that you do continue to follow up and that you eventually get paid. In the meantime I think it’s reasonable that you have suspended your services until your account with them is up to date.

It seems this topic has not been commented on for quite a long time, but as I just read your article, I will give you my much less tramatic story (to say the least)

I have been debating whether or not to fight with a company who owes me money, slightly under $1000, for my fitness services with their elderly clients. (It is a rehabilitation hospital).

They had always been slow paying me, but suddenly the checks just stopped. I asked them what was happening (but I kept serving their clientele), and I was given a corporate number. The corporate number would have no actual person answering the phone, but she left a detailed message for the answering service “If you are a vendor, please deal directly with your local company, because they do their own invoicing and payments”

This is a big company! I cut their service off, but quite nicely, saying that I would resume service when accounts were up to date.

They won’t respond at all. After years of service, it seems they deliberately were taking my services, knowing they would be stiffing me.

So recently I began to notice, that I was angry and negative, and this is the beginning of the year. And I wondered…am I doing the right thing? Because it means I would have to keep calling them, and begin to record details, take names, go to small claims court, etc. And I want to grow my business this year. Is this the right path to growth?

I just want you to know that your blog post nailed it. I’m going to walk away. If they pay me, great, of course. But in my heart, I’m going to walk away, knowing I gave some elderly people some great times, and helped them move and smile a little.

And I will take my lessons, and not overextend credit, nor my trusting soul. And I will meet better clients, and I will bring in 10x what this unethical company owed me, and have joy in my heart.

Hi Dunny,
Wise words! And yes, in matters large and small, we seem to constantly have the choice as to whether to fight or to move on, and it’s different every time. At least it keeps things interesting! 🙂

Hi Sunny,
I’m sorry you had such a tough time; I cringe to think that insurance companies capitalize on our suffering by knowing that when we need the money the most (and have the least energy and ability to fight for it), they don’t make it easy for us. That’s why I’ve dropped a few other insurance policies (like property insurance) that I know is difficult to claim for, and I’m saving myself the time and aggravation (and money on premiums) now.

Thank you so much for your support and friendship, Greg!
I think often in our lives, in order to truly move on we have to cut our losses in one way or another. But in the end – as it seems for both of us – it has served us well! 🙂

The law is quite unfair unless you have money. That is stating the obvious.

I gave up all my income (and then some) to divorce my first wife and lost custody of my first two kids (whom I love very much, but a relationship with them was impossible due to her psychotic controlling behavior developed over time), to finalize a divorce.

I was free at last! More than three years and a lot of fantastic times later, I remarried a wonderful woman and could not have a better relationship (unless we were living in Italy, as I want to, and we will).

In addition, the ex soon begged me to see the kids more and more as she could not handle the absolute control…

Gave up much, but it turned out so much better.

I am sure, given your incredible energy and direction, that such will be the case for you–it already appears to be!

Best wishes, as always,

Greg

Hi Simon,
Great suggestion, but with 3 problems:
1) The insurance company in question wasn’t mine – it was the other driver’s insurance company, through whom I was trying to receive compensation on their 3rd party liability. My personal insurance was only 3rd party liability, and although they were kind and helpful, without having comprehensive insurance, they weren’t having to advocate on my behalf.
2) It’s an insurance company in Grenada…which in terms of my broadcasting my story to the world, will be fairly irrelevant. Many Grenadians aren’t even online.
3) I don’t remember the name of the insurance company – which I’ve (purposely) blocked out of my memory!

Hi Mischa,
With regards to this instance – and many instances in life – there wasn’t much I could have done to protect myself up front. There’s only so much you can do in life to avoid the unexpected. In the end, you could swathe yourself in cotton balls and never leave the house….but then again a truck might drive through your window and into your living room!
So I just live life as I wish, taking calculated risks (like driving in traffic and assuming others on the road will obey the rules), and I just have to accept the circumstances that are dealt to me (such as this accident) as a blessing in some way.