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This is unethical. What happens when a client discovers that you've been deceiving them?

by rriepe 16y ago

jason_tko 16y ago
It's unethical if you're doing it purely for personal gain. If you're unable to hire a person to do this for you, having some distance from clients about sensitive financial matters can be beneficial for both you and the client. It's a decision you need to make though - are you comfortable with this level of 'deception' if it's conducive to better relationships with your clients? If so, go ahead. If not, ideally hire someone else, or do it all yourself. I was fortunate in that I could support an accounts person very soon after I started my business, but I think this strategy is akin to "No, you look great in those jeans", a statement that also benefits both parties. :)
- rriepe 16y ago
  If you really believe this, put your money where your mouth is: Tell all of your clients that you do this. Then, report back to us what they think. Somehow I don't think they'll buy the "I was lying to you for your own good" line.
- kranner 16y ago
  Can you outline a scenario where you would be doing this for gain other than personal?
  - jason_tko 16y ago
    Sure - my point was that it's beneficial to you and the client to have one insulating layer in regards to accounts. Ideally, you'd want this to be your accounts person.
    - kranner 16y ago
      Yes, but in the non-ideal case, the client is still being deceived. The general question is: do we have the right to deceive people "for their own good"? I say no.
      - bugsy 16y ago
        They are not being deceived. They are being told to pay for the product they received in accordance with the contract terms they agreed to. There is nothing deceptive about a company wanting to be paid for services rendered or products delivered.
quicksilver03 16y ago
A client who pays past the due date, or who doesn't pay at all, is much more "unethical" than that.
- kranner 16y ago
  Sometimes there can be legitimate reasons for slipping past the due date. Even if there aren't any legit reasons, countering an unethical move with another unethical move is definitely still unethical in my book.
  - SoftwareMaven 16y ago
    I wish I could up-vote this more than once.
bugsy 16y ago
There's nothing unethical about this. The unethical part is the client who doesn't want to pay for the product they received according to the previously agreed terms. Now THAT is unethical, and those people should be shot, and their dog should be shot as well. Sending them a friendly repayment notice instead of doing what really needs to be done is a great act of kindness.

This is unethical. What happens when a client discovers that you've been deceiving them?

by rriepe 16y ago

This is unethical. What happens when a client discovers that you've been deceiving them?

It's unethical if you're doing it purely for personal gain. If you're unable to hire a person to do this for you, having some distance from clients about sensitive financial matters can be beneficial for both you and the client. It's a decision you need to make though - are you comfortable with this level of 'deception' if it's conducive to better relationships with your clients? If so, go ahead. If not, ideally hire someone else, or do it all yourself. I was fortunate in that I could support an accounts person very soon after I started my business, but I think this strategy is akin to "No, you look great in those jeans", a statement that also benefits both parties. :)

rriepe 16y ago
If you really believe this, put your money where your mouth is: Tell all of your clients that you do this. Then, report back to us what they think. Somehow I don't think they'll buy the "I was lying to you for your own good" line.
kranner 16y ago
Can you outline a scenario where you would be doing this for gain other than personal?
- jason_tko 16y ago
  Sure - my point was that it's beneficial to you and the client to have one insulating layer in regards to accounts. Ideally, you'd want this to be your accounts person.
  - kranner 16y ago
    Yes, but in the non-ideal case, the client is still being deceived. The general question is: do we have the right to deceive people "for their own good"? I say no.
    - bugsy 16y ago
      They are not being deceived. They are being told to pay for the product they received in accordance with the contract terms they agreed to. There is nothing deceptive about a company wanting to be paid for services rendered or products delivered.

quicksilver03 16y ago

A client who pays past the due date, or who doesn't pay at all, is much more "unethical" than that.

kranner 16y ago
Sometimes there can be legitimate reasons for slipping past the due date. Even if there aren't any legit reasons, countering an unethical move with another unethical move is definitely still unethical in my book.
- SoftwareMaven 16y ago
  I wish I could up-vote this more than once.

bugsy 16y ago

There's nothing unethical about this. The unethical part is the client who doesn't want to pay for the product they received according to the previously agreed terms. Now THAT is unethical, and those people should be shot, and their dog should be shot as well. Sending them a friendly repayment notice instead of doing what really needs to be done is a great act of kindness.