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Former Colleague Tells my Former Client a Mis-Truth?
5

Former Colleague Tells my Former Client a Mis-Truth?

Former Colleague Tells my Former Client a Mis-Truth?

(OP)
Not that big of a deal really, but I'm interested to hear opinions.

I left Company XZY on uncomfortable terms a couple years ago and just recently a former client called that firm to ask for my help on a project. A former colleague took the call and mentioned he thought I was out of engineering and asked if he could help. Former colleague knows I am still kicking, and in the same field. Former client found me on Linkedin and tells me.


I'm going to just call former colleague and have a, "look, for a small job, 25K max, really, you will do this?" sort of conversation.

Any thoughts? Other than keeping better contact with former clients of course......

IC

RE: Former Colleague Tells my Former Client a Mis-Truth?

Let it go.

The world is to big and all people lie, some a lot. The task to correct this at that level is just to big. Save your energy for lies that get people maimed or killed, like for politicians who lie to send troops to war for instance.

Regards
Pat
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RE: Former Colleague Tells my Former Client a Mis-Truth?

I agree with Pat. Life's too short to worry about such pettiness, however ...

... if you feel you HAVE to address the situation, just send an email to the former colleague thanking him for his recommendation to the former client, take the high ground and leave it at that.

... if feel you have plenty of life left, and you want to be nasty, CC the email to his boss.

RE: Former Colleague Tells my Former Client a Mis-Truth?

4
The client knows they lied. The chance of him every using them again is just about zero. Nothing you could do would punish them more than that. Let it lie [pun intended].

David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering

"Belief" is the acceptance of an hypotheses in the absence of data.
"Prejudice" is having an opinion not supported by the preponderance of the data.
"Knowledge" is only found through the accumulation and analysis of data.

RE: Former Colleague Tells my Former Client a Mis-Truth?

Send a gift basket and note to your former employer thanking them for graciously and professionally forwarding this business to you.

RE: Former Colleague Tells my Former Client a Mis-Truth?

I would suggest to your former client that you are still providing engineering services, ask him if there's any way you can assist him, as him to keep you in mind for future work, and leave it at that...

Dik

RE: Former Colleague Tells my Former Client a Mis-Truth?

Never burn bridges; you never know when you might need them in the future.

Beyond that I totally agree with zdas04.

RE: Former Colleague Tells my Former Client a Mis-Truth?

I'd let it go. I wouldn't want to but I would. Seems like that would be taking the higher road your former colleague failed to take. Glad you got the job!

Pamela K. Quillin, P.E.
Quillin Engineering, LLC

RE: Former Colleague Tells my Former Client a Mis-Truth?

(OP)
Thanks, stars to everyone. I will let it go. Although, I would love to send the gift basket.

IC

RE: Former Colleague Tells my Former Client a Mis-Truth?

I like the gift basket idea. Do you ever go back to the old company and say hi to anyone? Might be an interesting time to say hi to someone higher up and be very nice and see where that takes you.

B+W Engineering and Design
Los Angeles Civil Engineer and Structural Engineer
http://bwengr.com | http://bwstructuralengineer.com | http://bwcivilengineer.com

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