canceling on questionable client - help please 11

[SLTA]

Let's say that your job is to go investigate issues with people's houses, and that you had tentatively set an appointment with a person. Let's say that only after that (but before sending the contract) you found out that the person is, well, dangerous. How would you word the email to cancel your involvement with the project?

Please remember: we're not all guys!

 

[JAE]

"A fly just went up my nose and my doctor told me to avoid work for six months to heal."

Do you mean dangerous in personal safety or dangerous in that they fly off the handle (pun intended), always get their lawyers involved, or never pay their bills?



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[SLTA]

Dangerous as in personal safety. I'll add that to my original post.

Please remember: we're not all guys!

 

[SLTA]

Well, editing appears broken. Oh well.

Please remember: we're not all guys!

 

[hokie66]

I would just plead being too busy. Or you could just state in your contract that it is your practice to use a security guard, whose fee would be included in your charges.

 

[TheTick]

Is this person a tenant or the client?

 

[SLTA]

Potential client.

Please remember: we're not all guys!

 

[ornerynorsk]

I was once involved in a business where I had to write apology/scapegoat/self-extraction letters on an all too frequent basis. There is no real good way to write one, just "less awkward". Invariably, a "it's not you, it's me" methodology can help keep a certain quality of professionalism to it. Distasteful? Perhaps, but one can always wash the bad taste down with a good Scotch or a bottle of fine craft barley pop. Good luck!

Dear Mr. or Mrs. So-and-so;
Regarding our appointment on (time-and-date) to assess or review (blah-blah-blah), I have had an urgent matter arise which is tied to a current contractual obligation that requires my attention, conflicting with our previously scheduled appointment. Regrettably, due to the scope of work involved, I am unable to provide an alternate time and date to reschedule at this time. My sincere apologies.

I cannot ethically ask you to wait for an ambiguous period of time, and I must responsibly ask you to seek another service so that your project is not unduly delayed.

Cordially,
X

It is better to have enough ideas for some of them to be wrong, than to be always right by having no ideas at all.

 

[SLTA]

ornerynorsk, that's really good. thanks!

 

[SNORGY]

"Upon reflection in light of my current commitments, I regret to advise that I am unable to undertake this assignment. Please accept my sincere apologies for the inconvenience."

Done.

 

[BUGGAR]

I have found that if you don't want to hear from a client again, mention some "legal matters with the law" that you have to take care of first. So you are not lying, the legal matters could consist of you filling out, but not necessarily filing, restraining orders.