Securing a new contract is a big deal; especially one from a high-profile client in the city. The cost in effort, time and stress, not to mention manpower, is all worth it right? Especially when we (as we do at APM), ring the bell and pop that cork, celebrating the most recent, hard-fought team win.
Sometimes however, all that glitters is definitely not gold, and those sought-after contracts, are only such as there is competition – varying companies vying for the top spot and the kudos which comes from the publicity, following a win from a much talked about new kid on the block.
We found this out recently, to our detriment.
As a team, blood, sweat and absolutely tears, were poured into a significant tender and win we did; celebrating, shouting about it and deploying our teams to an on-site location to be there when the need arose – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, because it was worth it right?
Oh what a sharp learning curve we have experienced over the last few months.
No amount of due diligence could have prepared us for what lay ahead.
Significant outlays in terms of staff, time, effort and cold hard cash will never be rewarded as our gold-coated client DID NOT PAY.
Initially, it was hold-ups as they got accounts staff in place, then new business teething problems – these things take time don’t they? Then one lame excuse after the other, then nothing.
Our question is, when should the rose-tinted spectacles come off…at what stage do we give up our trust and faith in someone doing the right thing and what stage do we walk away, with a greater risk of never recovering the costs never mind the funds due.
Well, this week, we pulled the plug and we pulled staffing and materials away from a business we were initially so proud to be associated with; now, so embarrassed to have fallen foul of a business of poor ethics, who is piling up the debts with other creditors as we speak.
We shall pursue the money owed (the debt is too big not to) and ultimately, we shall recover and live to tell the tale to others who may be blinded by the light.
The moral of the story? All that glistens is not gold, work with people you trust and respect and never be blinded by a tall tale and an even taller building. The sky is still there somewhere; don’t let anyone obscure your view.
Lesson learned.
