Oh the audacity

[PIEBALDconsult]

I don't think I'd respond at all.

[jeron1]

True, but more often than not I'm inclined to believe the developers, as I've known several where their clients basically wanted free maintenance on an app. they were involved with.

[Nagy Vilmos]

Would you be so kind as to f##k off and die you p##s drinking c##k s####r.

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Panic, Chaos, Destruction. My work here is done. or "Drink. Get drunk. Fall over." - P O'H

[Dr Walt Fair PE]

Mark Nischalke wrote:

What's the polite way to tell them to piss off?

Please piss off, sir. And have a good day! Seriously, I'd let by-gones be by-gones and send them a bid for the requested work with some token payment up front to cover expenses, etc. If they accept and you get a check, then all is well. If not, both sides will know where they stand.

CQ de W5ALT

Walt Fair, Jr., P. E. Comport Computing Specializing in Technical Engineering Software

[Not Active]

That's why they are going offshore, they don't want to pay current rates.

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I know the language. I've read a book. - _Madmatt

[megaadam]

I would advise against that. Unless he is starving. This is clearly a client he doesnt wanna touch with a ten-foot-pole.

........................ Life is too shor

[OriginalGriff]

Trollslayer wrote:

2. Require a significant up front payment.

And stage payment the rest - with a small retention to make them feel they can stiff you if they feel like it (when you don't actually care too much about that 10%, as you already have the 90%)

You should never use standby on an elephant. It always crashes when you lift the ears. - Mark Wallace C/C++ (I dont see a huge difference between them, and the 'benefits' of C++ are questionable, who needs inheritance when you have copy and paste) - fat_boy

[Not Active]

Trollslayer wrote:

Require a significant up front payment.

That's why they are going offshore, they don't want to pay.

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I know the language. I've read a book. - _Madmatt

[peterchen]

Dalek Dave wrote:

Having had to seek medical advice after damaged caused by the severe laughing fit entered into whilst reading your recent communication I hereby enclose bill for same.

:-D

Agh! Reality! My Archnemesis![^]
| FoldWithUs! | sighist | µLaunch - program launcher for server core and hyper-v server.

[megaadam]

I suppose it would depend on the actual person asking. If you like him and he is in dysfunctional organisation, try to say something gentle. But if not, any of the sarcastic replies here will do.

........................ Life is too shor

[Bergholt Stuttley Johnson]

Dear Sir The Work you require has been outsourced to a third party supplier, Please provide Full requirement details and deliverables and I will be happy to supply you a full costing and timescales for said. Due to ongoing commitments it is unlikely that the supplier will be able to schedule the work in the short term. Please be aware that should you not proceed with my supplier I reserve the right to invoice you for time spent. Yours Mark Nischalke Mafia branch 1983

Smile and the world smiles withyou, laugh and they think you are a nutter

[Russell Jones]

So make them a huge quote for the job. Any work you do will come out of the off-shoring budget which somehow has no effect on the bottom line of the project as it's a one-off cost. While you're at it you may as well include a quote for re-on-shoring the project once the current management leave and the new management realise they've handed over their companies core business to a gang of people who don't speak the same language and only won the contract because they put in the lowest bid and used the CP lounge to get answers to all the difficult questions the managers asked during the bidding process.

[Rama Krishna Vavilala]

Just tell them that you can't work unpaid. If they really need you they will come back to you. Dear Former Client, I will be glad to help you but unfortunately it is difficult for me to work unpaid. If you can arrange some payments than I will be glad to assist you. Thanks, Mark

[Duncan Edwards Jones]

Just don't reply.

'--8<------------------------ Ex Datis: Duncan Jones Merrion Computing Ltd

[James L Thomson]

Pretend you're a lawyer. By which I mean charge them $250+ an hour.

[Katka Vaughan]

Mark, I would definitely reply. If you are happy to take up the job (paid), just give them your rate as Rama said. If you really don’t want the job or are unavailable then just say that you have other commitments and wish them good luck.

[Lost User]

Then problem solved, they decide to go away. :)

Join the cool kids - Come fold with us[^]

[Jim Crafton]

I'm sure we'd hear things like "synergy", "value-add", and "global economy" thrown mindlessly around, followed by "cost cutting", and "the bottom line". Let 'em rot.

¡El diablo está en mis pantalones! ¡Mire, mire! SELECT * FROM User WHERE Clue > 0 0 rows returned Save an Orange - Use the VCF! Personal 3D projects Just Say No to Web 2 Point Blow

[Jim Crafton]

I think that sentence works better if you take out the "#" characters. :)

¡El diablo está en mis pantalones! ¡Mire, mire! SELECT * FROM User WHERE Clue > 0 0 rows returned Save an Orange - Use the VCF! Personal 3D projects Just Say No to Web 2 Point Blow

[J Dunlap]

Tell them that you'll be happy to do it, after they come spend unpaid time of their own cleaning your pool and shower. Oh wait... that's the impolite way. Seriously, I think telling them either that you have other commitments or that you will do it if they pay you your standard rates, is the best idea.