How do you spot a rotten customer?

Question

A follow up to a previous question: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061111165512AA41R4d&r=w&pa=FZptHWf.BGRX3OFMhzdXWQV8dvgPdVYP0dHSZpe1QiqKcNQWzF.pmvpNdzcc_P1eQgnsTsaUhN1uFIuScw--#R5ErXGHoWWadA4pwQtoHtRQqEq0llJLSAynt2ALJp91PAOeMPIXZ

How do you spot a misjudgement on the part of the customer?" Some 'charlatans' aren't really charlatans, but they've been painted that way by angry customers with loud mouths. If you're a legitimate businessman/technician, how do you spot which customers are going to give you hell for something /they/ did wrong? Or perhaps for something which was never a mistake at all?

"Let us know what business you are in and we may be abe to help."

Design field, maybe technical. Graphic design work normally by contract, or housecalls involving computer maintenance.

Answer 1

Sometimes communication between business associates can identify some troublesome customers.

Do you have the customer sign an estimate or work order before any work is done?

Answer 2

There's really no way to know for sure until it's too late. Generally, you can tell which customers are troublesome once they start asking questions, but that doesn't make them a bad customer. Some people are just a little freaky, the best rule is the oldest one, "the customer is always right, even when he's wrong". If someone starts a problem, it's usually in your best interest to de-fuse the situation in some way. This may mean losing a little product or money, but a settlement means you avoid losing business from a bad reputation, so it usually works in your favor.

Answer 3

Depends on your line of business... you might find out when you screen your client.

Let us know what business you are in and we may be abe to help.

Answer 4

Don't ignore those small clues. Be like Sherlock Holmes.

Answer 5

You can't Until you deal with them.

Answer 6

Look for a yarlmuke.