I have a client who mentioned that they need help with some advertisement placement. I mentioned that I have been happy with the ad agency that my company uses and gave my client the name and contact information for the ad agency. My client contacted the ad agency and had them place some ads for her. Now, apparently, my client isn't paying her bill to the ad agency, and the ad agency has been unable to get my client to call or e-mail them back to work out the billing problem. Now the ad agency is hounding me for payment because I was the one who referred this client. I'm really sorry that my client didn't pay them (she's always paid my company on time, so I don't know what gives), but I feel like I shouldn't have to be in the middle of this. All I did was pass on a name and phone number. I didn't sign a contract agreeing to be responsible for my client's bill if she didn't pay. Am I crazy or is this ad agency out of line for hasseling me?
2006-11-29 07:47:42 · 9 answers · asked by puffinpower 2 in Business & Finance ➔ Other - Business & Finance
Wow, can the ad agency.
Because they are now "hounding" you/your company, I would send them a letter from the company stating that you are sorry that your referral did not work out. Inform them that you are a dis-interested third party who only provided the agencies name & number to your customer because you were pleased with their work. Then state in no uncertain terms that you in no way are responsible for any debt of this company, you never agreed to, nor implied that any contact between the ad agency and your customer had anything to do with you or your company. I would close with a final apology and send it off.
But then I would never use them again. Any open contracts would be completed, but absolutely no future business would go their way. Advertising agencies are plentiful, I am sure you can find someone with higher ethics.
Good luck
2006-11-29 08:01:35 · answer #1 · answered by Gem 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since you didn't sign a contract or agree in any manner to be responsible in the event of non-payment, you have no liability.
I would recommend that you contact the President of the ad agency and let him/her know in no uncertain terms that if the harassment doesn't stop immediately you will withdraw your business from the firm and tell everyone you know about your experience.
2006-11-29 08:02:39 · answer #2 · answered by PALADIN 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Ad agency is WAY out of line. They could politely ask you if you can help them find her but in no way are you responsible for the woman's bill to them unless you were in business with her and/or signed a contract with her for the ad work
You might try to find the woman to help them but I would tell them to back off and I would also quit using them and stop recommending them to others - and I would tell them so.
2006-11-29 07:57:04 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are not responsible for her bills. All you did was refer a client, you didn't sign a contract stating that you would be responsible if your client did not pay her bills on time. There is no reason for them to be hasseling you like they are.
2006-11-29 07:56:27 · answer #4 · answered by Kikyo 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i agree. that's out of line. you didn't co-sign anything with your client, you are not bound legally responsible for your client's bills. this could be deemed harrassment and i think you have a case against the agency. send them a cease and dissist order. i'd find another agency if i were you too. tell them they just lost another customer because of their unprofessional conduct.
2006-11-29 07:57:42 · answer #5 · answered by practicalwizard 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
legally no. save all correspondence related to this. if they don't stop harassing you they are leaving the door open for lawsuits, fines and depending on the locality of the agency they may be shut down. remember, you must ask them to stop the harassment in writing and all correspondence should be in writing. it could be deemed unethical for the agency for even disclosing the information on the debt owed by your referral. it doesn't sound like the owner of the agency has had many business classes. they are totally out of line.
2006-11-29 07:57:11 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, you aren't responsible unless you signed your name on the same line as the client did.
They are out of line and whoever is hounding you needs to be reported to their superior and perhaps the better business bureau
2006-11-29 07:55:40 · answer #7 · answered by parsonsel 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are totally out of line. You are not responsible for her bills. It might be nice to mention to her they have been calling you and ask her if she could take care of the matter. Also, maybe she wasn't happy with their service and that's why she isn't paying.
2006-11-29 07:53:00 · answer #8 · answered by kathy p 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, the person who failed to pay is the one responsible. The ad agency probably won't accept anymore referrals you give them, but you shouldn't be the one to pay.
2006-11-29 07:55:32 · answer #9 · answered by Mariposa 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋