I want to go into buisness for myself. Basically what I want to do is do the same thing I am doing now but I want to be my own boss. I do not know the legality so I want to find out if it is legal prior to me going out on my own. Lets suppose that I worked for a ford service department for many years and I was the Manager of the Service department. I knew lots of the repeat customer and they knew me. I also new quite a bit about fixing Fords and knew where to purchase the parts for cheap.
So I decided to leave Ford, start my own car repair shop and used the information abtained at ford to contact the customers that knew me. Would this be legal? Would I be able to contact customers from a Ford customer list that I had? Soppose I did not contact them by telephone but by sending them a letter, would this be legal? What about not even contacting any customers but simply compete with my present employeer and draw buisness by advertising my service as a previous ford manager.
2007-01-10 15:49:43 · 10 answers · asked by gnut 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
You need to get legal advice before doing any of this.
2007-01-10 15:53:18 · answer #1 · answered by Dyan 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No. So long as you did not sign a non-compete clause in your contract, you should be fine. If you were in management, they may have included this somewhere in the language of your contract unless it was at-will. Non-compete clauses typically happen when business owners sell their business in a region or local area and promise they will not engage in a similar business for a certain period in that same area (because they no longer own that business, and they won't be tempted to steal clients. Or, if individuals work for businesses which deal with technology, hard sciences where you work closely with trade secrets, marketing strategies, and any patented intellectual property rights or proprietary technology which belong to the company, you will be bound usually to a non-disclosure agreement along with intellectual property rights agreement which basically says you say nothing and you do not have any rights to anything you invent while an employee - all belongs to the company. That list could be Ford property, even if you compiled it. I would bet that they have an internal policy about disclosing information about their customers to third parties - privacy rights etc. I would proceed with caution using that list. I do not see the harm in sending a flyer to each person. You could address it "to the homeowner or resident" without using their names. If you were well known to your customers, someone at Ford might get wind of this but they would have to prove it somehow showing a pattern - who received the mailer and who didn't.
2007-01-11 00:19:10 · answer #2 · answered by lawofconstantcomposition 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you did it by calling them, you could get sued, depending on how much business Ford loses to you. Advertising you couldn't get in trouble with though. Figure out the addresses of the repeat customers and send advertisements to that region, be it that block or that street for a bit. It may cost you a penny or two, but it will get those customers to you, especially if you have your name or picture or both really big on the ad.
2007-01-10 23:55:53 · answer #3 · answered by azel951 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You would really need to talk to an Attorney, they will advise you on the correct steps in which you want to go without the worry of going to jail. The best service for getting in touch with your Legal Rights is below. This will allow you access to a Top Law Firm in your State. Watch the online movie presentation. Contact me if you like what you see.
2007-01-11 00:07:21 · answer #4 · answered by citronge69 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Stealing client lists is illegal in some states.....but the dealer can file a civil suit for damages if you attempt to contact any of their clients.
If the clients know your name...it would be better to advertise your name and try not to associate yourself with the dealer....a mass mailing in a specific area would generate business if someone you know from the previous business shows up and starts recommending you.
Starting out defrauding your previous employer could have severe repercussions if the public were to find out.
Good luck
2007-01-11 00:03:03 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
As long as you didn't sign an agreement not to compete then you are free to do as you please. Actually that is the way me and my ex husband opened our business in electronics. And it has been going 17 years strong. Definatly send them a letter with a business card and offer a cheaper service than the competition. Even if its only 20.00 cheaper. You will be amazed at how many people want to save a buck and word of mouth is your best advertising. Good Luck!!
2007-01-11 00:02:56 · answer #6 · answered by Lizzy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it would be unethical to use ford's contact list, but they charge unethical prices and tell people they need service on various things when they don't at all.... greasy business...
Talk to a lawyer, go for the gold!
2007-01-10 23:58:06 · answer #7 · answered by andyseaver 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You may get in trouble based on that you got the information from your employer and you told others what you did and they decided to report you. Otherwise you may can get away with it.
2007-01-11 00:04:38 · answer #8 · answered by JoJoBa 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe you can go into competion in 4 years.
before that it is considered a crime the name escapes me.
2007-01-10 23:56:25 · answer #9 · answered by Sid B 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
CRIMINALLLLLLLL. u probably would get the chair, dude.
2007-01-10 23:54:54 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋