why do i feel guilty?

Question

i own a small internet provider business. i have several customers that are way past due on their accounts, 90 days+ and $200+ past due.

i've mailed notices and left messages on their answering machines notifying them that there service will be terminated if payment is not received, immediately.

this morning, i terminated service to all of the customers that were still past due (most of them were).

now, i feel like crap (the bad guy) for doing it.

why?

i've been trying to figure it out all day and haven't come up with a reason why i'm the one that feels bad about it.

any ideas?

Answer 1

As a society, most of us get pretty thorough training that we're not supposed to be 'mean' to others. Usually, that's a good thing, but not when it leads us to allow others to take advantage. Unfortunately, there are all too many people who are perfectly willing to do just that, even to the point of trying to guilt trip those who don't put up with their self-centered behavior.

You do NOT owe free service to people who are unwilling to pay their bills. You certainly don't deserve to have your business go under because of this. You gave more than adequate notice, and would probably have worked with anyone who had bothered to contact you to try to work things out. If they didn't contact you, they were probably counting on you to terminate, and relieve them of the worry of trying to meet their contractual obligations. Feel free to feel sorry for them, but in a detached way, you don't have to try to be responsible for them.

Answer 2

It's obvious, your not cut out to be a sales man, You need to set the ground rules, and then do as you've said. Not sure what your rules are but you must have some.
Here's a clue turn this around , don't feel guilty because you had to terminate a person for not paying the bill, It seems you have empathy for them , so look at it this way, if they haven't paid say 2 months worth of services and you terminate them you are keeping them from getting so far behind that they could never catch up.

Answer 3

Basically, people have a good heart and want to do the decent thing.Based on our value system, we may feel guilty if we violate what we hold dear. You are now having an internal debate on this issue ,hence the guilt. I sympathize with you . You are that rarest of gems--a business man with a heart.While I am sure that some of the responses you will receive will actually ask you not to feel guilty because you are in business(and they are correct to a point);what is money without a soul. I would suggest one or all of the following:1)Re-visit the list of clients you have cut off and see if you can revise the list---for example those who are not chronic debtors or late payers.2)make fresh contacts with them and see if you can work out a payment plan that will allow them to continue receiving services while making payments;for example paying a portion of the amount owed plus the current bill,3 )since you cut off services, you are bound to get calls from your debtors asking for time and/or new payment plans. To the extent that you can, accommodate them. In the interim, I applaud you for trying to conduct your business with a heart. It will in the long run generate a lot of goodwill towards you and your business.A lot of large businesses are now adopting such a practice.Good luck to you.

Answer 4

Look you own a business. You should NOT feel guilty for turning them off. They knew when they signed up for your services that the bills they owed were to be made. You sign up for lights , gas , water, cable,etc, and they have to be paid so why not your business? Turn 'em off that's the right thing to do but also quit feeling like crap when you did that. A service is a service no matter what the service might be.

Answer 5

You did what you had to do; you can't work for free, because you need money too. Everything you did was fair - you warned them several times and they didn't respond. It's not like you had that much of a choice.

You may have felt guilty knowing that it's embarrassing or upsetting to have a service cut off because of inability to pay, but that feeling will pass. There's no legitimate reason to feel guilty, other than just initial emotion.

Business can be hard, but that's the nature of the game. Don't feel guilty for it; it needed to be done.

Answer 6

If you feel guilty, it's because you are too nice. You are selling something, and they are choosing not to buy it, or taking advantage of your kindness. If you don't hear from them in a few days, or if you are still feeling guilty, call them again. Offer to reconnect their service for what they owe, minus late fees, but with the condition that they pay in advance. You could tell them that they will be disconnected immediately if their payment is late and they don't contact you in advance.
If you do this, then you have been extremely more than fair, and they don't want your service. If they don't pay what they owe, then sell the accounts to a collection agent. You deserve to be paid for your service!

Answer 7

Its normal to feel some anxiety about it. No one wants to be the bad guy.
Remember, these people didn't pay their bills and knew this was coming. They failed to fullfill their end of the bargain.
Also, internet access is not a necessity. For most people, it is merely entertainment. You are not depriving them. It is JUST the internet.

Answer 8

Feeling guilty whether warranted or not is a major American condition. ~
You are probably thinking about the customers you just lost. Except they were using your facilities and not paying for them. Who needs that! So, let it go.

Answer 9

you are only human and its in our nature to feel guilty for our actions, Specially if they are things like what you did. But dont feel bad, they had it coming to them. You can only ask a certain amount of times before it starts getting old.

Answer 10

Man! Butch up! Business is business! You're in business to provide a service FOR A FEE! If they don't pay you, they are robbing you!