Oracle Q and A: Bad Client

Dear Oracle,

I have a client who complains every time I charge him for something that needs to be done with his accounting. This client has inventory, but refuses to track his inventory, and then cries when his employees are caught steeling from him. He gives me some of his work (for write-up), but often times waits until the March 4 or 5 to give me his information (for write-up) so I can prepare his 1120 by March 15. Often times, he does not give me all of his information - meals and entertainment expenses, etc. - so that the tax return can be properly filed - or even come up with a figure that is somewhat close to actual for paying taxes with the extension that is filed every year on March 15.

This same client then goes through the year, never giving me the missing information to complete the return by the deadline for the extension.

This client has said to me on numerous occassions that he would get all of his information to me by the end of January (2006) so that I can finally file his 2003 and 2004 (1120) tax returns.

I will have to bill this client for doing the returns (for 2003 and 2004) again (if and when he finally gets his information to me).

Do you have any ideas on how I should go about billing this client for redoing the 2003 and 2004 corporate tax returns?

THE ORACLE SAYS: FIRE THEM. THEY ARE A LOUSY CLIENT. BAD CLIENTS DRIVE AWAY GOOD ONES. IF YOU DONT WANT TO FIRE THEM OUTRIGHT, SEND THEM OVER TO ONE OF YOUR COMPETITORS THAT YOU DON'T LIKE. IT WILL DO WONDERS FOR YOUR BOTTOM LINE AND YOUR MORALE!

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