OK. Everybodey ready for this....?

On the subject of clients...isn't interesting how well they know what it takes to put together the presentations and projects they ask us to build. For example, I was putting together an invoice for a client. I asked one of the other guys in the office, who was also working for this client and who we will call....hmm....G (who incidentally was *there* *doing* the work), how much time he had spent on his project. He told me 8.5 days. NOw, using some high process mathematics, I converted this into hours (based on an 8 hour day). I sent the invoice to the client on Monday, and all was well. I get back from lunch today, being Friday, and there is a message from the boss detailing the conversation he had with our client-in-question. The basis of it is as follows.

"He feels we overcharged him for G's work. Recharge him on the basis of 40 hours work. Reissue the invoice with same number..."

Well. I am amazed that this client (who incidentally was *not* there doing the work and in fact wasn't even in the same *city*) can know how long G spent on the project. If he knew so intimately what was involved and how long it would take, why didn't he just do the stupid job himself in the first place, and save everybody all of this aggravation. What is even worse, is the fact that the boss *agreed* to this. I can understand that everyone wants value for money, but sheesh. At least give the contractor a fair days pay for a fair days work. WHAT A CHEAPSKATE! As I have mentioned to Michelle....I must have missed the paragraph in my 'Project Management for Dummies' book where it says "...the client shall only pay for the hours *he* thinks the contractor works...". This is *so* frustrating.

Thanks for listening.