Help! My Bosses Won't Pay Up!

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  CariG5708/22/08 Report as spam
  1

  RE: Help! My Bosses Won't Pay Up!

  Wow, great advice, finally a strong solution.
  just make sure you have all the documentation that supports your position before you march into their office, as well as have a formidible attorney experienced in dealings as these, ready to step up to the plate on your behalf.
  Secondly, whether they back down and pay up or not, be prepared to leave anyway. After a hit to their ego's like that, they will make your life unbearable if you stay, and continue to low ball you in the future.

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  Aimee33308/22/08 Report as spam
  2

  Been there done that

  great article. If you have to have the money-go ahead and sue. But I got the best revenge of all. Same situation, boss didn't want to pay! I politely informed him, that he should pay or I would leave and could guarantee that ALL of his clients would follow...What do you think happened?
  HA! "Pay"backs are Hell!

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  R K08/22/08 Report as spam
  3

  RE: Help! My Bosses Won't Pay Up!

  Either way you are going to need a new job. If your bosses are willing to screw you over once they will do it again. Trust me the idea that you would leave came up when they began discussing "adjusting" your income. Your value to the company is less than the difference in your commisions.
  
  Sue them for the money, but also try to find a new position where you can bring your existing customer base.

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  Geoffrey James, Sales Machine08/22/08 Report as spam
  4

  RE: Help! My Bosses Won't Pay Up!

  A reader sent this email, which contains a great tale of sweet revenge:
  
  
  I worked for a car dealership and the sales manager said the they would pay me 30% commission on a specialty car. When my check came, they paid me a flat fee which equaled to approx 15%. When I asked the general manager what happened, he replied that this sales manager was no longer here and this is what I'm paying you take it or leave it. I took it, then quit, and then posted my thoughts on a website I created with a URL that was a small variation of the company's name. I sent corporate a link. Their attorney called me and threatened me with cybersquatting. To make a long story short, they paid me my commission and also paid me for the web address.
  
  
  
  Bravo!

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  christiev08/22/08 Report as spam
  5

  RE: Help! My Bosses Won't Pay Up!

  I just went through this exact scenario. Because i complained so loudly, they made my life miserable,(even though I'm one of their top sales people) They even brought me behind closed doors and verbally harrased me.
  I resigned and the state I live in got me my money. (Wage and Labor Board). Why would a company do this? I believe its a company that doesn't respct salespeople and feels its cheaper to churn them, then play fair. Also an ego thing in management. That guy can't make that kind of money! Still, it's very hard to leave. Now I need a job, so there's that aspect also.

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  ndlicht108/22/08 Report as spam
  6

  RE: Help! My Bosses Won't Pay Up!

  1.First off, do you have your pay plan frimly in writing and signed off by a person who had authority to do so? Without that, you are never going to get paid even in court
  
  2. Was there any clause under which commission was limited or stated to be "house"? If so, see if any of your sales fit that and are therefors arguably non commissionable.
  
  3. Can you prove that your sales were as stated with cc's of PO's and company issued commission statements?
  
  If you have all that, suing is possible. If not, you lost. Do not write to any customers about your issue because you will be sued by your employer for liable and you will be damaged financially and profesionally

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  lcluley@...08/24/08 Report as spam
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  RE: Help! My Bosses Won't Pay Up!

  It is the same all round the world, I am based in Australia. This happened to me 3 years ago, I had already resigned after 15 years with the company. On my last day, they wanted to cap revenue and pay me much less commission on a large deal. I argued and won but did not get the $17k bonus they owed me but I did get the $70k of commission owing over the next 12 months. I remained in the same industry. I did not pursue the $$ but I enjoy winning clients fair and square from them. I also tell people in the industry of my treatment. I believe in karma, what goes around comes around.

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  sddsrtgrl08/26/08 Report as spam
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  RE: Help! My Bosses Won't Pay Up!

  I went to the state labor board and filed a complaint. I had all the documentation, commission policy, records of deals, all the killer details anyone could ask for. They settled before it went for a hearing. I may have received more if I'd pursued the hearing because they had so many illegal actions that they saw the writing on the wall and paid everything owed plus penalties. You don't need a lawyer, that's what those taxes we pay are for!

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  tltodd08/27/08 Report as spam
  9

  RE: Help! My Bosses Won't Pay Up!

  This kind of crap happens all the time with small business. This same thing has happened to me also. It sometimes gets to me when I here politicians talking about creating and helping the small business owner. The small guys don't have to follow the same rules as the larger corporations, so the small ego-maniacs continue to hurt people.
  
  I did end-up consulting a lawyer. The lawyer said it would be a hard battle to win because there was a clause in my contract that said the commission plan could change without notice. I'm a 20 year veteran and have worked for a couple of very large IT companies. I've never had a contract that didn't have that clause. Usually, they change commission structures yearly...we all know this. But, in your instance and mine, they did it after a sale. Nevertheless, that clause does present a challenge. I left and sued them. One year later, they buckled and paid. Don't forget look into the non-compete if you have one. I got mine torn up. The fact that they wouldn't pay me and then tried to hold me to a non-compete...brought down the rath of many. Good luck.

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  Geoffrey James, Sales Machine08/27/08 Report as spam
  10

  RE: Help! My Bosses Won't Pay Up!

  Another great email from a reader, this time with some good practical advice:
  
  
  
  I agree with the advise you gave on demanding what was contractually owed or THEY WILL walk all over him from now on. However, I think this type of issue has to be dealt with in a diplomatic manner (even if you are dealing with SOBs). He should consult an attorney before he goes in to talk to the partners, to make sure he has his "ducks in a row" and can support it in a court of law. This would also help to take some of the passion away from the argument. With that done, he can go in an lay it all out for the partners and by pointing out that things are as per the contract and ensuring they understand politely but clearly that there is no "way out", he can send the message that he must be paid or take the case to court, without actually having to come out and say it. Threatening will probably only give way to a fight that may not end up where he wants it to. On your advise about calling every customer, I think he has to be careful that he is not seen in the industry as a trouble maker and ends up in a situation where no one else will want to hire him.