Carrying a Grudge

Years ago now.... Well, actually in 1995 I was working on my own building websites for clients. This was not a big business. Websites were called "home pages" by most businesses and few people had internet access to see them anyway. Netscape 2 was brand new and IE had just been launched. It was the early days.

I had one big client - a nice couple of guys with a fun idea that was ahead of its time but that didn't stop them. They wanted to build a multiple listing service for commercial real estate. Their first idea was to put it onto a CD. They hired me to design the look and feel. I suggested we blow off the CD thing and go for the internet.

I worked for them full time and part time for nearly 3 years. They never had much money. They paid me in cash but also in stock. Finally they couldn't afford to give me enough work and I was kind of running low on skills as browsers got more serious so I went to work at Microsoft and left them to find someone new.

When I left they owed me $3,000 in cash. John (the head guy) gave me a note, due with interest in 3 years. That was 1998. In 2001, John said he didn't have the money to pay off the note at that time but hope to in a year. The debt has always bugged me.

They are still going strong - actually, now, it looks like stronger than ever. As a stock holder, I get notices of annual meetings. Today I got an email about the annoual meeting to be held in their new offices (in one of the nicest, newest buildings in town). The note invited me to park in the building's garage and promised to pay for my parking and serve me lunch.

Now if they can pay for parking and serve lunch and work in a fancy office building can't they pay me my $3,000???!!!!!

So I sent him a note and nicely asked for a status on the debt. Yeah I could take him to small claims court but I really just want him to be a nice guy and pay up. Plus, I want the $$!

Carrying a Grudge

Years ago now.... Well, actually in 1995 I was working on my own building websites for clients. This was not a big business. Websites were called "home pages" by most businesses and few people had internet access to see them anyway. Netscape 2 was brand new and IE had just been launched. It was the early days.

I had one big client - a nice couple of guys with a fun idea that was ahead of its time but that didn't stop them. They wanted to build a multiple listing service for commercial real estate. Their first idea was to put it onto a CD. They hired me to design the look and feel. I suggested we blow off the CD thing and go for the internet.

I worked for them full time and part time for nearly 3 years. They never had much money. They paid me in cash but also in stock. Finally they couldn't afford to give me enough work and I was kind of running low on skills as browsers got more serious so I went to work at Microsoft and left them to find someone new.

When I left they owed me $3,000 in cash. John (the head guy) gave me a note, due with interest in 3 years. That was 1998. In 2001, John said he didn't have the money to pay off the note at that time but hope to in a year. The debt has always bugged me.

They are still going strong - actually, now, it looks like stronger than ever. As a stock holder, I get notices of annual meetings. Today I got an email about the annoual meeting to be held in their new offices (in one of the nicest, newest buildings in town). The note invited me to park in the building's garage and promised to pay for my parking and serve me lunch.

Now if they can pay for parking and serve lunch and work in a fancy office building can't they pay me my $3,000???!!!!!

So I sent him a note and nicely asked for a status on the debt. Yeah I could take him to small claims court but I really just want him to be a nice guy and pay up. Plus, I want the $$!