Burn No Bridges

nailing4

I'm wondering how long does a contractor reserve the right to a customer ,if that customer has in fact been referred to another and accepted their proposal. Then at a later date called the referred contractor for another project.I've worked for an contractor very much over the last 8-10 years and have been refferred out to a customer that only knows of me through him.The original project was in 2003. and the referal in 2008. I've been contacted by this customer for a remodel project and the other contractor feels that he should be compensated. I believe after the referal this customer has full right to contact either.

HanerEnterprise

Trade him a referance... with a PITA customer...

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ChainsawCharlie

No one has the right to a customer, IMO. Do your job well and you keep them. Do a sub-standard job and lose them.

Leo G

Get him a coupon for a happy meal.

How did he find out. Did you beat him out of the job?

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Dustyrose

You could pay him another referal fee in hopes that he sends more work your way. I do think it's bogus of him to ask for a second bonus on the same customer, but in the long run it may work in your favor.

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nailing4

He gave the first referal with no intention of receiving any comp.

Leo G

I really hate it when a GC thinks that he owns the client and all work done for them should net him another fee. If you did some work for them as an independent contractor and you impressed them then it had nothing to do with the GC. You did it yourself.

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Custom Cabinets in Hartford County Connecticut

Tinstaafl

Hang on a second while I double-check that thread title... [clomp, clomp, clomp] Ah. Seems that you already know the answer.

If you have a continuing relationship with the original guy, it's up to you to weigh the value of that against what you'll make from the [presumably] one-time deal right now. If he's of no forseeable value to you in the future, tell him to pound sand.

Brutal as that sounds, it's the reality of business, especially in these times.

But as noted, the thread title implies that you have a conscience. Bummer for you.

jtpro

I think the answer to your question can be found using the question "How much work is he sending your way?"

USUALLY 1st time referals get say 10% up to______.and a set fee of say $500 over ________ or $1000 etc. kickback.

You also most likely NEVER would have got the second job if the first job wasn't pointed in your direction.

I think it's UN ETHICAL as hell for him to ask but if he's funneling $1,000s of dollars a month constantly what is he saving you on "free estimates" and advertising?

It also depends on how much the job is making you and how much is he expecting?

If a couple hundred now stops you from a $10,000 referal later then......