help very nasty ex boss

LITTLEMISSFLOWER

ive got so many winter weddings this year. one lady who is getting married on new years eve was quoted £2000 for a £1000 job. i no its new year but some people take the !!!! im doing it for £1100 as its new years eve.

jago25_98

Take their business if it wasn't in your contract.

"Am I also right in saying that you can contact people at will unless you specifically had something written into your contract?" - I've read that somewhere too

Competing with a former boss - I've certainly fantasised that one a few times!

Debt_Free_Chick

Any clause in a contract of employment about not contacting former customers for x months is potentially an unfair contract term. Whether, in any individual case, it is, or not is a matter for the Courts. I'm not suggesting you test this theory, but your ex-boss would need to amass all kinds of evidence to prove that you have "poached" her clients and then take the matter to Court. And she would have no certainty of winning.

So forget about her threats re contacting former customers - she is simply trying to bully you. However, I would not contact them anyway. Sure it's a dog-eat-dog world, but it should not be necessary for you to directly approach her clients and it's the kind of business practice you really want to avoid - otherwise, it may happen to you one day!

Concentrate on running your business and if some of your ex's clients come to you, welcome them, do business with them and do not be drawn into any conversation about your ex-boss and her business. Learn the art of failing to answer the question, directly

Don't initiate a conversation about her with suppliers either. If they ask you if what she says is true say something like .... "I'm concentrating on building a good relationship with suppliers like you and new, select clients that have come my way. I really don't need to engage in dubious business practices - I think there must be some misunderstanding" .... you get my drift?

Don't let this petty bit-chiness* interfere with getting your business off the ground. Just concentrate on that and let your ex-boss run around in the green mist of jealousy

Good luck

* remove the hyphen. The naughty word police doesn't like it!!

nutmegman

Debt_Free_Chick wrote:

Any clause in a contract of employment about not contacting former customers for x months is potentially an unfair contract term. Whether, in any individual case, it is, or not is a matter for the Courts. I'm not suggesting you test this theory, but your ex-boss would need to amass all kinds of evidence to prove that you have "poached" her clients and then take the matter to Court. And she would have no certainty of winning.

LEGAL POINT : these clauses are called "restraint of trade". They are perfectly legal and valid clauses. However, as with most contract clauses these restraint of trade clauses are open to the resonable test.

My opinion (without seeing all the facts) is that your former boss wouldnt have a leg to stand on is floral design I assume is your only method of making a living. If so then it would be unreasonble to restrain your trade, thus prevent you from making a living. result is that any clause would be void.

If you need anymore on this please PM me.

mikewebs

Perosnally I would contact a solicitor and ask them to use legal persuasion to shut this person up for good. They have a right to their opinions but they do not have a right to bad mouth you to anyone - customer, supplier, joe public.

This person is flagrantly slandering you from what you have said and the mere threat of legal action should be enough to shut them up once and for all. If it doesn't, take them to court - both the person and the business - as they are personally slandering you and also from a 'professional' (I use the term lightly) standpoint.


From what you have said, this person is just miffed that you are obviously better at running your business than they are. They cannot deal with the fact that they have serious competition - and resorting to dirty tricks to try to make your business fail (whilst also making your life miserable).

Honestly, sue them - both the person and the company!

LITTLEMISSFLOWER

thank you to everyone(im not giveing a update because i cant be bothered to think about that women any more but i will say she is taking me to court. so ive been told by a client)