Comments on: For Difficult Conversations, Use Email with Caution http://www.businessofdesignonline.com/for-difficult-conversations-use-email-with-caution/ BoDo Business of Design online Sat, 22 Nov 2008 04:29:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.9 by: Jack Cole http://www.businessofdesignonline.com/for-difficult-conversations-use-email-with-caution/#comment-1502 Thu, 21 Jun 2007 22:42:30 +0000 http://www.businessofdesignonline.com/for-difficult-conversations-use-email-with-caution/#comment-1502 While generally true that face-to-face communication trumps email, you really should take the client into consideration before choosing your medium. If the client is in the habit of adding extra-contractual tidbits, your conflict may land you in court if you refuse, however politely and professionally. If you think your client may become litigious over this request, stick to email, and politely reference the contract the client signed. If s/he wants something 'extra', bring up in your email that you'd be glad to discuss amending the contract with the new requirements and budget, THEN call. At the very least you'll have a paper trail established that you did NOT assume this "extra" was part of the existing agreement. While generally true that face-to-face communication trumps email, you really should take the client into consideration before choosing your medium.

If the client is in the habit of adding extra-contractual tidbits, your conflict may land you in court if you refuse, however politely and professionally.

If you think your client may become litigious over this request, stick to email, and politely reference the contract the client signed. If s/he wants something ‘extra’, bring up in your email that you’d be glad to discuss amending the contract with the new requirements and budget, THEN call.

At the very least you’ll have a paper trail established that you did NOT assume this “extra” was part of the existing agreement.

]]> by: Amber Yount http://www.businessofdesignonline.com/for-difficult-conversations-use-email-with-caution/#comment-1487 Wed, 20 Jun 2007 19:59:26 +0000 http://www.businessofdesignonline.com/for-difficult-conversations-use-email-with-caution/#comment-1487 I know this from experience, from now on I always try to deal with the clients on the phone after they've signed the contract. I know this from experience, from now on I always try to deal with the clients on the phone after they’ve signed the contract.

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