But Wait! There's More!

Curiosity got the best of me, and I was trying to figure out if MRT Services, Inc. in Georgia was taking any new clients. I mean, if you were bogged with past clients and seeing red on your financials, chances are, you'd be careful about taking on some new work, right?

I went to their website and did a bid request. Made up a random focus group I was having with four people, length of audio, etcetera etcetera, sent from a secondary email address of mine (not previously linked with my working email, of course!). I really didn't expect a response back.

But low and behold, within 24 hours, I sure did get a response! They wanted to know what the subject matter was, how many people and whatnot, so I replied back with some random, general information. They then sent me the pricing per minute (and oh Lordy, they were BANKING off of us transcriptionists!!! Talk about profit, holy shit!  Can't remotely figure out how they're in such a bad financial situation...).  Then, at the end of this pricing quote, he wrote:

At the moment we're 'swamped' with business that's pushed our turn around time back to seven days.

If this is an okay fit for you simply contact me asap.

HAHAHAHAHA!  "Swamped."  I love how they put it in the little quotes, too...so then I wrote this email back:

Thanks! I heard something recently on the Atlanta, Georgia news (WSB) regarding your company, something about not paying your transcriptionists because you're possibly filing for bankruptcy? Is this true? Is that why you have a slow turnaround time? Just curious, as I want to make sure I'm not providing future business for a company that will not be around next week...

I was dying to find out their response to this.  Instead of an explanation, I get this:

I'm trying to set up a file for you.  Please forward your business address including your business telephone number. (Without these we can't move forward with your project)

Thanx again for the opportunity to work with you!

Um, yeah, that didn't answer my question, dude.  (And "thanx?"  Wow, for being a business, they sure don't understand the concept of proper email techniques...)  I wasn't letting this go without a clear answer.  So I wrote back:

Before I get too far, I want to know what is going on with your company.  I'm not going to move forward myself if there's no guarantee your company is going to be around in a week.  Please don't walk around the question and let me know the situation.  Thank you.

Figured that would do it.  

Instead of a quick "within 24 hours" response back, I got nothing but dead air.  I could hear the crickets outside.  No response.  Wow, way to defend yourself.  

But wait!  I DO get an email back--just not from him.  Some other person.  And IT says:

Should this be an order you are still interesting in sending MRT, you may contact me direct at (number removed).  Please press zero to locate me, as I am filling in for Frank while he is out.  Any specific questions you have about MRT's ability to complete your order would certainly be best handled by a phone call.  I look forward to hearing from you today.

So, since she was sooooo looking forward to hearing from me THAT DAY, I wrote back.

As you can see from the previous conversation, I would just like to know more about the news story I heard on TV.  I do not want to be starting work with a company that will not be around in a week...

Again, silence.  Crickets. Dead air.  

A week went by.  No response back.  So I just sent the following:

I am going to assume that from your lack of response regarding the bankruptcy and withholding pay from your workers, you do not plan on being around long enough to service me and my organization now or in the future.

Again, no response.  'Nuf said.