A cautionary tale

Once upon a time, there was a company called Solid State Logic (SSL). It made mixing desks for recording studios. Occasionally, it employed a technical illustrator to help out with the documentation. Business was good for SSL, but not good enough. It lived beyond its means, paid its directors too much, employed too many people. Soon it didn't have any money to pay its bills, not even those of the faithful and foolishly trusting technical illustrator.

An astute business-type had thought up a wizard-wheeze that would solve SSL's problems - you can call it what you will: financial and operational restructuring, recovery and reorganisation, distress management; whatever. It just means you can wave goodbye to those nasty old bills and carry on regardless.

Our trusting technical illustrator had invoiced SSL for a piece of work on 10th December 2004. The bill wasn't paid; frequent reminders were met with calm reassurance. Finally, exasperated, the technical illustrator began court action against SSL on the 8th June 2005.

It was too late. A week later, on the 15th June, SSL sold their assets and business (the factories, offices, equipment - all the bits worth anything) to another company. With nothing left but debts and the technical illustrator's unpaid invoice, it changed its name to Oxford Consoles Ltd and went into receivership.

The new company decided to continue trading under the name Solid State Logic; the same employees making mixing desk consoles in the same factories on the same site. You wouldn't know anything had happened.

So, a few lessons for all you freelancers, contractors and suppliers out there: nail down your terms and conditions: 30 days is long enough for anyone to pay a bill; get those court proceedings under way nice and early. Above all, don't work for any of the cheating, thieving, lying, slimeballs at Solid State Logic!

Slight modification of SSL's 2006 Xmas ecard.