My Inlaws
Advance apologies for length.
I quit a good job in Victoria, because my BiL and his dad convinced me to work with them in the property development business. "You'll be making £80k within 2 years," they told me. "You can do your photography of our properties, you can manage all the tenants, and help us run our fledgling business." I lent them £3,500 of my own money to help them get off the ground. Not alot of money; more than I could afford, but I thought it to be a good investment.
I'm rather organised, so the idea of creating an entire system for an office sounded bril. I looked forward to bringing order to what I knew to be a chaotic approach to running an office.
They hired a wee office, where I sat behind a desk with lots of paperwork, a computer, and had a balcony overlooking the marina. "Okay," thinks I, "this could be good."
I worked hard. I organised them. However, at every turn, and every suggestion I made, I was blocked. I had run offices with far more people, coordinated larger projects than a few little property refurbs, and run accounts. With my BiL's business, I saw horrible, glaring errors that could only end in expensive visits from the VAT man, the CIS man, and every utility supplier within miles of *town where properties are*. I went to them, gave them ideas, told them they NEEDED to let me sort this out.
"No, we've got other things for you to do," I was told.
I returned to the office, searching for MiL's car tax form and MOT.
I was constantly reminded that the company had no cash flow - creditors, contractors, suppliers were constantly on the phone to me, demanding payment. BiL's response? "Just tell them we'll pay them later. And because we have no money, we can't pay you what we we said we would."
Humph.
A few weeks later, I'm entering the monthly purchases of the company credit cards. What's there? £2k worth of B&O televisions and stereo equipment. I confronted them, they came up with excuses. I asked for my money back. They said okay.
A month later, there's a new Lexus in their driveway. "Where's my money?" I asked. They hummed and hawed, giving me no real answer.
I gave up. I wanted to give them the benefit of my skills, and give them a good start to their business. I got the bum's rush. I left.
I'm just so disappointed with them. I wish them success, but I wish they weren't so arrogant to believe they can do no wrong and will never get caught.
Length? I haven't spoked to the inlaws for three months.
(w4I4q1O1 was hard at work on, Fri 27 Jun 2008, 9:34, 1 reply)

If I were you mate
I would take them to the small claims court and try and get ur money back £3.5k is £3.5 k in the end of the day.
And if you do take them to court don't feel guilty cause they obviously didn't when they ripped the piss out of you.
(Gorbotronic 01100111 01101111 01110010 01100010 01101111 00001, Fri 27 Jun 2008, 9:42, closed)