I was commissioned to do some market sizing for a well-recognized, global financial services firm. The job was to size a market and to identify future growth opportunities for a major report they were doing.

I identified the market size and plotted a growth projection, the client seemed really happy. Two months later the report is published online and I check out our research, all of the figures had been inflated by at least six times creating a significant lie that was attributed to our company.

Me: Hi, I think there’s a problem with the figures in the report, they don’t match our findings, have you gone to print yet?

Client: Work in your own interests and don’t ever undermine me again.

Me: I will always tell the truth about this when asked.

Never worked with him again.

I was working in a production warehouse on a contract basis, and there were various chemicals being sprayed and used on site.

The warehouse doors mostly remained closed, for unknown reasons.

After my first week, my eyes burned each night when I got home. At work, my chest pounded randomly.

I finished my contract and declined to do another Health standards, like adequate ventilation and fans, exist for a reason.

I volunteered to design a logo for a non-profit so that I could get some experience and a portfolio piece while helping others. 

Me: Please see the drafts as a starting point. I performed research, used my imagination, and designed some drafts of logo concepts based on your organization's mission and location.

Client: These are cool! I'll show the committee.

I was thinking - well, that could get messy. Various opinions and all from random people I haven't met.

I didn't hear back from the Manager for weeks.

I checked back on their social media. They posted that a friend of the manager created their new logo design (he was the owner of a local Agency). The logo was VERY SIMILAR to the designs I created. They didn't mention me at all. 

I've heard of "design by committee." This is my first example of theft by committee.

COVID has been revealing a lot of awful business practices. 

My husband is a manager for a company that offered employees extra paid time off if they or a loved one get sick, or if they need to quarantine and stay home.

The bosses told the managers to track everyone who uses the extra PTO so they can be fired "once this virus blows over."

I worked for a design agency 10 years ago. My predecessor built two complete websites for a client – neither of which had gone into use or were ever paid for – but the client was a big shot in the industry and got away with it.

I changed jobs a couple of years later to another agency. Lo and behold, we get called to build a website for this same client. I told my boss about the two websites that never saw the light of day at my previous employer, and warned her to get paid upfront.

I went to the client's offices to discuss the brief.

Client: Don't worry about the content. I've actually already collated all the content into a mock website to give you an indication of what you're looking for.

At this point, he showed me a demo model of one of the sites that were built at my previous boss's agency!

Me: (feigning ignorance) Wow. Did you put that together yourself?

Client: (beaming with pride) Yes. Not bad, right?

Oh, it's bad. Very, very bad.

Client: I find it annoying that you keep emailing transcripts of what we discussed over the phone - I don't need a paper trail.

Client: I want a design for my business incorporating the attached image.

Me: Sorry I can’t use this because it’s someone else’s copyrighted work. I’d need permission from the copyright owner.

Client: Don’t worry, I paid for the comic book, I do own it.

I work for a company that installs custom made desks for manual labor. 

Me: I'm just following up on the installation we made last week at your factory so we can tie things up before your final payment. 

Client: We are still reading through the documentation and validating the installation, please call me later next week.

Weeks pass. I keep calling, they don't respond. Finally: 

Client: Hello?

Me: Have you finished your evaluation? 

Client: Sorry, but last week we sold everything on the factory floor to someone. You should be able to get your payment from him. 

Me: Uhhh... no. This was not agreed to and is a breach of contract.

Client: Oh no, no, no, no. We still have everything on the factory floor. We were thinking you could come and take it back. We were just showing the new owner what he could do with the space when he moves in. Like a work in progress exhibit.

Me: So you sold the desks to the new owner, but you want us to come pick them up so you don't have to pay for them?  

Client: YES! You still have time to pick them up, and then the new owner will buy them back from you. He will want them installed at his factory right away.

Me: ...

Client: This is good business for both of us. 

Me: Expect a message from our lawyers. 

I work for a small family business in the entertainment industry as an Office Assistant (aka whatever needs doing at the time). Recently I've taken up doing updates and writing some content for our WordPress site. 

Client: We're going to start offering three or four new products and I want to get our new sister website and running. I'll need pictures and descriptions for all of them.

Me: Got it, I'll start writing...

Client: Just go on our competitor's sites and copy-paste the stuff that looks good because you know they're going to be doing it to us too. 

Me: ...Got it.

Needless to say, I'm not actually going to do that. My hard work helping my boss avoid copyright cease and desist will never be appreciated. 

I am a prepress technician for a full-service commercial press (but not a trade/online printer), as well as being a graphic designer. This following exchange happens again and again in various forms...

Client: I can't print your proof. Can you please send me a print-ready proof?

Me: Our soft proofs are screen resolution for review/display only. We do not release press-ready printable files for proofing.

Client: But I need to be able to print it and make changes. Your file is locked. Can I have the password?

Me: We do not release press-ready printable files for proofing, and we do not share security information such as passwords used for document protection. I am happy to make any changes you need and proof it back to you. We do offer and recommend hard-copy proofing prior to print. The first hard-copy proof is free of charge. Would you like me to make your changes and email you an updated proof? Would you like a hard-copy proof for final approval before we print your brochure?

Client: Why can't you just give me the password? I am just trying to run my business. I need to be able to print this proof. I need to be able to make changes to your PDF before I print it. You are keeping me from running my business.

Me: I'm sorry, we don't release security information of any kind, and we don't provide press-ready printable files for proofing purposes. Please let me know what changes need to be made and I can get it done for you very quickly.

Client: I don't need changes now. I need to be able to change it in the future, and I need to be able to print it NOW. Every other printer that has designed something for me has given me a printable file. I plan to bring you tons of business and you are hurting my business by not providing me with the password.

So I send a printable file with a watermark...

Client: This is not acceptable. I cannot print this. It has a mark on it. Can you delete the mark and send me a high quality file? I need it right now. No other printer does this to me. 

Yes. I'm so sure that every other printer you work with provides you with a printable press-quality/press-ready file as a "Proof." Uh-huh.

At this point, this particular client chose to be verbally abusive and I had my boss take over the call. The client complained about me, told my boss that I was being uncooperative and hurting their business, etc. My boss pretty much repeated everything I had already said and reaffirmed our willingness to update and re-proof as needed. Th

Client: Fine! I'm going to get my designers to figure out how to unlock the file and fix the file for print. I'm NEVER going to work with you again.

But, wait... wasn't I your designer? And didn't you agree to a work estimate that included printing services with us? Hmmm. Good luck with that. I know you can get around the security with 3rd party software; but, I still sent you files that were exported at just 96dpi and don't include the bleed!