Is it ok for a colleague...

Is it ok for a colleague...

Author
Discussion

24lemons

Original Poster:

2,648 posts

185 months

Wednesday 5th August 2015
quotequote all
To charge a customer for a service he has performed, then keep the money for himself?

My reaction was absolutely not. It was during work hours and he was being paid as usual. A customer purchased a product which my colleague then spent a large portion of his working day modifying.

The product was charged for as normal but an additional charge was made for the modification, which was pocketed.

I'm debating whether or not to mention it to the boss as I know that this particular colleague has also been actively fishing for tips as well. What should I do?

GT03ROB

13,263 posts

221 months

Wednesday 5th August 2015
quotequote all
No.

No question. Report to his boss.

R1 Indy

4,382 posts

183 months

Wednesday 5th August 2015
quotequote all
How is this anything other than gross misconduct!

JulianHJ

8,743 posts

262 months

Wednesday 5th August 2015
quotequote all
R1 Indy said:
How is this anything other than gross misconduct!
yes

toohangry

416 posts

109 months

Wednesday 5th August 2015
quotequote all
Why do you need to ask others on this? Surely you absolutely know this is wrong?

24lemons

Original Poster:

2,648 posts

185 months

Wednesday 5th August 2015
quotequote all
toohangry said:
Why do you need to ask others on this? Surely you absolutely know this is wrong?
Its always interesting to gauge other people's reactions.

Eric Mc

122,032 posts

265 months

Wednesday 5th August 2015
quotequote all
It makes me wonder how on earth the cutsomer was fooled into paying him personally.

Did they receive a bill from him in his own name? If they paid on that basis they are plain stupid.

Did he issue a bill to the customer using his employer's type face? If he did this, then he has committed a crime of forgery and theft.

Did he issue a correct business invoice but disguised the fact that the money had come to him personally? Again, this is outright theft.

Instant dismissal in all these cases I would suggest.


Vocal Minority

8,582 posts

152 months

Wednesday 5th August 2015
quotequote all
Clean cut wrongun there.

24lemons

Original Poster:

2,648 posts

185 months

Wednesday 5th August 2015
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
It makes me wonder how on earth the cutsomer was fooled into paying him personally?

Did they receive a bill from him in his own name? If they paid on that basis they are plain stupid.

Did he issue a bill to the customer using his employer's type face? If he did this, then he has committed a crime of forgery and theft.

Did he issue a correct business invoice but disgusied the fact that the money had come to him personally? Again, this is outright theft.

Instant dismissal in both cases I would suggest.
I'm afraid I dont know the details other than what he said to me. Another colleague confirmed yesterday that he had indeed kept the money. Beyond that I dont know any finer details

stuart-b

3,643 posts

226 months

Wednesday 5th August 2015
quotequote all
24lemons said:
To charge a customer for a service he has performed, then keep the money for himself?

My reaction was absolutely not. It was during work hours and he was being paid as usual. A customer purchased a product which my colleague then spent a large portion of his working day modifying.

The product was charged for as normal but an additional charge was made for the modification, which was pocketed.

I'm debating whether or not to mention it to the boss as I know that this particular colleague has also been actively fishing for tips as well. What should I do?
If the boss found out that you knew and hid the obvious theft to his business, he wouldn't look too kindly at you after that.

stuart-b

3,643 posts

226 months

Wednesday 5th August 2015
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
It makes me wonder how on earth the cutsomer was fooled into paying him personally.

Did they receive a bill from him in his own name? If they paid on that basis they are plain stupid.

Did he issue a bill to the customer using his employer's type face? If he did this, then he has committed a crime of forgery and theft.

Did he issue a correct business invoice but disguised the fact that the money had come to him personally? Again, this is outright theft.

Instant dismissal in all these cases I would suggest.
Customer could have been "in on it". "Drop me £50 and I'll do it here and now, if you go through the books it will be at least £100". Happens all the time in various trades...

rehab71

3,362 posts

190 months

Wednesday 5th August 2015
quotequote all
Sounds like theft to me, he needs binning!

Axionknight

8,505 posts

135 months

Wednesday 5th August 2015
quotequote all
Sounds pretty damned wrong to me - what a fool he is for telling anybody about it, too.

Can you prove it? Report him!

JonRB

74,560 posts

272 months

Wednesday 5th August 2015
quotequote all
stuart-b said:
Customer could have been "in on it". "Drop me £50 and I'll do it here and now, if you go through the books it will be at least £100". Happens all the time in various trades...
Indeed. I've been offered different prices based on whether it's "off book" or "on book" for extra services at a tyre fitters before now.


Eric Mc

122,032 posts

265 months

Wednesday 5th August 2015
quotequote all
Collusion to defraud is fraud too.

krisdelta

4,566 posts

201 months

Wednesday 5th August 2015
quotequote all
No way is this right - theft pure and simple. Same as taking from the till.

stuart-b

3,643 posts

226 months

Wednesday 5th August 2015
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
Collusion to defraud is fraud too.
Of course!

JB!

5,254 posts

180 months

Wednesday 5th August 2015
quotequote all
Is it a service your business provides?

He shouldn't have done it in work time, but if its not something you offer, it should have been an "after hours" job.

RizzoTheRat

25,165 posts

192 months

Wednesday 5th August 2015
quotequote all
JonRB said:
Indeed. I've been offered different prices based on whether it's "off book" or "on book" for extra services at a tyre fitters before now.
Funnily enough tyre fitters was my immediate thought too, quite common to be offered a reduced cash price for a puncture repair or fitting a tyre you've supplied. I wonder how many of those ever go through the companies books if the boss isn't about?

24lemons

Original Poster:

2,648 posts

185 months

Wednesday 5th August 2015
quotequote all
JB! said:
Is it a service your business provides?

He shouldn't have done it in work time, but if its not something you offer, it should have been an "after hours" job.
It isn't a service we advertise, and had it been done in his own time I dont think I'd have an issue. This individual has been known to 'fish' for tips in the past too!