Sometime last month I was asked to help clear up an 8 month old billing error. It seems one of the other companies that contracts out some of our billing data entry made a big error and we did not get paid for some trades that I set up.

The trades were for one of my least favorite corporate customers who screams like a wounded rabbit anytime they have to pay any extra fees (that by the way is a scary sound). This customer is evil. I mean the sort of "smile-at-you-showing-big-canine-incisors-before-biting-your-arm-off" kind of evil.

I called her up and explained that it was an honest mistake and we needed to bill them for the charges because it had never been billed to them even though the trade was successful.

"I'm so sorry AC. But we just can't accept a bill that old. You do understand.", she said with a Cruella Deville kind of smoothness.
"I do understand its an inconvenience, but the trade was very successful, by my information here, you even complimented us on the excellent profit you made."
"So sorry. I just don't pay bills that old. Better luck next time." **click**

People like this are why guillotines were invented. People like this are why perfectly good wine bottles are emptied so they can be filled with gasoline for Molotov cocktails.

The rest of us can't get away with this type of shit as individuals. Why are corporations allowed to. Yes, I know we could turn them in for collection, and that there are options. But they are a big company and we need their business. She knew she had us by the short hairs.

I know businesses need to make money, but why does that allow right and wrong to be blurred. Is there some place in economics class where you are taught that your soul must be left behind in order to make money? Maybe this is just one little blog, but it's important that it be said, there is good and bad in this world. Making money does not excuse being evil.

I hope she gets to the end of her life and there is a judgement day and all of her making profit is shown as the moldy feces laden garbage that it is, and she has nothing left to show for her life but dishonest profit, no mercy, no charity, nothing. I hope there is a special place in Hell for people that knew how to really work that bottom line. If there is any justice, maybe there could be a big room filled with sewing machines and they could make sportswear to be sold in The Gap while demons whip their backs if they don't make quota, and even the coffee is cold. Yeah...that would be good.

(If I smoked, I would have to stop to have one right now, that felt good...)

Thanks for listening,

AC