I KNOW I'm right!

[Moose]

K, so about $65,000.00 in unpaid invoices are missing and haven't been paid, so now they're late. We are NEVER late paying ANYONE. All of these invoices are from our software provider. They email these to me, and I print them off in duplicate. One copy gets double checked against our PO's, if they match, I approve them, then it goes into a, "Bills Due", file in a plastic container that the boss takes home once a week. From there, he, his wife and the accountant sort through and pay the ones that are due. The OTHER copy goes into one of three files, "North Office", "South Office", and "Tulsa Office" so I can track who ordered what.

 

I have three ways to figure out what we've been invoiced. The original email I receive, the "Bill Due", file or one of the 3 office files.

 

There are 20 missing, all for the month of April ranging from 4/4/05 to 4/25/05. I can see our statement online, and they haven't been paid. The boss says that the invoices never made it into the, "Bills due", file. I disagree. I find it impossible that they didn't make it in. I've been in this routine for a very long time. I find it odd that it's basically the eniter month of April missing. I have the emails, and a copy of each invoice, (which are late now), in one of the three office files.

 

The boss is pretty pissed, (as he should be), but I'm 110% positive that I put a copy of each invoice in their files like I've done forever.

 

He's flat out saying I'm wrong, which I take as him flat out calling me a liar.

 

How would you deal with this?

[FolderWife]

First, you get very pissed.

 

Then when he leaves, you go through his drawers and find the missing invoices.

 

He's passing blame. You KNOW you did it...why wouldn't you!? Someone snatched the file and didn't tell anyone. He's pissed, and he's blaming someone. He's probably being such a jerk because he doesn't want to have to figure out what happened to the invoices. If you want to clear your name of his accusations, then YOU are the one stuck finding the missing invoices to prove him wrong

 

He's a jerk

[Craig]

Monday may have hit it on the head.

 

Did someone take a 3 week vacation? Has anyone recently left the company?

[Moose]

Thanks Monday. That's exactly how I feel. I don't know what happens to that box when it's not in the office. How can I?

Did someone take a 3 week vacation? Has anyone recently left the company?

Nope, nobody.

Then when he leaves, you go through his drawers and find the missing invoices.

There isn't anything in his office as far as invoices. And, the plastic file box, he has. So I can't even check to see for myself if they're in there. The, "only" people who get into that box is:

 

Me

 

The Boss

 

The Boss's wife

 

The Accountant

 

Oh, and yes Monday, I'm VERY pissed!

[Craig]

3 weeks worth, 20 bills from one company missing? If all the other bills were handled in the usual manner during that time I can't help but think someone knows something about the missing bills.

 

Were you on good terms with your boss before this happened?

[MWC_LifeBeginsAt40]

I agree he's being a jerk, but he's the boss and it's possible his wife lost the invoices and she is denying it as well. I don't agree with having so many paper copies of invoices floating around (and we are guilty of that as well) nor do I agree that they should be transporting them home in a plastic box.

 

When things like this happen, IMO what the boss is really looking for is for you to come up with a more foolproof method so this can never happen again, not matter whose fault it is.

 

Can you send a copy of the electronic invoice to the users instead of paper copies? That way you would have record of emailing the invoices to his home. Is there a way they can approve them for payment online?

[Moose]

Originally posted by Craig

3 weeks worth, 20 bills from one company missing? If all the other bills were handled in the usual manner during that time I can't help but think someone knows something about the missing bills.

 

Were you on good terms with your boss before this happened?

I agree! And yes, we are on good terms. He's extremley happy with my work. Up until this.

When things like this happen, IMO what the boss is really looking for is for you to come up with a more foolproof method so this can never happen again, not matter whose fault it is.

This is his method he came up with himself. I have no say in how the invoices are handled. Or believe me, things would be a heckuva a lot different already. Also, we both receive the invoices via email. I save everyone of them in an electronic file on our server. Like I said, I've got record of receiving them in the email, he does too. I also have the hard copies in the "North Office, South Office, Tulsa Office".....

 

All of this proof really doesn't matter, he's going to blame me either way. He's going to pick me up here at the office at 6:00 tonight to, "get together". I plan on standing my ground, but I know him too well, he'll continue to blame me, and I'll continue to stand my ground. This is a circle that we've found ourselves in before, and it isn't pretty. I'm trying to find another way to deal with this.

 

I've put together a document on what's happened thus far. I plan on having it handy tonight. I've got screen dumps showing all of the invoices on file, I have the hard copies on my desk that were printed off long ago, (and you can tell because we just bought a brand new copier/printer and there's a huge difference in the quality of them.) So far I feel I have a great case developing here. Any other suggestions?

[MWC_LifeBeginsAt40]

Rather than building up a defensive "case" I would tell him you're sorry but you don't know how it happened, and that you are not blaming anyone, and there's no point in trying to find blame when it appears that proper procedures were followed (you can show him your copies if you want) and it's just one of those things.

 

If he can come up with a way to avoid it in the future, let him. If he asks you, then you get your chance to change his system.

 

All you can do now is pay the bills, it's over with, they're late, you can't turn the clock back. There is no point in getting into a heated discussion unless he's just a jerk who needs that kind of drama, or maybe he isn't "gettin any" at home.

 

6pm? Do u at least get a free dinner out of it?

[FolderWife]

[Moose]

6pm? Do u at least get a free dinner out of it?

I hope so. I know we'll more than likely get a drink.

[prisoner]

mwc_lifebegins at 40 is right.

 

You are in a very strong position here. The bills will have to be paid and there is not time travel available. Unless of course that you suspect there is a cashflow problem and then at least you are about to fond out about it. I would keep your 'document/timeline' with you for your own comfort, but I would aslso have some notes suggesting how the company move forward.

 

Progress away from this problem leaving it behind. You will look great. You may even end up with more responsibility. At least you will get to input. That is what you deserve.

 

be frank and professional but try and be progressive. This is an opportunity to show what you are made of. To actually be unique. This world does not allow for that too often.

 

Let us know.

[quankanne]

He's going to pick me up here at the office at 6:00 tonight to, "get together"

 

maybe you ought to suggest to the bonehead that you can meet him and his wife AT THEIR HOUSE, where they do the paperwork. And y'all can look in places he hadn't thought of looking before.

 

this sounds fishy, moose: I get the feeling that he or wifey misplaced the papers while they had possession on them, but want to pin it on you so they come out smelling like roses. He may be boss, but that still a pretty stupid way of doing things because it's so easy to lose something when it's out of its environment.

 

MWC is right: the milk's aready spilled, and grilling you about it isn't going to fix things. Just print out another three week's worth of inventories from that period and have him pay the damned things. Then tell him that he needs a better system of doing accounting (i.e., keep office paperwork at the office to prevent this from happening again). YOU didn't take the paperwork off the premesis, HE/THEY did!!!

 

… this wouldn't happen to be your brother, would it?

[Moose]

Yes, it is my brother.

 

Here's my thing quank, (I'm so glad you're here for this.....hehe), whether he knows what happened or not, he'll deny it's his or his wife's or the accountant's fault until he's in front of God on Judgement Day.

 

On top of that, (assuming he really doesn't know what's going on), he'll doubt my abilities now, or at least see them as shakey.

 

I really do bust my ass to keep things in order around here. It pisses me off to know that he'll not admit it isn't my fault. Even if and when he finds out I had nothing to do with it, he's the type to never apologize, or admit he was wrong.

 

SO, I don't know what I'm going to tell him exactley. I figure I'll show him my proof, tell him all I know is that if there's a copy in one of the three office files, there's definitely a copy in the bills due. If there isn't, it's not my fault, and I can't tell him what happened, I don't have physcic abilities.

 

This will PISS him OFF! He hates to be told he's wrong. He's like a spoiled friggin' brat. He knows I don't have to work anymore, that I could walk right out and I'll be fine. I never bring that up, and I treat him with the upmost respect. But when it comes to defending my position, he thinks I should be the subordinate, and take the blame whatever it is.

 

Sorry, but that's not going to happen. I like your idea about going to his house and look around.....that'll be fun!

 

Thanks prisoner and MWC.......very helpful........

 

I just now he's gonna through a hissy fit.

[quankanne]

*snicker*

 

well, dude, just lie on the floor next to him and scream louder and longer ... that usually shuts them up … for a while! Not to be rude or ugly, but your dear brother sounds like he can be a total jackass at times. And if that's the case, go in armed with all the paperwork you can and sweeetly tell him, "Your losing the paperwork is a moot point ~ what are you going to do about settling up these accounts?"

 

because he can yell and scream all he wants, until he makes restitution by paying up the bills, everything out of his mouth is unimportant.

[MWC_LifeBeginsAt40]

Originally posted by quankanne

*snicker*

 

well, dude, just lie on the floor next to him and scream louder and longer ... that usually shuts them up … for a while! Not to be rude or ugly, but your dear brother sounds like he can be a total jackass at times. And if that's the case, go in armed with all the paperwork you can and sweeetly tell him, "Your losing the paperwork is a moot point ~ what are you going to do about settling up these accounts?"

 

because he can yell and scream all he wants, until he makes restitution by paying up the bills, everything out of his mouth is unimportant.

 

zactly! what he said! Since it's your brother, it does make a difference.