Would you use blackmail ... for any reason?

[rubytox]

So, I have this client who needed a job done urgently. I worked until all hours of the morning to finish the work (I really enjoyed the job). On completion she looked at it from different angles and said that she was 'happy' ... but her facial expression and body language told a different story. I asked if I could use her as a reference. Her response: "ABSOLUTELY, without a doubt! Wow, you have done more for me than anyone else. You are amazing!"

I was not too sure, so I phoned a buddy to pose as a prospective client and wanting her opinion on the work I've done for her. :twisted: She did not sing my praises and some of her comments were downright defamatory.

BUT while doing the work, she made a lot of derogatory comments about her bosses, all the way up to the top ... in writing and on the phone.

Would you blackmail someone like this? And how to go about it? It's not about revenge (well, not really). If she could lie to me without batting an eyelid, what else is she capable of? She acted as if she was excited ... and wait for it ... my best, most reliable and loyal "friend".

 

[Beachless]

Why?

She has done nothing to harm you and you will clearly not use her as a reference so whats the point of risking criminal prosecution?

 

[The_Unbeliever]

Just no.

Don't. Let her be. Her comments and so on will come back to bite her one day.

 

[Griz]

She's entitled to her opinion of your work.

 

[Nerfherder]

I'd use blackmail but I don't see how you are going to use it in this situation ?

What is there to be achieved ?If you badmouth her to her bosses all that will happen is that she will hate you more.

Sometimes its necessary to do a bad thing to get a good result, but I can't see a good result in this case.

 

[Budza]

She acted as if she was excited ... and wait for it ... my best, most reliable and loyal "friend".

Eish. One of those :erm:

Stay away.

 

[DJ...]

Yes, I have blackmailed people in the past.

People who deserved it, as far as I am concerned...

 

[Ninja'd]

Hells yeah

 

[SoulTax]

I would use blackmail in the right situations. But this is not one of them. Sure she is a bitch that needs to be taught a lesson, but if you got paid for that job, leave it be. No good can come from this.

 

[scudsucker]

Well.

We'd better see pics to be sure.

 

[ToxicBunny]

I would use blackmail in the right situations. But this is not one of them. Sure she is a bitch that needs to be taught a lesson, but if you got paid for that job, leave it be. No good can come from this.

Precisely this.

If you got paid, then walk away and never use her as a reference. She sounds like the kind of person that will have negative things to say about anyone and anything.. it will bite her in the ass eventually.

 

[smallearth]

Wait one day at least before making a decision. Something somebody once advised me to do when I get angry and contemplate retribution.

 

[Swa]

If you don't have naked pics of her then don't.

 

[DerpiesFreud]

Wait one day at least before making a decision. Something somebody once advised me to do when I get angry and contemplate retribution.

+1
I used to make rushed and emotional decsions,usually turned out badly for me.

For me it depends on the person,if they seriously hurt me physically/financially/socially I`d think about it.
Usually I try to be the better person and ignore it

 

[supersunbird]

Blackmail? Nah, revenge is where it's at...

 

[rubytox]

She *****ed-up over a period of 6 months. Her bosses became impatient. I saw one of those messages where the boss threatened her with further action and the message was copied to the HR manager.
She was in deep sh*t and constantly in tears. She was threatened with dismissal. She and her direct boss approached me to sort out a cock-up that festered over a 6 months period but I had one month in which to fix-up that scandalous mess. Given her precarious situation, i.e. threats of being dismissed for incompetence, I think that she is trying to cover up all her errors, only now she has a scape-goat.

Maybe blackmail is the wrong word or action? But ja, at the moment I'm so p*ssed off, I'm tempted to slap her on the head.

 

[ToxicBunny]

She *****ed-up over a period of 6 months. Her bosses became impatient. I saw one of those messages where the boss threatened her with further action and the message was copied to the HR manager.
She was in deep sh*t and constantly in tears. She was threatened with dismissal. She and her direct boss approached me to sort out a cock-up that festered over a 6 months period but I had one month in which to fix-up that scandalous mess. Given her precarious situation, i.e. threats of being dismissed for incompetence, I think that she is trying to cover up all her errors, only now she has a scape-goat.

Maybe blackmail is the wrong word or action? But ja, at the moment I'm so p*ssed off, I'm tempted to slap her on the head.

So you're not a contractor, but a colleague then?

If so, then stay away from Blackmail. If she tries to use you as a scapegoat you drag in her direct boss, his boss and HR and lay down the law. No need for blackmail.

 

[HavocXphere]

If someone threatens to hurt your loved ones...that calls for drastic action. What you're describing there sounds like a standard day in an office with heavy office politics. Also blackmail is illegal - you really want to sink your career because she failed to "sing you praise"?

If she tries to use you as a scapegoat you drag in her direct boss, his boss and HR and lay down the law.

Exactly. I find that CC'ing a couple of high level execs makes everyone behave really fckin fast. If the injustice done is great enough then said high level execs are likely to take over...and then you can scrape the offender off the floor with a teaspoon.

 

[Bosvark@]

Not a chance. Keep away from someone like that - I would cut ties...

 

[rubytox]

So you're not a contractor, but a colleague then?

If so, then stay away from Blackmail. If she tries to use you as a scapegoat you drag in her direct boss, his boss and HR and lay down the law. No need for blackmail.

I'm a contractor and not an employee of the company. However, I have ties with the company and support their course.
She shared her frustrations and questioned the competence of her superiors. Actually, I felt empathy for the woman.
She is not a senior in the company. I asked a buddy to phone. The aim was more to find out whether I mistook the contradiction between her words and her body language. My instincts have therefore been proven to be 100% on the nose.

It would not be in my interest to drag her to her superiors and to her HR.