Couple of our consultants worked for this Chariot's famous Client during Jan-March 2008. Even after more than an year and half after completion of services, we did not receive complete payment. We tried contacting them multiple times and after agreeing to a payment plan, they could not make more than 2 payments and still owe us approx. $20k.
Every time we contact them for payment, Al Silvas, the president comes up with reasons like, they are unable to get payments from their Clients or they are struggling to be in business. Earlier (after March 08), the only reason, he used to mention, was that we did not provide quality of services and the Client is not willing to pay for these services. Surprisingly, Chariot bought our services after trying Free for 2 weeks. even after approving all the timesheets, they did not want to pay us and coming up with excuses like this.
Incidentally, all the companies, that are in this situation are startups / small companies at the time the engagement was performed. The common reason for non-payment is the quality of services, although there were no complaints made by the Client at the time service was delivered.
We have been really patient, for over year and half, to get this settled in a smooth manner but after understanding that we are not alone and there are many companies in the same situation, we wanted to go ahead and fight this.
After going through other reports, it looks like they have strong ties with their Client's upper management. Will that qualify / gives right to Chariot not to pay the Suppliers like us?
We are in the process of obtaining legal counsel and getting this resolved by filing a class suit on this company. All companies and consultants who are in a situation like this with this company, pl. contact us. Rest of you all who are reading this for other reasons, beware.
Porvus Technologies.
Sunnyvale, CA