Be careful what you say.(LIGHTER ACCOUNTS)

I worked for a large firm that, many years ago, decided to sell their carpet manufacturing division. When it did so--even though I was not previously charged with that division--I inherited the balance of A/R, which was not sold as part of the deal, and the claims/chargebacks associated with the carpet that was manufactured through the date of sale of the division.

When our "good" customers found out that we no longer owned the division, but were still honoring all claims against previous product, some of them realized they were in a position to make "slightly" unjust or inaccurate claims. A procedure requiring different levels of management review was established to deal with the various disputes, and I ultimately only became involved in the ones nobody else could resolve, or that exceeded everyone else's authority but mine.

It wasn't long before it was reported to me that a retail customer wanted us to replace several rooms of carpet he had purchased almost two years ago. Naturally, I was on guard and after reviewing the facts, I called the individual. I inquired why he wanted us to replace carpet that was so old already. His response was that he had not found anything ...