Years ago, in Calgary, Alberta, a brother [who previously was a Special Pioneer and elder] and myself entered into a business arrangement.
The agreement was that all profits for the service we provided would be split evenly, 50/50. For many months the arrangement worked out well. Equal work for equal pay. Being as this particular 'brother' had an incredible gift of the gab [even more than myself] I was quite happy for him to be the 'front man', dealing with the customers and collecting the payments. From January to September all went well, however he did pull off a number of shady maneuvers, which caused me to raise my eyebrows, but WTH we were making money.
The last job we did was completed in September, to the customers satisfaction. Payment was due ten days after and nothing seemed out of sorts. I had told my partner that I would be returning to British Columbia to live, at some point, and this seemed like a good time. He was expecting it, so no surprises. We agreed that he would forward a cheque for 50% to my B.C. address.
Come two weeks later I telephoned him to ask about the money. "I still haven't been paid" he said. I thought it strange because we had done numerous jobs for this customer and he ALWAYS PAID ON TIME.
Two more weeks and, "I still haven't been paid."
Two more weeks and, "I still haven't been paid."
Two more weeks and, "I still haven't been paid."
In November I had to attend a wedding in Saskatchewan [ for you from the Untied States, that's a province in Canada] and decided to drive through Calgary to meet with my ex-partner and ask him WTH is going on? How are we going to force our customer to pay?
Anyways, I finally get smart, FINALLY, and the night before we are supposed to meet I phone the customer. " Why haven't you paid the bill?"
"What?" he said. Actually he screamed it into the phone. "WHAT?" he said. " I paid that bill last September." He told me to wait a minute, which I did, all the while thinking WTH? Two minutes later he came back with the cancelled cheque, from September. First I felt like a total idiot, and then I got confused and then I got angry, REALLY ANGRY !!!
I will not go into how the story unfolded but it did not go well for him.
Anyway, I googled his name the other day and I found out that, right now, he is in charge of the building fund for a kingdom hall project in a major city in Canada. He has his hands on the money, RIGHT NOW !!!
For those who don't know what a 'Special Pioneer' is they are like a Pioneer but only 'Special'. I don't know what the hour requirement is now BUT when HE 'Special Pioneered' the requirement was 150 hours a month. 150 HOURS A MONTH. You would think that such a person would have a 'heaping help'in' of Jehovahs spirit.
Now this is all very interesting, as I have information that I am sure no one else does, as this incident I related took place many years ago.
Has he changed?
Is the money safe?
What do you think?
...OUTLAW