I haven’t heard back from him so I may just drop her a line and let her know. At least then she can follow up the issue.

I too have the 30 days written notice clause in my contracts so this is good to know that others expect the same.

This has happened to me before and I in fact knew the incumbent VA. I told the client that before I could do this work (note it was the SAME work) for them, they would need to advise the VA they were currently working with that things weren’t working out and terminate that contract if that was what they wanted to do. Most VA contracts will include a termination clause – in mine there is a requirement for 30 days’ notice. In this way the VA can seek to fix any problems that might be happening before the client just scoots off to another service.

As I knew the VA in this instance, I also contacted her to say that her client had been in touch and what would she like me to do. She gave approval for me to do the work, she terminated the contract with her client and that was that.

I have had instances where I have sent a client to another VA who had skills in a particular area that I didn’t, for one part of his job, and then he sent her work directly that was something I could look after. In this case, that VA should have contacted me about it – and I had to remind my client that he should check with me first if I can do something because that particular referral was for that one task only. Open communication with clients is very important so there are no misunderstandings.

I must say though, I have been contacted by prospective clients seeking a quote for work because their targets were not being met by their existing VA. In this case, what action would you recommend be taken and has this happened to you before?

“Only taking on work for which the VA is suitably qualified/skilled and seeking to outsource those tasks for which they are not qualified/skilled to another VA”.

In my experience (and of course every post here is based on my own experience which may be different to others), my clients always check with me first to see whether I can do something and if not, I find them an alternative, saving them the hassle of having to do so themselves.