I know you want your money, but I can't help you!
October 14, 2016 2:00 PM   Subscribe

tl;dr, I worked for a non-profit that shut down and now a service I used for my job hasn't been paid and they've called me. I'm wondering if I should do anything or just ignore it. I used the service, but it's not like I was in charge of our financials or compliance. Full details inside.

I worked for a non-profit that was essentially shut down due to donors pulling out when our president left. People were laid off in waves, and I was in the first wave. There may still be some staff at headquarters but I am not sure -- if there is, it's maybe our new president by himself and lawyers on retainer or something. Anyway, we signed up for a LexisNexis subscription that I needed to do my job there. Our CFO is the one who signed on the contract that executed the two-year agreement. But LexisNexis needed me to fill out a form as the person who would be using the service, where I gave them my email (now defunct) and home address (no longer accurate). I also included my cell number, which still works. Our legal counsel signed off on the form. (LexisNexis needed the info ostensibly because people have access to sensitive records and they need to show they are making sure we don't abuse this access for activities not permitted under public records law, I believe.)

So, they haven't received payment in three months because, well, our non-profit doesn't exist anymore and our payables email address is not responding to them. They've called me twice about this. I'm hesitant to respond because I don't want to make this my problem and I am not sure if me telling them the non-profit shut down will make them stop trying to get payment or not. I also worry if I do respond, they will see me as the best point of contact if they decide to pursue this more. I also want to make sure I won't be held responsible and, if they do go to bill collectors or something, it won't affect me/my credit. (They have not threatened to do this, they just said in the voicemails our service would be shut down.) We did sign a two-year contract, but no one is using the service, and it's not like anything is being taken from them. We paid for access to this service that already exists -- it's not as if they are sending goods that they are losing if they don't receive payment.

What should I do? I could try to contact whoever is left at my old non-profit and tell them they should let LexisNexis know we are out of business, but I really wouldn't know how to find someone there, if anyone is. Also, I wonder if they are ignoring these invoices for a reason, if they are seeing them -- they probably don't want to pay it since they aren't using it anymore. (Again, that is if there is anyone left at the non-profit, which I am not sure about.) Anyway, what is my responsibility here or what is the best course of action for me?
posted by anonymous to Work & Money (4 answers total)
 
"Hi! Actually, I'm no longer working there anymore. You know, it's been quite a while now, so I'm not sure who the best person would be to contact at this point. Good luck!"
posted by Sara C. at 2:07 PM on October 14, 2016 [15 favorites]


You are not liable for contracts signed by your employer. Just because they have your contact information does not mean that they should try to collect from you. Just tell them not to contact you anymore.
posted by Midnight Skulker at 3:01 PM on October 14, 2016 [1 favorite]


Yeah, just tell them you don't work there any more. They won't come after you for payment; their contract is not with you. They'll leave you alone after that.

They might ask if you have current contact information for someone there. If you do, and you want to, give it to them. If you don't have it (sounds like you don't), or don't want to, don't.

Don't bother trying to contact anyone from the non-profit. It's not your concern.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 4:14 PM on October 14, 2016 [2 favorites]


I would ordinarily be a vote for ignore, but the fact that they have a bad mailing address for you give me some concern. If they are sending you demand letters claiming that you are liable as a cosigner or guarantor, you want to know about it. It is quite possible that they were doing that and also making much less threatening phone calls because there are very strict rules on using the phone to collect debts.

Don't try to be legal with them on the phone, or argue that there's no one to collect from. Just give them the current address and phone number that the organization is using and wish them luck.
posted by MattD at 8:05 PM on October 14, 2016 [4 favorites]


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