Anatomy of a Time-Waster:
A Case Study in Moving Goalposts
We often talk about spotting obvious scams—the "too good to be true" offers. But what about the ones that seem legitimate? The clients who engage, ask questions, and seem one step away from a contract.
These are often the most dangerous, not because they will steal your money, but because they will steal your most valuable asset: your time.
Today, I'm sharing a fresh experience. This is the story of how a "simple fix" became an endless loop of confusion that cost me a full day of travel, sleep, and energy.
Phase 1: The 7-Hour Meeting
It started on a Saturday. I traveled 7 hours round-trip from Fairview to San Lazaro just to show I was serious. The deal seemed fair: I explore the code remotely, fix the SMTP issue, and get a contract per fix. I went home exhausted but hopeful. That was my first mistake.
Phase 2: The "Remote" Nightmare
Sunday night turned into Monday morning. Traffic delays pushed our 9 PM start to midnight. Then came the technical issues—ads on AnyDesk, switching to TeamViewer. By the time I connected, I was drained.
Phase 3: The Red Flag Analysis
The Bait-and-Switch
"Ah hindi yan ang concern ko." Suddenly, the SMTP fix was just a "test." The real project was Xendit—something never mentioned in the meeting.
Free Consulting
When I refused free work, they pivoted: "Explore ka lang muna... suggest kung ano mas ok." A classic tactic to get expert advice without paying.
The Contradiction
The final straw. When I sent a formal scope of work, they replied: "Tapos na namin nagawa ito." The very problem they hired me to fix didn't exist.
Click any image to view the full conversation logs.
The Lesson
A legitimate client's path is straightforward. A time-waster’s path is a circle. I saved myself from weeks of future frustration, but the lesson was costly.
"Saying 'no' to a time-waster is one of the most profitable business decisions you can ever make."