HELP! Boss wants me to doctor invoices! [Archive]

cbright22

08-22-2007, 03:49 PM

I need help. My boss is asking me to take invoices and doctor them up so merchandise can cross the border. He says that it will be fixed in accounting later, but I am uncomfortable with doctoring invoices. HELP! any advise from anyone?

DesignVHL

08-22-2007, 03:53 PM

Is it blatantly ILLEGAL? If so I wouldn't do it....I've had to do some weird things before ( like replace a logo w/ ours for product drawings) but never change invoices! I think it's a decision you have to personally make based on your values. If your not gonna get fired over it, I would advise against this for sure.

frankster

08-22-2007, 03:57 PM

I wouldn't do it. He'll be asking you to forge other documents later if he thinks it's as easy as all that. You will be a forger unless he holds a gun to your head to make you do it.:mad:

cbright22

08-22-2007, 03:59 PM

That's the problem! My company fires people very easily. I am extremely upset about this. The justfy it by saying it is fixed later in accounting.

frankster

08-22-2007, 04:01 PM

Why is it not fixed in accounting first? Or does accounting have to illegally doctor accounts too? All sounds bad and wrong.

DesignVHL

08-22-2007, 04:01 PM

i'd find a new job with an honest company. Let them fire you, collect unemployment and freelance till u land a new job... :) Thats the great thing about our industry, we can keep things going a little better than in some other industries, where if your out of a job, your out of a job.....sounds like he's a pain to work with anyways!

Jam

08-22-2007, 04:06 PM

hey can you run me off some copies of this $10 note while your at it, hhhhmmmm about a thousand copies would be great!!

Seriously do you have access to the accountants - call them, check what the issue is and what is meant by fixing it. You could be held accountable.

cbright22

08-22-2007, 04:08 PM

Jam

08-22-2007, 04:14 PM

Whats wrong with the invoice?
What does he need to change?
What is in the shipment?

cbright22

08-22-2007, 04:16 PM

They want me to change quantities and pricing. The merchandise is alternators, starters, and components that go in them.

DesignVHL

08-22-2007, 04:17 PM

I like the idea of letting them fire me for not doctoring them. Than I would sue them! He says that the client purchasing the merchandise is mad because his product is being held up. If I doctor the invoice, customs releases it right away. Than accounting will fix it in the system.

YEP that is ILLEGAL! Don't do it, tell your boss you don't want to be involved with any illegal activity. Leave it at that. See what he does. Keep us updated! :P

Jam

08-22-2007, 04:19 PM

It sounds like some one messed up and the easy fix is to change the invoice for the correct amount - customs guys do everything by the book, its all black and white to them, you order x amount and they sent you y

carter the artist

08-22-2007, 04:20 PM

this is why us liberals passed "whistleblower laws".

DesignVHL

08-22-2007, 04:23 PM

doubt u could sue em...but I would tell your boss that you will not do it because it is illegal and you could get in trouble if it backfired. Plus you could mention you are an honest person and do not want to get involved in these matters. See what he says to that! keep us updated! Good luck! :)

JgS

08-22-2007, 04:35 PM

If all he is asking is for you to change the quantities and price on invoices to be sent out then it isn't illegal, just very odd that you are doing it instead of accounting. Sounds like it could cause some conflicts in the books if it falls through the cracks. I would defiantly talk to accounting.

PrintDriver

08-22-2007, 04:40 PM

Changing quantities and pricing so you pay lower customs IS illegal. Especially the quantities part. But I'm not a lawyer.

JgS

08-22-2007, 04:47 PM

I missed the part where it was crossing the border. Yeah thats very illegal.

cbright22

08-22-2007, 05:02 PM

Thank you everyone for your responses. I have a meeting with the company lawyer in an hour, who is also our VP of HR. Problem is, is that my boss and this guy are "company" people. Do what you have to go make sales and keep customers happy.

AlexNJ210

08-22-2007, 05:04 PM

sounds like your boss is trying to turn a bigger profit for less merchandise. Think about it, why would an invoice need to be changed, then changed back later on? Calling accounting and talking to them is probably your best idea at this point. If things continue to sound shady there too, i would go to your boss and tell him that you know what he is asking is illegal and you do not want to be apart of it and see what he says. If he fires you then so be it, if he doesnt then i would quit. There's no sense in risking getting in trouble being connected to a money laundering operation.

Ovaltine

08-22-2007, 05:10 PM

Let them fire you, collect unemployment and freelance till u land a new job...

I'd double check this, not sure you can collect unemployment if fired, you can sue, though. Especially if the company is asking you to do something illeagal. I'd want it in writing.

Tell boss to request the change in writing (regardless what you decide to do). That way your rear is somewhat covered, otherwise it'll be a "crap runs downhill" thing where you get all the blame if you follow orders just by being low-man-on-the-totem.

DesignVHL

08-22-2007, 05:19 PM

Companies know that when they fire an employee who hasn't done anything WRONG, that they will have to deal with the possiblity of that employee going to unemployment...its when you quit a job, that it is harder to justify getting unemployment....getting laid off will also get you unemployment...not saying this is the best thing to do, but it does help if you don't have much to fall back on. When you collect, you go through different things - which I think is different for every state. But usually you meet with someone discuss the situation, and go from there...the only way unemployment would be denied is if the company you used to work for tried to combat it - and what can they say? If you were to tell the Unemployment office you got fired because you refused to do something illegal, I don't think they will deny you....and I doubt the company will want to admit to this.

Virgo Nightingale

08-22-2007, 05:22 PM

Make sure you have some kind of proof of what they are asking you to do before you get yourself fired. And make copies, forward yourself emails, whatever you have to do to get this evidence outside of your workplace before the sh!t hits the fan. That way if you go to sue, they can't be like "We never told anyone to do that!" and turn it into a case of one person's word against another's, because in that case you'd more than likely lose.

DesignVHL

08-22-2007, 05:23 PM

YEP Definitely COVER YOUR ASS!

Ovaltine

08-22-2007, 05:36 PM

Maybe it's just if you're habitually getting fired? I've never been on that end. Been laid off 3 times now (once in GA and twice-by the same company-in KY). I'm really tired of answering the same 6 or 7 questions every other week.
Each state has different requirements (maybe each city, I don't know)
In GA I had to have something like 7 contacts a week (I think that was the # but can't remember now). In KY I have to have 1 contact a week. I really laughed at both goals since they both seemed rather low.

I think they all have an education provision, they'll help pay for you to take college courses. You're responsible for living expenses though, so it only works for poeple who have savings, a side job, a spouce with a good job, or a giving relative.

DesignVHL

08-22-2007, 05:43 PM

I got laid off once - it was a whole department - about 15 of us. Never been fired....god knows i've tried! :P lol....but the provisions are so easy to follow...you don't get enough to live on, but couple that w/ your savings, and getting enough independant work, and you won't starve at least! AND it gives you time to look for a new job WHILE freelancing! :)

Ovaltine

08-22-2007, 05:57 PM

Careful admitting the freelancing. Technically you have to report that and then they take out the amount you made on the freelance and tack it onto the end of your unemployment (make the $ last longer but keeps you at the same level until you find a job, unless you make more on freelance than you would have on unemployment). The only way around this (I've found) is for your spouce to be the one making the extra dough. Or barter, that's how I got CS2, I built a site for my grandmother as a Christmas present from my mom. My mom gave me CS2 in return.

My 1st lay off was the whole company--50-75 people--and the company name was sold to ChartPak in MA.

Navian

08-22-2007, 11:14 PM

You can claim unemployment if you get fired, you have to be specific to your states employment services (or where you claim your unemployment), you just cant be fired for things that breaks standard company policy ect.. but if you get a layoff, from lack of work, ect.. that is legit for unemployment.

However, IF you get fired because you refused to do something illegal, I'd report them to your state employment office, also if I'm not mistaken (not sure about where you live), but the company be sued if they try to fire you AFTER you report them, its called the Whistleblower Act.

I'd go seak free legal advice from a lawyer, just not complany affiliated, that might be conflict of interest if you ask a "company lawyer.

http://employeeissues.com/whistleblower.htm

cbright22

08-22-2007, 11:32 PM

Well, had a meeting with my boss. His response is do the invoice or look elsewhere for employment. So tonight I'm on Careerbuilders!

morea

08-22-2007, 11:37 PM

what a jerk. My last boss was like that. He told me that I needed to steal images off a competitor's website. I refused. He made a big scene - slammed his hand down on my desk and told me "I am your BOSS!" He was always trying to pull things like that, and worse. I refused, and ultimately, I was laid off. He said that it was because the business was not doing well, but I had reason to believe otherwise.

I hope that you find a better job and can leave on your own terms... and then smile quietly to yourself when he finds himself up a creek without a paddle.

Hang in there!

SpugNothuson

08-22-2007, 11:39 PM

Something does sound seriously wrong about this.

Take notes and keep an accurate as possible diary of information. Hopefully you'll never need it, but it's best to be safe.

A definately get a letter from the boss stating what exactly he wants you to do to the invoice before you carry any work out.

cbright22

08-22-2007, 11:42 PM

I'm definitely keeping a paper trail! I work for a company who has let over 200 people go this year. I just wasn't ready to be one of them yet! I want to go on my terms!

CkretAjint

08-22-2007, 11:54 PM

200 people? Holy crap!!!! That's almost a person a day this year :eek:

Def do everything the people here are telling you to do. Last thing you want is customs coming after YOU because your boss "didnt know YOU did that with accounting behind his back" ;)

budafist

08-22-2007, 11:59 PM

Paper trail every where you go!

CkretAjint

08-23-2007, 12:24 AM

*opens a brand new pack of paper.... drop a sheet on the floor.... takes three steps and drops another sheet.... takes 3 steps and drops another sheet....*

Drazan

08-23-2007, 12:41 AM

Actually check in to unemployment eligibility for leaving a job due to unethical /illegal practices.

And refuse to do those invoices. You may be "caught by association" if you do it. It's better to be a little poorer leaving than it is to never be able to get a job because of a black mark / criminal record. The risks are way to high to be messing with this.

budafist

08-23-2007, 12:55 AM

*opens a brand new pack of paper.... drop a sheet on the floor.... takes three steps and drops another sheet.... takes 3 steps and drops another sheet....*

Edible paper!?!

*follows CkretAjint gobbling the trail of sugar paper*

CkretAjint

08-23-2007, 01:02 AM

*beats Buda off with a stick* Your NOT helping the situation!!!

*tears a piece of paper in half, drops half on the floor, gives other half to buda..... takes 3 steps..... tears a piece of paper in half, drops half on the floor, gives other half to buda..... takes 3 steps.....*

budafist

08-23-2007, 01:05 AM

Awww CkretAjint you are so good to me. I even realise the stick is for my own good. :P

CkretAjint

08-23-2007, 01:17 AM

For your own good? HA! It's for my protection so you don't try and assult me and eat all the paper I have. I mean if you do that and someone follows the paper trail all they would find at the end is some chinese girl chewing on paper with a bloody carcas next to her..... ew! :p

budafist

08-23-2007, 01:30 AM

I won't eat you CkretAjint. Unless you're made of food. Then yes. I would eat you.

CkretAjint

08-23-2007, 01:33 AM

I am made up of tastey Norwegian/Italian meat! 6'4", 190lbs of lucious tastey meat. ;)

budafist

08-23-2007, 01:42 AM

Sounds delicious. :)

Would you go well with a side of peas and gravy?

CkretAjint

08-23-2007, 01:48 AM

Probably not, sorry. But I am wearing a light pea colored shirt in this picture! haha...

http://a41.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/01058/04/07/1058737040_l.jpg