Being played by the Project Manager of Grounded Media

In March 2024 l was offered a job by the Project Manager of Grounded Media. She got my contact number from a friend. She wanted me to facilitate around schools in my area. I was told to employ a Fixer, who was going to help me with connection of the overhead projector. After reaching my target the Project Manager told me that I connected on the wrong site. She could see all my work, but it was not on the site that the client could see. She told me that l would not be paid unless l redo the work, which was impossible because the learners had received all the information. She then suggested that l start other schools, after sleeping on that, l decided that l could not drive around starting afresh without any payment. I decided to wait and see what the UK would do to sort my work, as she had told me that she had sent it to the UK. When l was told l would not get paid, my concern was my Fixer. So, l asked if my problem affected her too and was told she would be paid. I was happy and contacted the Fixer, l furnished her with the contact details of the Project Manager, so that they could communicate. I wanted to be transparent to the Fixer. The first red flag showed when the Fixer told me that the Project Manager told her that she provided us with traveling expenses. I was taken aback by such a blatant lye, l told the Fixer to include traveling expenses when she tenders her claim, and see if it would be rejected. It was not, then the Fixer believed me.

The Project Manager contacted me, telling me that the UK had not gotten back to her yet, so l would receive 60% of my payment, l accepted that. She told me to tender my invoice. It was now May, she told me to edit the date to 15th April, l did that. She contacted me again, telling me that I would receive 50% of my salary, she had negotiated for 60% but the finance department said 50%, l said fine. When she told me that, she had already edited my invoice, she sent the edited invoice to me. I was taken aback by her editing my invoice, well l kept quite.

I was going to be paid together with the Fixer now that they decided to pay me. We waited for our payments on the 15th of May, they never reflected on our accounts. The Fixer called me and told that she’s calling the Project Manager to ask about the payment. She got back to me telling me that she said it will reflect on the 16th, because it was processed in the 15th. I consoled the Fixer who was very much frustrated. On the 16th the payment did not hit my bank, I called the Fixer to know what was happening to her. She never responded to my calls and messages, so I did not know what was happening. On the 17th l jot a message to the Project Manager, asking if there was a problem with the payment. Later in the day she told me that finance had not made any payments on the 15th. Then on the same message she said good news my work had been sorted, so I go back to my full rate and l must edit my invoice. I would be paid full amount at the end of the month. That was my second red flag. Can you imagine the disappointment l felt, expecting money then you are told “good news” that is not good to you. I swallowed the bitter pill, what could l do, they are holding the keys to my money. I edited the invoice and tendered it to her and the other lady she told me to send to too.

After telling me my work had been sorted and not paying me even the 50% l was ready to receive, she required everything from me. The registers, the pictures and the equipment I was using on the project, the overhead projector and the screen. The third red flag, hit my mind. Why the rush about the equipment, l understand about the other stuff, she needed them to finish her report, but the equipment? I sent her the stuff that involved the work l had done, but not the equipment. I knew l must have something from this company. She wrote an email about the equipment and included her colleague to be in contact with me regarding the returning of the equipment. The lady called and eventually l wrote an SMS telling her that the equipment would be returned after l have received my payment.

Let’s remember that the lady said “good news, your work has been sorted…” but whenever we talked about my payment she would go back to the solved problem. One day l received a call from the lady she assigned to deal with the returning of the stuff. I decided to answer the call, she told me she had been looking for me, she wanted to arrange the fetching of the stuff. I asked if she had not read my message, l responded with an SMS to her missed calls. She told me that the cellphone is a work phone, she doesn’t even read the messages. Then l told her what l wrote on the SMS, the stuff will be released when l get my payment. She told me that they don’t trust that l will return the stuff after l get paid. I asked her what’s the reason for me to trust them, after all that has happened. She could not answer me, and told me that she’s with the Project Manger. The Project Manager wanted me to remember that l got paid late because of the problem l did, l interjected telling her that she must stop going back to what she said it was sorted. She must tell me why they are not paying me, l don’t want to hear anything about the sorted problem. Unfortunately we had electricity problem in my area, my battery died. On the month end of May they paid me 50% of my payment, told me to send their stuff for another 50%. I told her another 50% for their stuff or it stays this way, because we don’t trust each other.

I write this review because l have received an email from the Project Manager, telling me that the stuff l’m keeping is cheaper than what they owe me, which l already knew. I can’t let them play me simple because the stuff is cheap. l worked for that money using my resources, my car, my data, my time. If they don’t value people’s time and resources well, they can keep the money that l worked for, my conscience is clean because l did what they required of me. Is their conscience clean? I sleep well at night, do they? Do their UK Sponsors know how they operate?

That’s why she never bothers to ask for documents and sending contracts, she knows how things end.

P.S. She told me the Fixer was paid in full, after she had once asked her why she was talking about money with her, she never employed her, l employed her, she must talk to me. The Fixer sent their conversation to me, after she had told her to tender her invoice. She even told her she’s not paid because l logged in the wrong site. She was now involved in my mistake when they failed to pay her. I am talking about the Project Manager of Grounded Media.

I decided to stop taking her calls so that she writes to me for evidence, because she changes her word a lot. I have emails and WhatsApp messages from her. She even recalled an email she threatened not to pay me in it.

Am l wrong, is the Project Manager right? I owned my mistake until it was sorted, but to her l have to suffer for it until Jesus comes.