What Goes Around, Comes Around...

Without gloating, here's the situation:

This time last year I had a run-in with a publically-funded events organisation that resulted in my company making a huge loss, thus screwing over myself and my business partner just in time for Christmas.

Today I get a phone call out of the blue from the body that awarded the funds in the first place...apparently the events organisation is applying for more funding, and had given our number (?!) to be contacted to speak about how the event went for us. Kind of like a reference, but at the same time not.

So, ego's and dishes-best-served-cold aside, I've been asked to send a confidential account to the funding body of my experience of dealing with them. I've already decided that I'm going to be honest, and it's an opportunity to right a few wrongs from last year (not least the wasteage of public money) but how far should I go with my account before it's seen as sour grapes?

Ordinarily I wouldn't care if it was seen as sour grapes, but I wouldn't want to be portraying myself in a bad light by 'ratting' on someone else, in case I ever need to apply for similar funding. Obviously I'll try and keep it as objective as I can, but do you think that giving negative reviews of other people/companies can result in yourself being seen as the negative one?

Re : What Goes Around, Comes Around

Just be honest - it sounds like the honest account of what happened will speak volumes, and no-one can accuse you of sour grapes for telling the truth; don't hold back I say!

Re : What Goes Around, Comes Around

Thanks for the advice; I tried to be as objective and informative as possible and held stuff back in case they wanted to hear more.

Turns out that they did.

I think (but haven't been able to confirm yet) that the organisation in question may have been claiming back funds that it allegedly paid to me, despite the contrary...this could turn out to be more interesting than at first thought!

Dan