Client Horror Stories

Today, we're joined by Lance Cayko—serial entrepreneur, award-winning architect, and co-founder of F9 Productions. He's here to share a client horror story that starts as a straightforward business deal and unravels into something far more sinister.

Years ago, Lance met a couple who had relocated from the south to Colorado. The wife, an interior designer, came with beautifully crafted drawings of their dream home. Impressed by her talent, Lance actually encouraged them to skip his architectural services altogether and simply hire an engineer—a gesture of genuine respect for her work.

That could have been the end of it. But years later, the husband resurfaced with a new project—and a new fiancée. The work began smoothly enough, but two-thirds of the way through, the invoices started going unpaid, communication went cold, and strange emails began trickling in. The reason soon became clear: the client had started construction himself without waiting for the building permit. Lance had seen enough. He sent a final email rescinding all involvement and walked away.

Then the fiancée called. She was devastated—and completely in the dark. Over coffee, she revealed that her partner had drained her accounts entirely. She pressed charges, and he fled the state.

The story didn't end there. After the dust settled and her home was completed through another firm, Lance came across a mugshot of his former client—charged with multiple counts of fraud. Driven by curiosity, he reached out to the man's first wife. What she shared over coffee confirmed everything: the man had been living a double life from the moment he arrived in Colorado.

Some clients aren't just difficult. Some are dangerous. Listen to hear the full story.

Morgan Friedman
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